Research Fellow (109046-0424)

University of Warwick Campus, Coventry
School of Life Sciences
Fixed Term, Full Time
Fixed-term for 24 months.
Up to £44,263 circa applicable to your knowledge skills and experience

Expected start date 1st August 2024


KEYWORDS:  – [microbial ecology, synthetic communities, microbial physiology, spatial organisation, quantitative biology]

We are looking to hire a postdoctoral scientist to work on a project funded by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation within the research group of Orkun Soyer (https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/lifesci/research/osslab/).

The overall aim of the project is to understand the feedbacks between spatial organization and microbial interactions within aquatic environments. Within this broad topic, our current work focuses on cyanobacteria-dominated natural microbial communities that form macro-scale, dynamical structures. These biofilm-like, granular structures can display dynamic spatial activity and harbour stable communities. We are currently working on one such system that we have characterised in detail and would like to better understand microbial interactions and their evolution within this system.

We are currently looking to hire a postdoctoral researcher with a background in microbial physiology, microbial ecology, or microbial systems biology. The successful candidate will work on understanding the impact of structural formation on microbial interactions and their evolution. We are looking for someone with expertise in microbial physiology or microbial ecology, with emphasis on quantitative approaches. Applicants should be proficient in microbial culturing, microbial physiology measurements, use of fluorescent microscopy techniques, microfluidics, data and image analysis, and genetics.

For informal enquiries, please contact Orkun Soyer via email: o.soyer@warwick.ac.uk.

We will consider applications for employment on a part-time or other flexible working basis, even where a position is advertised as full-time, unless there are operational or other objective reasons why it is not possible to do so.  

We are looking for someone with expertise in microbial physiology or microbial ecology, with emphasis on quantitative approaches. Applicants should be proficient in microbial culturing, microbial physiology measurements, use of fluorescent microscopy techniques, microfluidics, data and image analysis, and genetics.

If you are near submission or have recently submitted your PhD but have not yet had it conferred, any offers of employment will be made as Research Assistant at the top of level 5 of the University grade structure. Upon receipt of evidence of the successful award of your PhD, you will be promoted to Research Fellow on the first point of level 6 of the University grade structure

For further information regarding the skills required for this role please see the personal specification section of the attached job description.

Right to work in the UK

If you do not yet have the right to work in the UK and/or are seeking sponsorship for a Skilled Worker visa in the UK points-based immigration system please click on this link which contains further information about obtaining right to work in the UK and details about eligibility for sponsorship for a Skilled Worker Visa.

For those eligible, the University of Warwick offers relocation and Immigration Support Scheme packages to assist with costs of relocating and any associated visa applications and Immigration Health surcharge (IHS) fees.

For further information about the School of Life Sciences please see our website at http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/lifesci

We believe that collegiality, openness, inclusivity and diversity are essential for an excellent environment; this ethic has enabled us to gain an Athena SWAN Silver award.  We are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace, so if you are excited by this role, we encourage you to apply, even if your past experience does not match exactly.  We also encourage applications from all groups with protected characteristics traditionally under-represented in STEM fields. 

Born in the 60s with a mindset of boldness, imagination and collaboration, the University of Warwick is a world-leading research-intensive university with the highest academic and research standards. We’re one of the world’s top universities, ranked 67th in the world and 10th in the UK*, with 92% of our research assessed to be ‘world leading or internationally excellent’**. 

You'll be joining a diverse, innovative and globally connected community committed to igniting real world progress. Here at Warwick, we offer you opportunities to follow your ambitions as long as you bring the energy and determination to succeed.

*QS World University Rankings 2024

** Research Excellence Framework 2021

To find out more about us visit our website.

Applications should include a CV and a covering letter expressing the reasons for your interest in this post.  The CV should include a list of publications and the contact details of two referees.

Please attach a covering letter with your application/CV outlining specifically how you believe you meet the essential criteria and the degree to which you meet the desirable criteria for the post as outlined in the person specification. 

This information will be used in the shortlisting process and without this evidence we may not be able to shortlist your application.

Please note that if you do not evidence the essential requirements we may not be able to shortlist your application.

In your application, you can also include any career breaks you may have taken (e.g. parental/caring/long-term sick leave, part-time work, secondments) or any periods where you were unable or restricted to work because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

To streamline our hiring process, we kindly request that all candidates submit their applications through our official website. This ensures that all applications are received in a uniform format and can be processed efficiently by our HR team.

Closing Date: 15th May 2024 before 23:55.

The interviews will be held on a date to be confirmed. 

We will provide you with a great range of benefits, which include an attractive pension scheme, 30 days holiday plus Christmas closure, excellent learning and development opportunities, and savings on a wide range of products and services. We offer a generous maternity/paternity/adoption/parental leave policy, and onsite childcare facilities. 

We recognise the importance of a healthy work/life balance and offer you access to flexible working, for more information click here. 

We are proud to say that we are a Living Wage employer.

If you are considering relocating to the UK, read our Relocation Guide to find out more about what Warwick has to offer and what might be involved in the process.

Warwick is committed to building an organisation of mutual respect and dignity, promoting a welcoming, diverse, and inclusive working and learning environment.  We recognise that everyone is different in a variety of visible and non-visible ways, and that those differences are to be recognised, respected, and valued.  Where possible, we go beyond legislation to provide a place where everyone can thrive, supporting all staff to achieve their full potential. We aspire to remove economic, social, and cultural barriers that may otherwise prevent people from succeeding. 

We therefore welcome and encourage applications from all communities regardless of culture, background, age, disability, sex/gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, religion/belief, or sexual or romantic orientation. To find out more about our social inclusion work at Warwick visit our webpageshere. 

The University currently holds aRace Equality Charter Bronze Award, Athena Swan Sliver Awardand aDisability Smart Bronze Award. The University of Warwick is also one of the six founder institutions of the EUTOPIA European University Alliance. 

Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS)

The University of Warwick complies with the DBS Code of Practice and undertakes not to discriminate unfairly against anyone who makes a Disclosure relating to a conviction or other information revealed.  More information is available on the University’s Vacancy pages and applicants may request a copy of the DBS Code of Practice.

If you do not yet have the right to work in the UK and/or are seeking sponsorship for a Skilled Worker visa, please follow this link which contains further information about obtaining the right to work in the UK.

This opportunity is closed to applications.