Research Assistant Student Placement

Full time: 35 hours per week
Fixed term: 36 months (ending no later than 31/03/2029)
The Morrison group at the Roslin Institute is looking for a suitably experienced postdoctoral research fellow to join our team to study immunosuppression during trypanosome infection of cattle, and the impact of this immunosuppression on vaccine efficacy. Using our specialised containment facilities they will conduct experimental vaccination regimes, infection of cattle with trypanosomes, and generate and analyse data relating to these experiments. With collaborators at the Pirbright Institute, the fellow will participate in the analysis of the B cell and antibody response, and use these data to gain insights into the immunosuppression mediated by trypanosomes in cattle, and how this impacts upon B cell and antibody responses in the context of vaccination. The researcher will benefit from being part of a strong collaborative grouping of pathogen and bovine immunology specialists, and will be provided with a range of relevant resources and training, relating to analysis and understanding the bovine B cell and antibody response.
This post is full-time (35 hours per week). PhD in a relevant discipline (e.g. immunology), or equivalent.
Evidence of independently planning and successfully executing complex and long-term experiments.
A competitive salary
An exciting, positive, creative, challenging and rewarding place to work.
To be part of a diverse and vibrant international community
Comprehensive Staff Benefits, such as a generous holiday entitlement, competitive pension schemes, staff discounts, and family-friendly initiatives. Championing equality, diversity and inclusion
We are members of the Race Equality Charter and we are also Stonewall Scotland Diversity Champions, actively promoting LGBT equality.
The closing date for applications is 16th January 2026.
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As a world-leading research-intensive University, we are here to address tomorrow’s greatest challenges. Between now and 2030 we will do that with a values-led approach to teaching, research and innovation, and through the strength of our relationships, both locally and globally.
The Roslin Institute receives strategic investment from the Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and provides national capability to achieve sustainable agriculture, control diseases and enhance health through pioneering animal bioscience.
The Institute is a key part of the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies. In the most recent Research Excellence Framework exercise, a joint submission by the School and Scotland’s Rural College placed first in the United Kingdom for agriculture, food and veterinary sciences.
It has a vibrant programme ( ) (opens in a new browser tab) of postgraduate research and a thriving student community.
Research at the Institute is organised across eight divisions (Quantitative Biology, Genome Biology, Functional Genetics, Translational Bioscience, Bacteriology, Virology, Immunology, and Epidemiology) and two Institute Strategic Programmes funded by the BBSRC from 2023-28 (Genes & Traits for Healthy Animals and Prevention & Control of Infectious Diseases).
Over £380M has been invested in physical infrastructure at Easter Bush since 2008, including for research on key terrestrial and aquatic farmed animals. This includes the National Avian Research Facility, a £24M Large Animal Research & Imaging Facility, Aquaculture facilities for fish and shellfish, and an Innovation Centre that is now fully occupied with commercial tenants. The campus serves as a key innovation hub for the Agri-Tech, Aquaculture and Animal Bioscience (3A) sector and Roslin has extensive partnerships with businesses, including animal breeding and pharmaceutical businesses able to translate its discoveries at global scale.
The Institute has a positive and inclusive culture and holds a prestigious Athena SWAN Gold award in recognition of its commitment to advance the careers of women in science.
Further details of the research conducted at the Institute can be found at The Roslin Institute website ( ) (opens in a new browser tab).