Research Fellow (Postdoctoral)

Salary: Full time starting salary is normally in the range £36,636 to £46,049 with potential progression once in post to £48,822 

Background

A Postdoctoral Research Fellow position is available in the research group of Prof. Carolina Rezaval at the University of Birmingham, UK. The successful candidate will investigate how the brain prioritises behaviour when animals face conflicting internal needs and changing environmental demands.

This position forms part of the Wellcome Trust Discovery Award programme “Decoding Competition in the Brain”. The programme is driven by recent advances revealing how neuromodulatory circuits dynamically reshape decision-making under conflict (Cazalé-Debat, Scheunemann et al., Nature 2024; Day & Rezaval, Curr. Opin. Neurobiol. 2026), and how competitive pressure reconfigures behavioural priorities (unpublished work). Using Drosophila melanogaster, we combine quantitative behavioural paradigms with neural circuit mapping, advanced genetics, two-photon functional imaging, and molecular approaches to uncover fundamental principles governing behavioural choice.

The post holder will be embedded within an exciting and interdisciplinary research programme involving multiple postdoctoral researchers and PhD students. The project will be flexible and shaped by the candidate’s interests and expertise, with scope to develop independent directions within the broader programme. The position is available 

Role Summary

• Work within specified research grants and projects and contribute to writing bids 
• Operate within area of specialism
• Analyse and interpret research findings and results 
• Contribute to generating funding 
• Contribute to licensing or spin out deals with demonstrated commercial success (such as revenues, asset or company sales, IP generated) and/or public understanding of the discipline or similar

Main Duties

The responsibilities may include some but not all of the responsibilities outlined below.

• Conduct experiments, troubleshoot, and analyse data under Prof. Rezaval’s supervision to deliver on this Wellcome Trust research goals
• Develop research objectives and proposals for own or joint research, with assistance of a mentor if required
• Contribute to writing bids for research funding
• Analyse and interpret data
• Apply knowledge in a way which develops new intellectual understanding
• Disseminate research findings for publication, research seminars etc

Person Specification

• First degree in Life Sciences/Biological Sciences/Genetics/Cell Biology/Neuroscience/Biochemistry or related disciplines, and either a PhD (or near to completion) or equivalent research experience in one of such related disciplines
• High level analytical capability
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly
• Ability to assess resource requirements and use resources effectively 
• Willingness to work in an international, competitive research environment
• Fluency in relevant techniques or methods, and ability to contribute to developing new ones, within the disciplines mentioned above (for example, behaviour, live calcium imaging, genetics, confocal, 2P microscopy, basic programming and/or molecular biology)
• Ability to manage resources efficiently and coordinate work with others
• Understanding of and ability to contribute to broader management/administration processes

Desirable

• Experience working with Drosophila, live calcium imaging, Matlab/Python programming and/or behaviour
• A good publication record in neuroscience.

Further details: www.rezavallab.org.

Informal enquiries to Carolina Rezaval, email: c.rezaval@bham.ac.uk 

To download the full job description and details of this position and submit an electronic application online please click on the 'Apply' button above.

Valuing excellence, sustaining investment
We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working

Closes: 26th April 2026, 23:59

Advert information