Post Doctoral Research Associate (3 posts) in Liverpool

Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) is seeking to appoint up to three Post Doctoral Research Associates (PDRAs) to support an exciting portfolio of projects focused on early-stage drug discovery and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The successful candidates will join the Infection Innovation Consortium (iiCON), which brings together the North West's largest concentration of infectious disease research and innovation expertise.

Working within a collaborative and multidisciplinary team, the post holders will help advance the development of novel antimicrobial compounds identified through the screening of a natural microbial isolate library. We are looking for highly motivated researchers with expertise in microbiology and experience in one or more of the following areas: early-stage drug discovery, bioinformatics and molecular biology. These roles offer an excellent opportunity to contribute to translational research with real-world impact, helping to position promising antimicrobial candidates for future funding and development in the fight against AMR.

The successful post holders will join a dynamic research team aimed at positioning these compounds for onward funding. Key responsibilities will include:

• Add to, and screen, a natural product library and conduct high quality research to advance knowledge within the antimicrobial chemotherapy and resistance space.
• Expand and screen an environmental bacterial isolate library for the production of antimicrobials and other molecules of interest.
• Preparation and fractionation of cell free extracts of environmental microbes for screening purposes.
• Experimentally and bioinformatically determine the nature of antimicrobials from the library.
• Screening of derivatised molecules against target organisms.
• Cloning novel resistance genes and genes encoding target molecules to confirm functionality.
• Produce and disseminate research outputs.
• Write and edit manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
• Contribute to patent applications as requested.
• Effectively communicate results to other members of the group at laboratory meetings.
• Organise and contribute to meetings, workshops and residential visits as requested.
• Communicate findings internally and to collaborators within iiCON at quarterly meetings.
• Co-ordinate experiments and data analysis between collaborators.

Project administration:

• Liaise with other iiCON project partners to determine if synergistic expertise exists which could benefit individual projects.
• Prepare grant reports for the funder.
• Prepare presentations and reports for academic and industrial collaborators when requested.
• Prepare and contribute to grant applications to extend the current work portfolio.

Ideally you will demonstrate:

• PhD in a microbiologically relevant subject.
• Relevant experience of working within a microbiology research laboratory.
• Ability to statistically analyse numerical data sets using appropriate software.
• Ability to maintain records of data in laboratory book and demonstrate effective record keeping.
• Good knowledge of recent microbiology, molecular biology and bioinformatic techniques.
• Good knowledge of early-stage drug discovery.
• Microbiology and molecular biology techniques including making novel DNA Constructs (Cloning) desirable.

Access to support for your career growth through a variety of internal and external learning and development opportunities. Employee Assistance Platform offering a range of wellbeing initiatives and support, in addition to high-street discount offers. 30 days annual leave, plus 8 UK bank holidays, in addition to 6 Christmas closure days. Generous occupational pension schemes including USS (Universities Superannuation Scheme) and NHS pension schemes (subject to eligibility). Government backed "cycle to work" scheme. Affiliated, discounted staff membership to the University of Liverpool Sports Centre. A range of enhanced family friendly policies.