Postdoctoral Research Associate in Environmental Engineering and Microbiology

The Role and Department
Biosciences is one of the very best departments in the UK (2^nd Guardian 2027, 4^th Complete University Guide 2027) and it has an outstanding reputation for excellence in teaching, research, and the employability of our students. The department provides a dynamic and interdisciplinary research environment.

The Role

Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Environmental Engineering and Microbiology to join CARMA – the Co-selection of Antimicrobial Resistance by Metals Alliance. CARMA is a large, transdisciplinary UKRI-funded research programme investigating how metal pollution in rivers and wastewater co-selects for antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and what this means for human health, environmental regulation and intervention. It is a collaboration between colleagues in the UK and India, bringing together Durham University, Imperial College London, the University of Birmingham, the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi and Pondicherry University, with environmental engineers, microbiologists, infection specialists, modellers, economists, genomic experts, patients and practitioners.

This post is based in the Department of Biosciences but has substantial engineering content, focused on water quality, water chemistry and environmental measurement. The post-holder will lead the design and delivery of harmonised environmental sampling at an array of river sites in Northern England, and work with partners in India who are carrying out parallel sampling on the Ganges, Yamuna and near Chennai, so that samples are collected and analysed in the same way at every site.

Working with Professor David Graham and Dr Marcos Quintela-Baluja, the post-holder will develop a structured sampling plan with our Indian partners; oversee sample collection and processing, including culture-based microbiology, metal and water chemistry analyses, DNA extraction and preparation of samples for genomic and metagenomic sequencing; and build a well-organised project archive and database that makes the field data available to all partners. A central part of the role is to act as the interface between field sampling and the project’s bioinformatics, modelling, economics and clinical teams, turning field observations into consistent, well-documented datasets that those colleagues can use. Detailed bioinformatic analysis will be carried out by a second PDRA and by partners elsewhere in the project. Therefore, the role requires working knowledge of metagenomics, bioinformatics, and statistics; modelling and economics can be learned on the job.

The post reports to Professor David Graham and is co-managed by Dr Marcos Quintela-Baluja. Hybrid working is possible. Because the role involves laboratory and field work, the post-holder will normally be expected on site in Durham three to four days a week, although we are happy to discuss flexible arrangements. A full driving licence is required to reach field sites.

Closing Date: 23-Nov-2026, 11:59:00 PM

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