Research Associate: Bioenergetics & Biophysics

Diversity Dashboard; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 39,000 - 43,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Pension scheme

Staff discounts

Learning & mentoring

Recognition awards

Job summary

The University of Sheffield invites applications for a Research Associate to join Professor Matt Johnson's group in the School of Biosciences. The project investigates how bioenergetic supercomplexes promote electron transfer in respiration and photosynthesis, funded by BBSRC for three years from Oct 2026.

You will work with smAFM, cryo-EM and other biophysical methods across bacterial, mitochondrial and chloroplast systems, collaborating with international partners and contributing to

Qualifications

• PhD in biochemistry, biophysics, structural biology or closely related field.
• Experience purifying membrane proteins or large multi-subunit protein complexes.
• Experience with biophysical methods to quantify protein interactions.
• Experience of cryo‑electron microscopy.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong track record with first‑author publications.
• Independent planning and delivery of research projects.
• Ability to collaborate with national and international partners.
• Willingness to travel for project meetings and short visits.
• Commitment to inclusive working practices and staff development.

Responsibilities

• Design, execute and analyse smAFM experiments to quantify binding/turnover of electron carriers.
• Purify membrane protein supercomplexes from yeast mitochondria and other sources.
• Apply biophysical methods to characterize protein interactions and ET kinetics.
• Design and generate site-directed mutants in Chlamydomonas using CRISPR-Cas9.
• Engineer artificial supercomplexes and purify/characterise them (Cryo-EM).
• Collaborate with computational colleagues; translate predictions to experiments.
• Disseminate results via publications and conferences.
• Contribute to lab management and supervision of students.
• Assist with grant reporting and funding applications.

Skills

PhD in related field

Protein biochemistry

Biophysical methods experience

Cryo-EM experience

Excellent communication

First-author publications

Independent project delivery

International collaboration

Willingness to travel

Inclusive working practices

Education

PhD (or near completion)

Tools

CRISPR-Cas9

Cryo-EM

Mass photometry

AFM / single-molecule techniques

Job description

The University of Sheffield invites applications for a Research Associate to join Professor Matt Johnson's group in the School of Biosciences. The project investigates how bioenergetic supercomplexes promote electron transfer in respiration and photosynthesis, funded by BBSRC for three years from Oct 2026.

You will work with smAFM, cryo-EM and other biophysical methods across bacterial, mitochondrial and chloroplast systems, collaborating with international partners and contributing to