Postdoctoral Research Fellow - Molecular Mycology

UNIVERSITY OF EXETER

Faculty of Health and Life Sciences

Postdoctoral Research Fellow [Molecular Mycology]

Reference: R83713

Salary: £39,745 - £48,841 on Grade F, depending on qualifications and experience

Contract type: Full time – for a period of 24 months

This role may be subject to additional background screening.

The role

We seek a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to join Professor Elaine Bignell’s team within the Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology (MRC CMM) at the University of Exeter.

The team focuses on building a molecular understanding of invasive and chronic fungal diseases of the lung caused by Aspergillus fumigatus. We combine the use of functional genomics approaches with in vitro, in vivo, in silico and ex vivo models of infection. We have discovered a large number of secreted fungal gene products that are dominant drivers of invasive airway disease and will now dissect the mechanistic basis of their involvement in disease progression. Ultimately breakthroughs in this area will lead to development of novel therapeutic strategies to prevent and/or treat such diseases in the future.

About you

The successful applicant will join an MRC- and BBSRC-funded team that is seeking to define and characterise the repertoire of host-responsive adaptations undertaken by inhaled Aspergillus fumigatus spores during colonisation of the mammalian lung. The postholder will be a skilled microbiology PDRF responsible for pursuing the modes of action of fungal secreted proteins in the context of pulmonary infection. Working in parallel with a skilled immunology PDRF the challenge will be to dissect the effector repertoire of the opportunistic fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus using e.g. flow cytometric analyses of host-pathogen interactions and comparative analyses of innate immune responses to wild type or effector null mutants, microscopy-enabled subcellular localisation of host and fungal proteins, co-immunoprecipitation of host-pathogen protein complexes, two hybrid and effector trap approaches, in vitro and in vivo models of fungal infection. The successful candidate will: develop their ideas with Elaine Bignell and execute their own research project; collaborate effectively with other members of the Bignell team to help them complete their projects; write up their work for publication; present their work at conferences; integrate with other members of the MRC Centre for Medical Mycology as a whole; and contribute to the activities of the Centre (e.g., research, outreach, and teaching).

What we can offer you

• Freedom (and the support) to pursue your intellectual interests and to work creatively across disciplines to produce internationally exciting research.
• Support teams that understand the University wide research and teaching goals and partner with our academics accordingly.
• An Innovation, Impact and Business directorate that works closely with our academics providing specialist support for external engagement and development.
• Our Exeter Academic initiative supporting high performing academics to achieve their potential and develop their career.
• A multitude of staff benefits including sector leading benefits around maternity, adoption, and shared parental leave (up to 26 weeks full pay), Paternity leave (up to 6 weeks full pay), and a new Fertility Treatment Policy.
• A beautiful campus set in the heart of stunning Devon.

The University of Exeter

We are a member of the prestigious Russell Group of research-intensive universities and in the top 150 universities in the world (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2022 and QS World University Ranking 2022). We combine world-class teaching with world-class research, achieving a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework Award 2017.

Our research income in recent years means we’re the fastest growing UK Research University with some of the world’s most influential scientists, and we seek to answer some of the most fundamental issues facing humankind today through this. 98% of our research is of international quality (2014 Research Excellence Framework). We encourage proactive engagement with industry, business, and community partners to enhance the impact of research and education and improve the employability of our students. Read about our world leading research – Green Futures and how we are transforming education for a changing world. We are located in a beautiful part of the country and Exeter (a fast-growing tech hub) is one of only a few UK cities to have been designated as a UNESCO Creative City.

MRC Centre for Medical Mycology (MRC CMM)

The MRC CMM is a world-leading research centre that is helping to tackle the global threat to human health caused by fungal diseases. Fungal infections now kill more people worldwide than malaria and similar numbers to tuberculosis. The MRC CMM is one of the most ambitious strategic investments in medical mycology and integrates researchers from multiple fields of expertise to increase our understanding of fungal pathogens and cognate immune defences, and to identify new ways to diagnose, prevent and treat fungal diseases. A major activity of the Centre is to increase capacity in fundamental and clinical research in medical mycology through research and training programmes for medical and biosciences students, clinicians, and early career researchers. The Centre has established a satellite research and training Unit in Cape Town and is in the process of establishing similar Units in South America and in Asia. The MRC CMM also has numerous strategic interactions with other national and international groups and actively promotes the public engagement and understanding of our science.

Our Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Commitment

With over 27,000 students and 6,400 staff from 180 different countries we offer a diverse and engaging environment where our diversity is celebrated and valued as a major strength. We are committed to creating an inclusive culture where all members of our community are supported to thrive; where diverse voices are heard through our engagement with evidence-based charter frameworks for gender (Athena SWAN), race equality (Race Equality Charter Mark), LGBTQ+ inclusion (Stonewall Diversity Champion) and as a Disability Confident employer. Whilst all applicants will be judged on merit alone, we particularly welcome applications from groups currently underrepresented within our working community. Reasonable adjustments are available for interviews and workplaces.

Before submitting an application, you may wish to discuss the post further by contacting Prof Elaine Bignell, telephone (07958 567310) or email e.bignell@exeter.ac.uk

Closing date: 2 April 2023.