Graduate Research Assistant

Faculty of Health and Life Sciences  

The post 

The Faculty wishes to recruit a Graduate Research Assistant to support the work of Dr. Sandra Catania. This MRC funded post is available from 1st September 2025 to 31st August 2026. The successful applicant will join the Catania lab to investigate the role of chromatin modification in the adaptation and virulence of Cryptococcus neoformans. 

As part of this post, you will play an important role in supporting the academic team in the day-to-day running of the laboratory and in delivering core research activities. Your responsibilities will include assistance with molecular biology techniques such as PCR, cloning, nucleic acid extraction and creation of C. neoformans mutants. You will also contribute to experimental work including growth assays, phenotypic screening, and fluorescence microscopy, as well as ensure accurate maintenance of laboratory records, inventories, and equipment.  

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

What we can offer you 

• Freedom (and the support) to pursue your intellectual interests and to work creatively across disciplines to produce internationally exciting research; 
• Support teams that understand the University wide research and teaching goals and partner with our academics accordingly  
• An Innovation, Impact and Business directorate that works closely with our academics providing specialist support for external engagement and development 
• Our Exeter Academic initiative supporting high performing academics to achieve their potential and develop their career 
• A multitude of staff benefits including sector leading benefits around maternity, adoption and shared parental leave (up to 26 weeks full pay), Paternity leave (up to 6 weeks full pay), and a Fertility Treatment Policy 
• A beautiful campus set in the heart of stunning Devon 

The University of Exeter  

We are a member of the prestigious Russell Group of research-intensive universities and in the top 200 universities in the world (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024 and QS World University Ranking 2024). We combine world-class teaching with world-class research, achieving a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework Award 2023, underpinned by Gold ratings for Student Experience and Student Outcomes. 

Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Commitment 

We are committed to ensuring reasonable adjustments are available for interviews and workplaces. 

Whilst all applicants will be judged on merit alone, we particularly welcome applications from groups currently underrepresented within our working community.   

Further information 

For further information please contact Dr. Sandra Catania, e-mail s.catania@exeter.ac.uk   

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