Group Leader – Food-Microbiome Modelling And Host-Microbe Interactions in Norfolk

The Quadram Institute invites applications for an ambitious and collaborative Group Leader (Professor or Associate Professor equivalent) or Career Track Group Leader (Assistant Professor equivalent) to establish an independent research programme focused on advancing our understanding of how food and food components influence the human gut microbiome and host health. This strategic appointment will strengthen our Future Food research theme by developing new approaches, assays and model systems to investigate diet-microbiome-host interactions.

The role offers an exceptional platform to build a world-leading research programme, supported by a substantial package with an equivalent value of up to £500,000, including postdoctoral research support, start-up funding, consumables, research expenses, and access to state-of-the-art core facilities.

Your Research Vision

You will develop an independent research programme focused on innovative microbiome models, assays and analytical approaches that provide new mechanistic insights into diet-microbiome-host interactions. Areas of interest may include, but are not limited to:

• Advanced in vitro and ex vivo microbiome assays, including high-throughput, functional and mechanistic approaches to studying the impact of foods and food components on the microbiome.
• Diet-microbiome-health relationships and microbiome-driven mechanisms, including models of human digestion.
• Minimal, synthetic or engineered microbiome systems.
• Models and tools to investigate host-microbe metabolic interactions and microbial community dynamics, including organoid and organ-on-chip technologies.
• Development of enhanced, standardised or scalable microbiome assay platforms.

We welcome researchers who combine technological innovation with biological insight, whether through novel model systems, advanced molecular and analytical techniques, computational approaches, or integrated multi-omics methodologies. Your research should complement our strategic priorities in novel foods and nutrition science, sustainable food systems, and translational health research.

Alongside delivering against the Institute's research objectives, you will be expected to establish a strong and sustainable research funding portfolio, develop collaborative projects within the Institute and beyond, and engage with partners across industry and government.

Who Should Apply

We welcome applications from candidates with backgrounds including microbiology, biochemistry, bioinformatics, computational biology, nutrition science, immunology, gastroenterology, analytical chemistry and bioengineering. What matters most is a clear and compelling vision for advancing microbiome science, a track record appropriate to your career stage, and a commitment to collaborative and translational research.

Candidates should be able to demonstrate:

• An excellent publication record.
• Success, or clear potential, in securing competitive research funding commensurate with career stage.
• Experience in establishing, leading or contributing to productive research teams.
• A clear vision for developing collaborative and impactful research programmes.

More information about the role can be found in the Group Leader Recruitment Pack (PDF). Completed applications should include:

• A description of (i) current research activities and (ii) short and longer-term research aims and strategic objectives (2-3 pages each).
• Curriculum Vitae.
• Covering letter outlining your motivation for applying.

Successful applicants will be appointed either to an indefinite Group Leader position or, for candidates at an earlier stage of their independent research career, a Career Track Group Leader position on a five-year contract with tenure subject to review. To support the successful development of your research programme, the role includes a significant support package with an equivalent value of up to £500,000, comprising:

• Postdoctoral research support.
• Start-up funding.
• Budget for consumables and other research expenses.
• Access to cutting-edge core services, including next-generation sequencing and bioinformatics, advanced bioimaging, and Human Studies facilities.

You will join a collaborative and supportive research environment with competitive salary and benefits packages (dependent on qualifications and experience). Relocation support is also available. This is an exciting opportunity to establish new capabilities in microbiome research and contribute to a deeper understanding of how food, diet and the gut microbiome influence human health.

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.

The closing date for applications will be 6 December 2026. We reserve the right to close the advert prior to the closing date stated should we receive a high volume of applications. It is therefore advisable that you submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

The Quadram Institute Bioscience is a registered charity (No. 1058499) and is an Equal Opportunities Employer.