We’re looking for a Project Scientist to join the Laboratory of Professor Webber in the Microbes and Food Safety programme at Quadram Institute, based in Norwich, UK.

Background

This programme connects multiple research groups with a common aim of exploring the diversity of pathogenic bacteria present within the food chain and to improve understanding of how these pathogens can successfully survive and pose a food safety threat. This post will join a large team which enjoys new state of the art facilities for bacteriology and genomics, housed in a new purpose-built building. Work will focus on Campylobacter, Salmonella, E. coli and Listeria although not exclusively.

The role

The Project Scientist will join the Webber group and work closely with Dr Eleftheria Trampari as a direct point of contact. The post holder will work on a project which aims to investigate the potential of biocontrol agents in controlling foodborne disease on fresh produce.

Specific activities will include:

• Isolation of nucleic acids (RNA, DNA), quantification and preparation for sequencing.
• Determine expression of genes involved in competition between microbes by q RT PCR in the plant environment.
• Plan and complete phenotypic assays to determine role of specific genes in competition.
• Perform phenotypic assays on bacterial mutants to determine fitness in the plant environment and against other competing microbes.

The ideal candidate

Candidates are expected to have, or be imminently awarded a BSc degree or equivalent, it is an essential requirement for this role that the post holder has experience with microbial phenotypic assays (e.g., biofilm formation, antimicrobial testing, fitness and growth) and it is advantageous if the candidate has experience with measuring gene expression (e.g., qRT PCR).

Additional information

Salary on appointment will be within the range £26,600 to £32,800 per annum depending on qualifications and experience. This is a full-time post for a contract of 9 months.

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 1004458.

Interviews will be held w/c 12 June 2023.

This role does not meet the full salary requirements set by UKVI to allow for visa sponsorship.  However, some individuals may still be eligible for visa sponsorship depending on their personal circumstances.  If you require visa sponsorship, please click here to find out if you qualify before applying. Please note, the occupation code for this role is 2112 which is on the shortage occupation list.

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 22 May 2023.

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