Research Fellow

Salary: Full-time starting salary is normally in the range £37,369 to £46,970, with potential progression once in post to £49,798

Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract up to December 2030 

Background

A post-doctoral research fellow position is available in the Fungal Immunology Group within the Institute of Immunology & Immunotherapy, College of Medical & Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, led by Prof Rebecca Drummond. This role is to create and contribute to the creation of knowledge by undertaking a specified range of activities within an established research programme and/or specific research project.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and committed scientist to join our project team, which is aiming to better understand organ-specific immune responses against fungal pathogens. The successful candidate will make extensive use of a range of in vivo models of fungal infection and will have access to the wide range of transgenic tools and in vivo immunology techniques established in the Drummond lab. The candidate’s research will focus on characterising immune cells, especially tissue-resident subsets, and how these interact during fungal infection within the central nervous system. This is an exciting opportunity to investigate regulation of antifungal immunity in vivo. As an example of the work the team has previously published, please see Mohamed et al, Nature Communications 2023 and Hain et al, Nature Communications 2025. The position would ideally suit someone with an immunology background with a strong interest in fungal pathogens.

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.

• 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.
• Supervise students on research related work and provide guidance to PhD students where appropriate to the discipline.
• Contribute to developing new models, techniques and methods.

Person Specification

• A PhD relevant in immunology or microbiology (or near completion), or equivalent PhD level qualifications.
• High level analytical capability.
• First author publications in peer-reviewed journals.
• Previous experience and strong interest in medical mycology, immunology and/or infectious disease immunology.
• Holder of Home Office Personal Licence (or equivalent in-home country).
• Substantial experience of using in vivo mouse models to assess immune responses.
• Substantial experience in using flow cytometry to analyse in vivo immune responses.

Informal enquiries to Lisa Powell (CMH - Administration), email: l.h.powell@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. 

Closing date: 22/11/2026 23:59

Advert information