Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Assay Development Scientist)

Faculty of Health and Life Sciences

This new full-time post is immediately available until 31 August 2028 on a fixed term basis.

This role may be subject to additional background screening.

The Post

The MRC Centre for Medical Mycology (MRC CMM) seeks an experienced assay development scientist to join a recently funded 5-year programme of antifungal drug discovery at the MRC Centre for Medical Mycology. This exciting new programme connects MRC CMM researchers with drug discovery experts and scientists from the Dundee Drug Discovery Unit (DDU) (www.drugdiscovery.dundee.ac.uk/) and GSK Global Health Medicines R&D to facilitate the discovery and development of new drugs for invasive fungal diseases. Together, the MRC CMM, DDU and GSK GHM form a dynamic and multidisciplinary group that covers all aspects of drug discovery up to candidate selection.

This role has two key aspects. In the first instance, our goal is to develop new primary phenotypic screening assays for drugs exhibiting fungicidal activity against the multidrug resistant human fungal pathogen Candida auris, as well as the development and implementation of solutions at CMM for scale up and automation of screening. Secondly, to develop a panel of new secondary phenotypic screening assays, to improve our understanding of the relationship between in vitro observations and in vivo drug efficacy. Areas of interest are: development of live-cell imaging assays for understanding the intracellular stage fungal interactions with host cells, adhesion and biofilm formation, tolerance of in-host stress, time-kill and resistance emergence. Longer-term the aims will shift to cross-profiling of hit and lead compounds against a panel of human fungal pathogens in preparation for full drug discovery programmes.

The successful applicant will be a senior member of the UoE Assay Development and Drug Discovery team, providing day to day oversight and guidance of the activities of the wider research team and reporting to the local and international Programme Leads. In the medium to long term, you will expected to contribute to the overall portfolio by identifying and developing potential new approaches and projects. Career development opportunities will be available for the right candidate, including continuing education, conference attendance, scientific publishing and development of funding applications.

The post is initially offered for 3 years, with scope for extension, subject to approval.

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

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. 

We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and welcome applications from service people.

Further information

Before submitting an application you may wish to discuss the post further by contacting Elaine Bignell, Co-Director (Research) MRC Centre for Medical Mycology, e.bignell@exeter.ac.uk.

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