Postdoctoral Research Fellow

This full time post is available from 19 August 2024 on a fixed term basis until 31 January 2027.

The post

We seek a highly motivated and productive Postdoctoral Research Fellow to join a research programme led by Professors Neil Gow and Al Brown within the MRC CMM at the University of Exeter. The objective is to define how innate immune cells recognise the major pathogen, Candida albicans, and how this fungus evades immunity as it adapts to host niches. 

The successful applicant will: develop their ideas with Professors Gow and Brown; execute their own research project; collaborate effectively with other members of the team to help them complete their projects; write up their work for publication; present their work at conferences; integrate with other members of the MRC Centre for Medical Mycology as a whole; and contribute to the activities of the Centre (e.g. research, outreach and teaching).

The Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology (MRC CMM) is one of the most ambitious strategic investments in UK medical mycology. The MRC CMM is a world-leading research centre that is helping to tackle the major global threats to human health caused by fungal diseases. In fact, fungal infections now kill more people worldwide than malaria and similar numbers to tuberculosis.  The Centre brings together researchers from the fields of medicine and living systems, and the biological, chemical, physical and mathematical sciences to increase our understanding of fungal pathogens and cognate immune defences, and to identify new ways to diagnose, prevent and treat fungal diseases. A major activity of the MRC CMM is to increase UK capacity in fundamental and clinical research in medical mycology through research and training programmes for medical and biosciences students and early career researchers. The Centre has established strategic interactions with other national and international groups is promoting public engagement and understanding of our science.

About you

The successful applicant will be able to develop research objectives, projects and proposals; identify sources of research funding and contribute to the process of securing funds and make presentations at conferences and other events.

Applicants will possess a relevant PhD or equivalent qualification/experience in a related field of study. They will have proven expertise in many of the following areas: antifungal immunity; fungal recognition mechanisms; advanced fungal molecular and cell biology and biochemistry; advanced microscopy; genomics and/or proteomics; cytometry. They will have a proven ability to work independently on a cutting-edge, cross-disciplinary scientific research project, whilst collaborating effectively to help other members of a team. They will possess specialist knowledge in the discipline and have the initiative to develop research programmes and methodologies. The primary role will be to execute their own project successfully and contribute to publishing the resultant outputs. 

Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of this role.

Further information

For further information please contact Neil Gow, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research and Impact, telephone (via Neil’s PA, Sarah Warren 01392 723006) or email n.gow@exeter.ac.uk.

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