Research Scientist

Applications are invited for a Research Scientist to undertake research projects which advance our understanding of the microbiome-gut-brain axis and its role in ageing. This role will be based in the group of Dr Aimee Parker in the Food, Microbiome and Health Programme at Quadram Institute Bioscience (QIB), Norwich, UK. 

The role: 

The successful candidate will establish gut-brain/gut-CNS microfluidic chip systems to enable the study of the role of microbial products in regulating gut-immune-CNS communication in human-relevant systems, paving the way to development of microbial therapeutics for clinical trials. 

The post holder will also contribute to the wider research within the Food, Microbiome and Health Programme. This multidisciplinary programme aims to generate mechanistic insights into how food and microbiome changes affect host responses within and beyond the gastrointestinal tract, and to develop microbiome interventions designed to improve and maintain long-term health. 

The ideal candidate: 

The ideal candidate will be a highly motivated scientist with an awarded, or soon to be awarded, PhD in Biology/Molecular Cell biology/Immunology/Neurobiology or a related discipline with evidenced experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Mammalian cell culture, ideally including experience with neuronal culture, iPSCs or multicellular systems, Microfluidic systems, organoids, organ-on-chip, Immunostaining/microscopy, Microbial culture, Molecular/Cell biology (e.g. RNA/DNA extraction, qPCR, sequencing), Immunoassays, ELISA, and flow cytometry. 

The successful candidate will have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to explain complex concepts clearly. They will have strong organisation and problem-solving abilities and the capacity to work independently while contributing to a collaborative team environment. 

Additional information:

Salary on appointment will be within the range £37,500 to £45,350 per annum depending on qualifications and experience. This is a full-time post until a funding end date of April 2028. 

For further information and details of how to apply, please click on the 'Apply' button above or contact the Human Resources team on 01603 450814 or nbi.recruitment@nbi.ac.uk quoting reference 1004994. 

This role meets the criteria for a visa application, and we encourage all qualified candidates to apply.   

We are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion, and welcome applications from all sectors of society. The Institute values of Respect, Innovation, Collaboration and Excellence are at the heart of all we do, and we expect all employees to share and display these values. To support our commitment, we have a range of family, faith and diversity friendly working arrangements to help all staff achieve excellence in their area of work. As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee to offer an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for this vacancy. 

About the Quadram Institute: 

The Quadram Institute is an interdisciplinary research institute dedicated to understanding how food and microbes interact to promote health and prevent disease. Its mission is to deliver healthier lives through innovation in gut health, microbiology and food. (https://quadram.ac.uk/). 

The closing date for applications will be Friday 28^th November 2025 

The Quadram Institute Bioscience is a registered charity (No. 1058499) and is an Equal Opportunities Employer.

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