Senior Research Associate in Polymicrobial Interactions

We are a world class research-intensive university. We deliver teaching and learning of the highest quality. We play a leading role in economic, social and cultural development of the North East of England. Attracting and retaining high-calibre people is fundamental to our continued success.

The Role
The post is required to study antifungal and dual-purpose effectors elicited by the bacterial Type VI secretion system. It will employ a multi-pronged approach to identify novel antifungal/dual-purpose effectors and determine the molecular basis of their anti-fungal action. This position is funded by a Wellcome Trust, and you will join a large collaborative team spread across five institutions with the common goal to drive forward our knowledge of the medical importance and molecular basis of T6SS mediated anti-fungal/dual-purpose effector activity.

Bacteria and fungi are ubiquitous in nature and co-colonise numerous environmental niches. Focusing on the human host, such cross-kingdom interactions are prevalent within the human microbiota, and are also found within biofilms and medically relevant infections. The type VI secretion system (T6SS) is widely used by bacteria to fire diverse effector proteins directly into neighbouring bacterial cells. This project is based on our recent discoveries that this 'anti-bacterial' T6SS is also a potent anti-fungal weapon, eliciting anti-fungal effectors that are able to kill pathogenic fungal species, and dual-purpose effectors that can target bacteria or host cells in addition to fungal competitors. As bacterial and fungal species co-exist in the human microbiome and disease-causing infections, we predict that anti-fungal T6SSs will shape many diverse microbial communities relevant to human health.

As part of our commitment to career development for research colleagues, the University has developed 3 levels of Research Innovation Role Profiles.pdf. These profiles set out firstly the generic competencies and responsibilities expected of role holders at each level and, secondly, the general qualifications and experiences needed for entry at a particular level.

This post is fixed-term for a period of 72 months.

For informal enquiries contact: Professor Janet Quinn, janet.quinn@ncl.ac.uk.

Find out more about the Faculty of Medical Sciences here: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/medical-sciences/.

Find out more about our Research Institutes here:
https://www.ncl.ac.uk/medical-sciences/research/institutes/.

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