Research Scientist

Applications are invited for a Research Scientist to join the Laboratory of Prof Narbad in the Food Innovation and Health programme at Quadram Institute Bioscience (QIB), based in Norwich, UK.

Background:

The Narbad group is working on the role of food and gut commensals on health and disease in humans and animals. We have particular interest in fermented foods and isolation and characterisation of gut commensal bacteria for use as probiotics for biocontrol of gut pathogens. Mechanisms of competitive exclusion phenomena are being investigated with the objective of designing next generation SMART probiotics with improved functionality. Application of bacteriotherapy and identification and characterisation of novel antimicrobials, including bacteriophage endolysins that target gut pathogens (such as Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens) and the impact of these biomolecules on the gut microbial communities is another area of active research within the group.

The role:

The successful candidate will join a team working in the area gut commensal microbiota and the biocontrol of pathogens.  The post-holder will work on lactic acid bacterial strains that play a role in fermentation of food. They will screen and establish possible probiotic functionality of these strains using a number of different in vitro assays.

The ideal candidate:

Candidates will have PhD in microbiology or cell biology and have experience of using cell culture and immunoassays. Ability to handle anaerobic gut bacteria would be desirable.

Additional information:

Salary on appointment will be within the range £32,578 to £39,938 per annum depending on qualifications and experience. This is a full-time post for a contract of 6 months.

Further information and details of how to apply can be found here or contact the Human Resources team on 01603 450462 or nbi.recruitment@nbi.ac.uk quoting reference 1004117.

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 30th September 2021.

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