Research Fellow - Department of Microbes, Infection and Microbiomes Grade 7

Position Details

Department of Microbes, Infection and Microbiomes, School of Infection, Inflammation and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health

Location:

University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK
Full-time starting salary: £36,636 to £46,049 with potential progression to £48,822
Grade: 7
Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to June 2029
Closing date: 4th February 2026

The post holder will work within the newly established NIHR Health Protection Unit for Public Health Genomics, a partnership between the University of Birmingham and the UK Health Security Agency. You will primarily be working in Theme 2:
Applying Novel Omics Methods to Public Health Microbiology, which aims to demonstrate potential utility of new sequencing technologies such as single cell genomics, long read metagenomics and chromosomal confirmation capture (3C) in public health genomics working with Prof Willem van Schaik, Prof Lindsay Hall, Prof Nicholas Loman and Dr Joshua Quick in the Institute of Microbiology and Infection, and the School of Infection, Inflammation and Immunology of the University of Birmingham.

• Work within specified research grants and projects and contribute to writing bids
• Operate within area of specialism
• Analyse and interpret research findings and results
• Contribute to generating funding
• Contribute to licensing or spin out deals with demonstrated commercial success (such as revenues, asset or company sales, IP generated) and/or public understanding of the discipline or similar

The responsibilities may include some but not all of the responsibilities outlined below.

• Develop research objectives and proposals for own or joint research, with assistance of a mentor if required
• Contribute to writing bids for research funding
• Analyse and interpret data
• Apply knowledge in a way which develops new intellectual understanding
• Disseminate research findings for publication, research seminars etc
• Supervise students on research related work and provide guidance to PhD students where appropriate to the discipline
• Contribute to developing new models, techniques and methods
• Undertake management/administration arising from research
• Contribute to Departmental/School research-related activities and research-related administration
• Contribute to enterprise, business development and/or public engagement activities of manifest benefit to the College and the University, often under supervision of a project leader
• Collect research data; this may be through a variety of research methods, such as scientific experimentation, literature reviews, and research interviews
• Present research outputs, including drafting academic publications or parts thereof, for example at seminars and as posters
• Provide guidance, as required, to support staff and any students who may be assisting with the research
• Deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines
• Undertake management/administration arising from research, including drafting of risk assessments and COSHH forms
• Promotes equality and values diversity acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.

• Undergraduate degree in biological or biomedical sciences, and a PhD degree in the field of microbiology
• Significant experience with microbiology and microbial genomics and/or microbial bioinformatics is required
• Able to perform molecular biology laboratory work applying new omics techniques to bacterial isolates, or metagenomic samples from the clinic or environment.
• Able to perform downstream bioinformatics and data analysis (working with other post doc bioinformaticians)
• Evidence of an interest in, or experience with research that is relevant to public health is desirable
• High level analytical capability
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly
• Ability to assess resource requirements and use resources effectively
• Contribute to the planning and organising of the research programme and/or specific research project
• Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, and how to actively ensure in day to day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated…