Senior Postdoctoral Scientist

Pirbright Institute; Pirbright; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pirbright gym with subsidisedembership

Pirbright social club

Cycle to work

Subsidised staff restaurant

Childcare allowance

Free onsite parking

Electric Car charging facilities

Job summary

The Pirbright Institute is seeking an experienced professional to support its international reference laboratories, translating emerging diagnostic techniques into practical disease-control tools relevant for the UK and partner countries.

Working with scientists and partners, you will manage a portfolio of applied research projects, establish collaborations with academic and industrial partners, and help build capacity for diagnostic and disease-control networks.

Qualifications

• Evidence of excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate with funding bodies, peer-review groups and government agencies.

Responsibilities

• Delivering scientific work targeting the development of novel diagnostic platforms for livestock diseases.
• Ensuring research activities align with the priorities of the reference laboratories.
• Recognising applied-research potential and impacts arising from the Institute's research portfolio.
• Within the group, acting as the primary contact to establish and maintain collaborative partnerships with academic and industrial partners.

Skills

Communication skills

Networking

Job description

ThePirbrightInstitutedeliversworld-leadingresearchtounderstand,predict,detectandrespondtoviraldiseaseoutbreaks.WestudyvirusesoflivestockthatareendemicandexotictotheUK,includingzoonoticviruses,byusingthemostadvancedtoolsandtechnologiestounderstandhost-pathogeninteractionsinanimalsandarthropodvectors.Ourmajorstrengthinunderstandingtheimmunesystemsoflivestockprovidesaplatformtocontrolcurrentdiseasesandrespondtoemergingthreats.Thisimportantresearchwouldnotbepossiblewithouttheproportionateuseofanimals,whichareintegraltothedevelopmentofnewdiseasecontrolmeasuressuchasvaccinesanddiagnostics.Wehaveanestablishment-widecommitmenttothe3Rs(replacement,reductionandrefinement),highstandardsofanimalwelfare,acultureofcareandopenness.

Our Institute is made up of a dynamic and vibrant community of staff covering a diverse set of chosen fields, backgrounds and experience. We all play a crucial role in furthering the Institute’s aspirations, advancing the frontiers of science and knowledge through our excellent scientific research, knowledge sharing and contribution; with a real focus in improving the world in which we live. Our outlook is always balanced by our strong sense of purpose, values and behaviours and an unwavering commitment to a ‘one Institute’ approach.

Organisationpositionandpurpose

SupportingourInternationalreferencelaboratoriesat VesicularDiseaseReferenceLaboratory , WRLFMD and Non-esicular Reference Laboratory , this position provides a unique opportunity to develop a career aimed at translating emerging diagnostic techniques and improved disease control approaches that are relevant for both the UK and countries receiving overseas development assistance (ODA). Working closely with scientists engaged in fundamental research, you will develop a portfolio of projects through existing and new collaborations with public and industrial partners. You will act as a conduit to pioneer new methods and establish new tools, and generate outputs with international impact to ensure we achieve our aim of predicting, detecting and controlling outbreaks of viral diseases.

Main duties and responsibility

Responsiblefordeliveryaprogrammeofappliedresearch,whichwillinclude:50%

• Deliveringscientificworkthattargetsthedevelopmentofnoveldiagnosticplatformsforlivestockdiseases.
• Ensuringresearchactivitiesalignwiththeprioritiesofthereferencelaboratories.
• Recognisingapplied-researchpotentialandimpactsarisingfromtheInstituteresearchportfolio.
• Withinthegroup,actingastheprimarycontacttoestablishandmaintaincollaborativepartnershipswithacademicandindustrialpartners
• IntegratingwithresearchleadersbasedattheInstitute.
• Buildingcapacityfordiagnosticanddiseasecontrolwithinlaboratorynetworks.

Contributetothemanagementofthereferencelaboratories:10%

• Directline-managementofjuniorstafftoensurethattheyaremotivatedtocontributetopriorityobjectives
• Committocontributetoon-callrotasforout-of-hourstesting(whereneeded)

Specific requirements

• Evidenceofexcellentoralandwrittencommunicationskills,includingtheabilitytocommunicateeffectivelywithfundingbodies,peer-reviewgroups,governmentagencies
• Evidenceofproducinghighqualitypublicationsinpeer-reviewedjournals
• Evidenceofnetworkingskillswiththeabilitytobuildeffectivecollaborativerelationships

Due to the nature of the work carried out by Pirbright, all successful applicants will be required to go through a comprehensive screening process including reference and qualification checks, financial and security clearances.

Whatweoffer

• Pirbrightgymwithsubsidisedmembership
• Pirbrightsocialclub
• Cycletowork
• Subsidisedstaffrestaurant
• Childcareallowance
• Freeonsiteparking
• ElectricCarchargingfacilities

Weacknowledge,understand,andembracediversity,equalityandinclusion