Research Fellow in Computational Biology (Fixed term)

Are you an ambitious researcher looking for your next challenge? Do you have an established background in computational biology? Do you want to further your career in one of the UKs leading research intensive Universities?

We are looking for an outstanding postdoctoral research fellow to join the O’Connell lab at the University of Nottingham. The fellow will be part of a large team (£5.7M, funded by a BBSRC Strategic Longer and Larger grant) with the Universities of Leeds and Sheffield. The team aims to unravel the ‘ribosome code’, rules that explain how compositionally distinct ribosomes across eukaryotes enable translation of specific sets of mRNA. Specifically, the Research Fellow in Computational Biology will focus on uncovering common routes to specialisation across 1.5 billion years of eukaryotic life (spanning the diversity of fungi, plant and animal evolution). Our objectives are to generate hypotheses of sequence driven specialisation using conserved evolutionary features in ribosomal and associated proteins, and to establish the code for specialisation by integrating conserved evolutionary features and their structural and functional impacts. The approaches we will take include comparative genomics (of genome scale data from plants, fungi and animals), and phylogenomics. 

You must have a PhD in Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, or Molecular Evolution or a closely allied discipline; and experience in phylogenomics and machine learning methods applied to the evolution of molecular sequence data.

What does the role entail?

As a Research Fellow your main duties will include:

• Designing, planning and conducting a programme of investigation, in consultation with Dr Mary O’Connell; as well as the full project team led by Dr Julie Aspden
• Generating independent and original research ideas and methods in molecular evolution and their application to deciphering the specialise ribosome code
• Contributing to scientific discussions within the research team during group meetings, journal clubs and project meeting
• Keeping up-to-date with relevant literature and attending seminars
• Making a significant contribution to the dissemination of research results by publication in leading peer-reviewed journals, and by presentation at national and international meetings
• Working independently and as part of a larger team of researchers, both internally and externally, to develop new research links and collaborations and engage in knowledge transfer activities where appropriate
• Contributing to the supervision of junior researchers and PhD students and acting as a mentor to less experienced colleagues
• Evaluating methods and techniques used and results obtained by other researchers and relating such evaluations to your own research
• Contributing to, and encouraging, a safe working environment.

This position is offered on fixed term contract until 30^th March 2026. Hours are full time (36.25 hours per week). Job share arrangements may be considered.

Informal enquiries may be addressed to Mary O'Connell, mary.o'connell@nottingham.ac.uk. Please note that applications sent directly to this email address will not be accepted.

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