Research Fellow (Bacterial Evolution)

Hira Ni; Belfast City District; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

Queen’s University Belfast is seeking a Research Fellow in Bacterial Evolution to join the AMR research group led by Dr Rachel Wheatley, based in the School of Biological Sciences. The role focuses on ecological and evolutionary drivers of antibiotic resistance in bacterial communities and involves high-throughput experiments on multi-species communities.

The successful candidate will contribute to an interdisciplinary AMR network at Queen’s and present findings at scientific venues.

Qualifications

• Hold or be about to obtain a PhD in a relevant area (e.g. microbiology, evolutionary biology, microbial ecology) within 3 months of closing date.
• Significant, relevant research experience in experimental microbiology.
• Experience presenting to the scientific community (conference posters or talks).

Responsibilities

• Study ecological and evolutionary processes that drive the rise and fall of antibiotic resistance in bacterial communities.
• Conduct experiments to investigate bacterial pathogen invasion and evolution within a microbiome and the selection pressures on resistance.
• Be embedded within an interdisciplinary network of AMR researchers at Queen’s University Belfast.

Skills

Experimental microbiology

High-throughput experiments

Multi-species communities

Conference posters/talks

Education

PhD in microbiology / evolutionary biology / microbial ecology

Job description

We are seeking to appoint a Research Fellow in Bacterial Evolution to join the UKRI FLF-funded research group of Dr Rachel Wheatley, based in the School of Biological Sciences at Queen’s University Belfast.

Species interactions are a fundamental component of bacterial infections. Yet, when, and how these interactions impact the response of a bacterial pathogen to antibiotics is currently not clear. The appointee for this position will study the ecological and evolutionary processes that drive the rise and fall of antibiotic resistance in bacterial communities. The appointee will be conducting experiments to investigate bacterial pathogen invasion and evolution within a microbiome, and the selection pressures on antibiotic resistance in this environment.

We are seeking a candidate with a strong background in experimental microbiology, where experience in conducting high-throughput experiments and/or working with multi-species communities would be beneficial. This position provides an excellent opportunity for ambitious researchers with interests across evolutionary biology and microbial ecology, and the postholder will be embedded within an exciting and interdisciplinary network of AMR researchers at Queen’s.

About the person:

The successful candidate must have, and your application should clearly demonstrate that you meet the following essential criteria:

Hold or be about to obtain* a PhD in a relevant area (e.g. microbiology, evolutionary biology, microbial ecology) *must be obtained within 3 months of closing date of post

Significant, relevant research experience in experimental microbiology.

Experience of presenting to the scientific community i.e. conference posters or talks.

Fixed term contract posts are available for the stated period in the first instance but in particular circumstances may be renewed or made permanent subject to availability of funding.