Research Associate (Fixed Term)

Are you excited by the prospect of uncovering how infections influence vulnerability to mental illness?

We are seeking a highly motivated researcher to join an ambitious, Wellcome-funded research programme at the intersection of epidemiology, psychiatry and functional genomics. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to a transformative research effort investigating how genetic risk and immunological exposures interact across the life course to influence the brain, behaviour, and psychiatric outcomes, with a particular focus on the effect of infections on anxiety.

Based in the BioMind Lab, led by Dr Mary-Ellen Lynall at the University of Cambridge, you will work closely with the interdisciplinary Anxiomics team led by Prof Duncan Astle. This vibrant group includes psychiatrists, immunologists, geneticists, computational scientists, and people with lived experience, united by a shared ambition: to transform our understanding of anxiety and depression through the lens of genetics, immunology and systems biology. 

The successful candidate will lead bioinformatic investigations focused on understanding the relationships between infectious exposures and mental health across the life course, with a particular focus on anxiety disorders. Working with large population cohort datasets that integrate genotypic, multi-omic, deep phenotypic and linked health record data, you will develop and apply analytical approaches to model life course effects on infection. 

For further details, please read the further particulars, please provide at least 3 references, a CV and covering letter indicating how you meet the criteria for this post.  

Informal enquiries are encouraged and may be directed to Dr Mary-Ellen Lynall, Principal Investigator mel41@cam.ac.uk

If you have any queries regarding the application process please contact Simon Gurry, HR Coordinator(hradminpsychiatry@medschl.cam.ac.uk).

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 2 years in the first instance.

Deadline for applications is  29th June 2026, with interviews TBC. 

To apply online for this vacancy and to view further information about the role, please click the 'Apply' button above. 

Applicants must have (or be close to obtaining) a PhD.

Appointment at Research Associate level is dependent on having a PhD. Those who have submitted but not yet received their PhD will initially be appointed as a Research Assistant (Grade 5, Point 38 £34,610) moving to Research Associate (Grade 7) upon confirmation of your PhD award.

Please ensure that you upload a covering letter and CV in the Upload section of the online application. The covering letter should outline how you match the criteria for the post and why you are applying for this role. If you upload any additional documents which have not been requested, we will not be able to consider these as part of your application.

Please include details of your referees, including email address and phone number, one of which must be your most recent line manager.

Please quote reference RN50004 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

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