Postdoctoral Research Associate / Fellow in Evolutionary Genomics in Devon

This NERC Large Grant-funded full-time post is available from 1st October 2026 on a permanent contract subject to funding ending. The starting salary will be from £36,636 to £39,906 on Grade E for the Postdoctoral Research Associate level and from £43,482 to £48,822 on Grade F for the Postdoctoral Research Fellow level, depending on knowledge, skills and experience.

We wish to recruit a Postdoctoral Research Associate / Fellow for a NERC Large Grant-funded project that will investigate how host genetic variation shapes—and is shaped by—host–pathogen interactions. The project uses a unique bovine tuberculosis (bTB)–European badger (Meles meles) study system, with extraordinary long‑term monitoring data, including longitudinal infection, life history, behavioural, physiological and fitness data, alongside medium‑coverage whole‑genome sequencing data for over 2,500 individuals spanning 50 years.

The successful candidate will lead bioinformatic and evolutionary and molecular quantitative genetics analyses to:

• Understand how genetic variation shapes bTB susceptibility, disease progression and onward transmission.
• Determine how inbreeding and gene flow modulate disease dynamics.
• Quantify how bTB has shaped the evolutionary trajectories of the badger population over the past 50 years.
• Test evolutionary hypotheses for the maintenance of genetic variation in disease susceptibility in the host population (e.g. resistance–reproduction trade‑offs, fluctuating selection).

The Research Associate will join a vibrant interdisciplinary team of five postdoctoral researchers, research faculty from the Universities of Exeter, Sheffield and Edinburgh, and project partners from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), DEFRA and the Office for Environmental Protection.

About You

The successful applicant will possess a PhD (or nearing completion) or equivalent qualification/experience in evolutionary genomics, molecular quantitative genetics, molecular ecology or a related field. They will possess sufficient specialist knowledge in the discipline and of research methods and techniques to work within established research programmes. They will have excellent quantitative skills and bioinformatics skills within the context of –omics datasets, and a strong interest in eco‑evolutionary questions in general, and host‑pathogen interactions in particular. They are expected to develop research objectives, perform data analysis, write up results for publication, give presentations at conferences and other events, supervise undergraduate and postgraduate students, identify sources of research funding and contribute to the process of securing funds. They are a team player capable of working independently and have excellent organisational and time management ability.

The successful applicant for the Postdoctoral Research Fellow position will possess a PhD or equivalent qualification/experience in evolutionary genomics, molecular quantitative genetics, molecular ecology, or a related field, with a broad knowledge in the discipline. They will possess sufficient specialist knowledge to develop research programmes and methodologies. They will have excellent quantitative skills and bioinformatics skills within the context of –omics datasets, and a strong interest in eco‑evolutionary questions in general, and host‑pathogen interactions in particular. They are expected to develop research objectives, perform data analysis, write up results for publication, give presentations at conferences and other events, supervise the work of others, identify sources of research funding and contribute to the process of securing funds. They are a team player capable of working independently, have excellent organisational and time management ability, and act as team leader as required.

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 Fertility Treatment Policy.
• A beautiful campus set in the heart of stunning Cornwall.

For further information, please contact Dr Barbara Tschirren at b.tschirren@exeter.ac.uk.