Postdoctoral Research Associate

We are inviting applications for a postdoctoral Scientist to work on the transmission dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 using a very large dataset of more than 120,000 viral genomes generated as part of the Office for National Statistics Covid Infection Survey. You will work within Prof Katrina Lythgoe’s Ecology and Evolution of Viruses Research Group based in the Department of Biology and affiliated with the Pandemic Sciences Institute. We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher with strong mathematical and statistical skills to complement the existing genomics expertise in the group. The position is available immediately until 31st March 2028, with the possibility of extension.

The post is part of a Wellcome Trust Collaborative grant ‘Harnessing epidemiological and genomic data for understanding of respiratory virus transmission at multiple scales’, working with researchers at the Universities of Manchester and Cambridge, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The project will involve the analysis of whole-genome deep-sequencing data collected as part of the Office for National Statistics Covid Infection Survey, with a focus on using household data to enable methods for determining who-infected-whom using viral sequence data. This is an incredibly rich dataset to ask questions about within-host evolution and transmission from typical and atypical infections in the community.

You will have a strong background in mathematics, statistics, population genetics, phylogenetics, epidemiological modelling, or machine learning. Highly motivated candidates with some, but not all, of the skills requested will be considered if you can demonstrate a willingness and an aptitude to learn, and bioinformatic and other support will be provided. Opportunities will be provided for training and support for future career development

We welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds, including those under-represented within higher education. No applicant or members of staff shall be unlawfully discriminated against on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

This post is full time, until 31 March 2028, and available immediately.

The closing date for applications is 12.00 noon on Friday 14th November. Applications for this vacancy are to be made online via our e-recruitment system, and you will be required to upload a supporting statement and CV as part of your online application.

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