We’re looking for a Project Scientist to join the Microbes and Food Safety Institute Strategic Programme.

The Microbes and Food Safety research programme aims to reduce human foodborne illness through improved food safety and reduce food waste due to microbial spoilage.

The role

The Project Scientist will support the investigation of food spoilage and the transmission of foodborne pathogens. The role will include the isolation and proper storage of bacteria of interest from food, the use of molecular, genomic and phenotypic assays to characterise the microbiota of food and sample preparation for microscopy and sequencing. Methods may include: isolate identification (by both culture and DNA analysis); antibiotic susceptibility testing; biofilm evaluation; and monitoring evolution under stress as well as the isolation of nucleic acids for metagenomic sequencing and fixing samples for microscopy.

The ideal candidate

The ideal candidate will have a BSc or equivalent in microbiology or related sciences. They will have knowledge of and experience working with pathogenic microorganisms (HG2) and extraction of nucleic acids. They will also have previous experience of working in a multiuser biological research laboratory and adhering to quality control processes and reporting.

Additional information

Salary on appointment will be within the range £27,750 to £34,500 per annum depending on qualifications and experience. This is a full-time post for a contract of 4 years.

For further information and details of how to apply, please visit the HR website or contact the Human Resources team on 01603 450814 or nbi.recruitment@nbi.ac.uk quoting reference 1004520.

We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sectors of society.  The Institute supports equality of opportunity within the workplace and expects 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.

About the Quadram Institute

The Quadram Institute is a new interdisciplinary research institute dedicated to understanding how food and microbes interact to promote health and prevent disease. Its mission is to deliver healthier lives through innovation in gut health, microbiology and food. A partnership between Quadram Institute Bioscience, the University of East Anglia, the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and BBSRC, it brings together scientists and clinicians in a state-of-the-art building on the Norwich Research Park. This is one of Europe’s largest centres of life sciences and home of the John Innes Centre and The Earlham Institute.

The closing date for applications will be 18 September 2023

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