Research Scientist (Host–Microbiome Interactions and Microbial Metabolism) in Norwich

We’re looking for a motivated Research Scientist to join the laboratory of Dr Lizbeth Sayavedra in the Food, Microbiome and Health programme at Quadram Institute Bioscience. The postholder will help investigate how microbial sulfur and nitrogen metabolism influences human health, with a particular focus on protein malnutrition and obesity. Research in the lab centres on sulphate- and sulphite-reducing bacteria of the Desulfovibrionaceae and their interactions with the host and the wider gut microbiome. Our work uses a range of advanced host-relevant experimental systems, including in vitro and in vivo models, integrated with anaerobic microbiology and metagenomics.

This position is ideally suited to a scientist with experience in host-based experimental systems who is motivated to apply microbiome and microbial metabolism approaches to mechanistic questions in host health. The host group and institute are committed to development of staff, and this role offers an exceptional environment for candidates to progress their careers.

The role:

• Designing and performing tissue culture, organoid, or in vivo experiments to investigate host–microbiome interactions
• Coordinating microbial perturbation experiments linked to dietary or metabolic interventions
• Anaerobic culturing and preparation of gut bacteria, particularly members of the Desulfovibrionaceae, for host interaction studies
• Application of genetic and functional genomics approaches to investigate sulfur and nitrogen metabolic pathways
• Integration of host experimental data with metagenomic analyses, including interpretation of microbial functional potential and activity
• Contribution to study design, data integration, publications, presentations, and future grant proposals

The ideal candidate:

Candidates should hold a PhD in microbiology, molecular microbiology or a related discipline. The postholder will have demonstrable hands‑on experience with tissue culture, organoids, and/or in vivo models as well as a solid understanding of host–microbiome interactions and experimental design in host systems. Candidates should have a working knowledge of metagenomics and bioinformatics sufficient to analyse or interpret complex datasets and the ability to work independently and integrate results across host and microbial systems. Experience working with anaerobic bacteria or complex microbial communities and familiarity with Linux‑based environments or reproducible data analysis workflows would be advantageous.

Additional information:

Salary on appointment will be within the range £37,500 to £45,350 per annum depending on qualifications and experience. This is a full‑time for a contract of 36 months with the possibility for extension. This role meets the criteria for a visa application, and we encourage all qualified candidates to apply. Please contact the Human Resources Team if you have any questions regarding your application or visa options. Interviews will be held in late March / early April 2026.

We are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion, and welcome applications from all sectors of society. The Institute values of Respect, Innovation, Collaboration and Excellence are at the heart of all we do, and we expect all employees to share and display these values. To support our commitment, we have a range of family, faith and diversity friendly working arrangements to help all staff achieve excellence in their area of work. As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee to offer an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for this vacancy.

About the Quadram Institute:

The Quadram Institute is a new interdisciplinary research institute dedicated to understanding how food and microbes interact to promote health and prevent disease. Its mission is to deliver healthier lives through innovation in gut health, microbiology and food. A partnership between Quadram Institute Bioscience, the University of East Anglia, the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and BBSRC, it brings together scientists and clinicians in a state‑of‑the‑art building on the Norwich Research Park. This is one of Europe’s largest centres of life sciences and home of the John Innes Centre and The Earlham Institute.