Post Doctoral Research Associate (92064)

Full‑time, fixed‑term appointment for 3 years based in Liverpool with occasional international travel. The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) is a world‑leading centre for research and training in global health. The Vector Biology Department focuses on understanding the biology, ecology, and evolution of disease vectors to inform strategies for disease control.

We are seeking a highly motivated and talented Postdoctoral Research Associate to join its Vector Biology Department. This exciting position offers an opportunity to contribute to cutting‑edge research aimed at understanding the complex interactions between mosquitoes, their gut microbiota, and human and zoonotic pathogens. The successful candidate will lead and support research investigating the interplay between mosquito vectors, their microbiome, and pathogen transmission. The project focuses on dissecting mosquito‑pathogen interactions using a combination of systems‑level approaches and functional assays.

• Develop and expand systems‑level approaches to dissect mosquito‑microbiota‑pathogen interactions.
• Perform infection assays of mosquitoes with different arbovirus and Plasmodium.
• Design and execute systems‑level multi‑omics assays, e.g. transcriptomics, 16S rRNA microbiomics, metabolomics.
• Identify and select novel genes, metabolic/immune pathways and factors for downstream functional assays.
• Maintain cell lines, pathogens and mosquitoes according to the demands of the project.
• Lead molecular experiments to dissect mosquito‑pathogen interactions.
• Evaluate the role of target mosquito genes, pathways and microbes on pathogen development and on vector physiology and life traits.
• Design and perform downstream assays involving the perturbation of mosquito midgut homeostasis, e.g. gene silencing, CRISPR‑Cas9 gene editing and others.

Scientific leadership and accomplishment:

• Scientific coordination and delivery of the research project.
• Engage in collaborative activities involving partners at LSTM, Imperial College London, LSTM hubs in Africa, and/or partner institutions in Brazil.
• Produce partial and annual reports in coordination with the PI and external collaborators.

Support, supervision and training of students and technical staff:

• Contribute to supervision of students and technicians.
• Assist students with project design, and with data analysis, interpretation and presentation.
• Create training materials and protocols and provide training in molecular and analytical techniques to other lab members.

Novel research and project development:

• Develop and advance novel scientific ideas, generating data to support future projects and grant applications.
• Actively support the development of research grants and fellowship applications in collaboration with the PI.
• Communicate findings through conferences and publications as relevant to the research.
• Identify collaborative opportunities within and beyond LSTM.

Qualifications:

• PhD in Molecular Biology, Genetics, Vector‑pathogen interactions, Systems Biology, Entomology, Molecular Microbiology, Immunology or related area.
• In‑depth knowledge of the biological aspects orchestrating mosquito midgut homeostasis (e.g. immunity, metabolism, microbiome) and vector competence.
• Experience with RNA‑Seq and 16S rRNA‑seq experimental design and data analysis/interpretation.
• Experience with experimental infection of mosquitoes with Plasmodium, arboviruses or other blood‑borne pathogens.
• Experience working with gene silencing and/or editing.
• Evidence of preparing publications for specialist or general science journals.
• Familiarity with the general theory of mosquito population modification and replacement for the control of vector‑borne diseases.

Benefits:

• Generous occupational pension schemes.
• Government‑backed “cycle to work” scheme.
• Affiliated, discounted staff membership to the University of Liverpool Sports Centre.
• A range of additional family friendly policies.