Research Fellow in Biofilms

We are looking to appoint highly motivated and ambitious Research Fellows (two posts available) to join the National Biofilms Innovation Centre (NBIC -  https://biofilms.ac.uk), Southampton site. The recently launched NBIC aims to create world-class interdisciplinary research and industry partnerships to deliver breakthrough science and technologies to control and exploit biofilms. NBIC is a multi-site Innovation and Knowledge Centre with the Universities of Southampton, Nottingham, Edinburgh and Liverpool as leads. Additional partners include a further 11 universities, three research centres – Diamond Synchrotron, the Hartree Centre and the Quadram Institute – and three major global partners – The Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE), the Centre for Biofilm Engineering at Montana State University and the Costerton Biofilm Centre in Copenhagen.

Biofilms are central to some of the most urgent global challenges and exert considerable economic impact across industry sectors.  They are a leading cause of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), forecast to cost $100tn in world GDP and 10m deaths by 2050. Biofilms are also a major cause of chronic infections, costing the NHS £2bn p.a. Contamination, energy losses and damage by biofilms impact on the £70bn UK foods industry, the $2.8 trillion consumer products sector, and $117bn global coatings industry. Biofilm management is essential to deliver clean and globally sustainable drinking water and food safety and security. 

The University of Southampton, is an institution in the top one per cent of world universities* and one of the UK’s top 15 research-intensive universities with an international reputation for research, teaching and enterprise activities. *QS World University Rankings 2012-13.

The successful candidate will be based in the department of Biological Sciences in the Faculty of Natural and Environment Sciences. The Faculty of Natural and Environmental Sciences boasts world-leading facilities, teaching and research in a wide range of disciplines, including microbiology, pharmacology, molecular biology, ecology, and ocean science. It has 1,560 undergraduate, 50 taught and 340 research postgraduate students, as well as around 240 academic and 130 research staff members.

You will have completed, or will be about to obtain, a PhD in a topic relevant to biofilms. Experience in bioinformatics, transcriptomic and microbiome analysis and the use of polymicrobial communities will be advantageous. Strong communication skills, excellent organisation, and a proven ability to work as part of a team are essential for this role. Other duties will include the preparation of project reports, dissemination of research findings, and training and supervision of PhD and final year project students.

This full-time fixed-term post is available immediately until 30 November 2019 with a possibility of extension for up to 3 more years subject to successful review of NBIC by the funders. 

 

For informal enquiries before submitting your application, contact Prof Jeremy Webb, J.S.Webb@soton.ac.uk. 

Please note that applications from agencies will not be accepted unless indicated in the job advert.

At the University of Southampton, we value diversity and equality.

 

Application Procedure

The application deadline will be midnight on the closing date stated above. If you need any assistance, please call Elsa Samwell (Recruitment Team) on +44 (0) 23 8059 2507. Please quote reference 998618BJ on all correspondence.

Applications for Research Fellow positions will be considered from candidates who are working towards or nearing completion of a relevant PhD qualification.  The title of Research Fellow will be applied upon successful completion of the PhD.  Prior to the qualification being awarded the title of Senior Research Assistant will be given.

 

We aim to be an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Please note that applications from agencies will not be accepted unless indicated in the job advert.