Research Technician in Microbiology - UOD2155

We are recruiting for a highly motivated Microbiology Research Technician to join our team in an interdisciplinary project, working on antibacterial drug discovery. You will work with microbiologists and drug discovery scientists to support bacterial strain construction, tissue culture maintenance, infection experiments and compound screening. This project is a joint programme between the Division of Molecular Microbiology (MMB) and the Drug Discovery Unit (DDU) at the University of Dundee, and is one part of a wider international consortium funded by the Gates Foundation, Wellcome and Novonordisk.

The post provides an opportunity to:

• Be a part of a world-leading university-based drug discovery project
• Develop skills in tissue culture, bacterial genetics, and cell biology
• Contribute to delivering drug candidates that address unmet major global diseases

The DDU is a fully integrated “Biotech style” drug discovery organisation with cutting edge facilities (www.drugdiscovery.dundee.ac.uk). We are passionate about tackling unmet medical need. We have two areas of activity: drug discovery for globally important neglected and emerging infectious diseases (including tuberculosis, other antibioticresistant bacterial infections, malaria, fungal infections), that affect millions of people across the world every year; and Innovative Targets across a variety of different diseases, including neurosciences and women’s health.

The Molecular Microbiology Division (MMB) studies bacterial biology and regulation, with a focus on mechanistic underpinnings of physiology. MMB and DDU working together with external collaborators are developing novel approaches to antibacterial therapy.

Your priorities will include:

• Regular maintenance of tissue culture cell lines
• Constructing genetically modified Klebsiella pneumoniae bacterial strains, together with other team members
• Performing tissue culture infection experiments in which bladder or airway epithelial cells are infected with K. pneumoniae and treated with test compounds of interest
• Working together with microbiologists, computational drug discovery scientists, medicinal chemists and others in the DDU, MMB, and external collaborators to analyse and interpret the data.
• Presenting data in a clear way to the rest of the team. Who we’re looking for:
• Highly motivated, self-directed individuals qualified with an undergraduate or masters level degree in microbiology or a related area
• Experience with genetic manipulation of Enterobacteriaceae is preferred
• Experience with medium- or high-throughput compound screening approaches
• Strong interpersonal, communication and coordination skills
• Strong solution-oriented attitude and a high motivation to learn

We are one of the UK’s leading universities, internationally recognised for our expertise across a range of disciplines and research breakthroughs in multiple areas, including science, medicine and engineering, amongst many others. Our purpose is to transform lives, locally and globally, which we do as a community of staff (Professional Services and academic Schools), students and alumni.

Dundee lies in an area of outstanding natural beauty, including large sandy beaches and the Scottish Highlands less than an hour away. The city has lots to offer with fantastic attractions such as the striking V&A Dundee, the Dundee Rep, Dundee Contemporary Arts and more. Read more about the rewarding work and life environment in Dundee (wcair.dundee.ac.uk/about-us/work-and-life-in-dundee).

For further information about this position please contact Megan Bergkessel at MBergkessel001@dundee.ac.uk, Daniel Neill at DNeill001@dundee.ac.uk, or Sarah Coulthurst at s.j.coulthurst@dundee.ac.uk. To find out more about the DDU and the Molecular Microbiology Division, please visit drugdiscovery.dundee.ac.uk and www.dundee.ac.uk/life-sciences/research/molecular-micro biology.

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