Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Assay Development Scientist)

The above full-time post is available immediately on a fixed-term basis for 2 years, with scope for extension, in the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences.

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 of fungal interactions with host cells, adhesion and biofilm formation, tolerance of in-host stress, time-kill and resistance emergence. Longer-term aims will shift to undertake cross-profiling of hit and lead compounds against a panel of human fungal pathogens in preparation for full drug discovery programmes. The appointed individual 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.

The successful applicant will be able to demonstrate: extensive experience in the development and implementation of medium to high throughput automated workflows for the discovery of antimicrobial drugs; planning and management of discovery team activities according to strict time-scales; industry-standard ways of working including practical experience of GLP implementation (extending to electronic record-keeping, and auditable processes for data acquisition, analysis and curation). You will be 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.

Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification (available on the university's website, accessed by the 'Apply' button) for full details of this role.

What we can offer you

• 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.
• 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.

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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