Senior Research Associate in Polymicrobial Interactions in Newcastle upon Tyne

Location: Newcastle, GB

Contract Type: Fixed Term

Working Pattern: Full Time

Posted Date: 31 Jul 2026

Salary: £47,389 to £56,535 per annum

Closing Date: 07 August 2026

The Role

The post is required to study antifungal and dual-purpose effectors elicited by the bacterial Type VI secretion system. It will employ a multi-pronged approach to identify novel antifungal/dual-purpose effectors and determine the molecular basis of their anti-fungal action. This position is funded by a Wellcome Trust, and you will join a large collaborative team spread across five institutions with the common goal to drive forward our knowledge of the medical importance and molecular basis of T6SS mediated anti-fungal/dual-purpose effector activity.

Bacteria and fungi are ubiquitous in nature and co-colonise numerous environmental niches. Focusing on the human host, such cross-kingdom interactions are prevalent within the human microbiota, and are also found within biofilms and medically relevant infections. The type VI secretion system (T6SS) is widely used by bacteria to fire diverse effector proteins directly into neighbouring bacterial cells. This project is based on our recent discoveries that this 'anti-bacterial' T6SS is also a potent anti-fungal weapon, eliciting anti-fungal effectors that are able to kill pathogenic fungal species, and dual-purpose effectors that can target bacteria or host cells in addition to fungal competitors. As bacterial and fungal species co-exist in the human microbiome and disease-causing infections, we predict that anti-fungal T6SSs will shape many diverse microbial communities relevant to human health.

As part of our commitment to career development for research colleagues, the University has developed 3 levels of Research Innovation Role Profiles. These profiles set out firstly the generic competencies and responsibilities expected of role holders at each level and, secondly, the general qualifications and experiences needed for entry at a particular level. This post is fixed term for a period of 72 months.

Responsibilities:

• Contribute ideas, including enhancements to the technical or methodological aspects of the project
• Determine appropriate methodologies for research
• Assess research findings for the need/scope for further investigations
• Contribute to the writing up of the research and its dissemination, either through seminar and conference presentations or through publications
• Present research findings, either at conferences or through publications in reputable outlets appropriate to the discipline
• Contribute to grant applications submitted by others and develop own research objectives and proposals for funding

The Person

Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

• A strong background and proven track record in studying fungal-bacterial interactions
• Research experience in studying bacterial protein secretion systems
• Research experience in the genetic manipulation of Gram-negative bacterial species, and model and pathogenic yeast species
• Research experience in anti-fungal effector mode-of-action
• Attention to detail and ability to work at high levels of accuracy
• Ability to present complex information effectively to a range of audiences
• Proven ability to analyse data and write-up results
• Experience of working collaboratively with colleagues
• Excellent IT skills in all major office applications
• The ability to use personal initiative and creativity to solve research problems
• Awareness of the research environment
• High level of analytical and problem solving capacity
• Ability to communicate complex information with clarity
• Experience of presentations at conferences and/or in high quality publications

Attributes and Behaviour:

• Commitment to working positively as a member of a multi-skilled research team
• Ability to negotiate and prioritise multiple, competing responsibilities and to work to deadlines
• Commitment to continued professional development
• Understanding of good practice in equality, inclusion and diversity

Qualifications:

• A PhD relevant to the research area is required (Biochemistry, Microbiology, Biomedical Sciences)

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution. We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society. We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population. At Newcastle University we hold a Gold Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality. We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education. We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme. In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe.