Research Associate

We're thrilled to invite the application for a driven postdoctoral researcher to join Dr Roberto Feuda's lab within the Department of Genetics and Genome Biology at the University of Leicester. You will work on a project funded by the Human Frontier Science Program to understand the evolution of protein multifunctionality.

You will analyse the "natural variation" selective pressures acting on opsin genes of Drosophila melanogaster populations and identify sites that underlie the multifunctionality. The functional role of this variation will be tested experimentally by collaborators in Germany (Martin Göpfert), the United States (Anant Menon), and Canada (Belinda Chang).

The Feuda lab, composed of 8 members (and two cats as mascots), combines experimental and computational biology in different model systems to investigate different aspects of nervous system evolution, from genes to developmental gene regulatory networks and cell types.

Furthermore, you will be part of the Neurogenetics Group at the University of Leicester, composed of 8 PIs, 10 PDRAs and 20 PhD students. With research in evolutionary genomics (Feuda and Hammond, and Mallon labs), neurogenetics (Kyriacou, Rosato, and Chen labs), auditory physiology (Warren lab), and neurodegeneration (Giorgini lab). Expect active participation in group meetings and social activities to facilitate networking and independent collaborations. Other opportunities in science career development, including leadership, teaching opportunities, as well as grant and manuscript preparation, will also be part of the role.

The initial contract is for one year, with the possibility of extending it for a total of three years, contingent upon your satisfactory performance.