Research Fellow

Position Details

Department of Inflammation and Ageing, School of Infection, Inflammation and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £36,636 to £46,049 with potential progression once in post to £48,822. As this vacancy has limited funding the maximum salary that can be offered is Grade 7, salary £42,254.

Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to September 2030

Closing date: 3rd November 2025

Background

This is an exciting opportunity to join Dr Darren Ting's research group, funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC) Clinician Scientist Fellowship, focusing on the development of novel antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) to combat bacterial and fungal corneal infections and address the growing challenge of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Several approaches, including high throughput experiments, artificial intelligence, and integration with novel drug delivery systems, will be employed to accelerate the translation of the developed AMPs to the clinic.

The successful candidate will work within a multidisciplinary environment that bridges microbiology, material science, genomics, and ophthalmology, in collaboration with:

• Prof Liam Grover (Materials Science, University of Birmingham)
• Prof Alan McNally (Microbial Genomics, University of Birmingham)
• Prof Andrew Beggs (Genomics, University of Birmingham)
• Prof Saaeha Rauz (Ophthalmology, University Hospitals Birmingham)
• International partners at MIT, University of Pennsylvania and Singapore

This post offers the opportunity to contribute to translational research at the interface of ophthalmology, microbiology, genomics, antimicrobial discovery/development, and drug delivery systems, with access to world-class laboratory and clinical resources.

Role Summary

• Work within specified research grants and projects
• Contribute to designing, performing and analysing large scale microbiological experiments
• Contribute to cytotoxicity testing using human cell lines and red blood cells
• Contribute to mechanistic studies using biophysical assays and high-resolution confocal microscopy
• Contribute to developing and performing experiments using ex vivo eye models and/or in vivo pre-clinical mice models
• Work within the specified research grant and contribute to writing bids and generating additional funding
• Analyse and interpret research findings and results
• Work within the specified research grant and contribute to writing bids and generating additional funding

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
• Perform experiments, collect, analyse and interpret data
• Apply knowledge in a way which develops new intellectual understanding
• 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
• Undertake management/administration arising from research, including drafting of risk assessments and COSHH forms, and applying for ethics approval
• Contribute to Departmental/School research-related activities and research-related administration
• Contribute to enterprise, business development and/or public engagement activities of manifest benefit to the College and the University, often under supervision of a project leader
• Present research outputs, including drafting academic publications or parts thereof, for example at seminars and as posters
• Disseminate research findings for publication, research seminars etc
• Provide guidance, as required, to support staff and any students who may be assisting with the research
• Promotes equality and values diversity acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.

Person Specification

• First degree in area of biological or biomedical science and a PhD in the field of microbiology
• Significant experience with molecular and phenotypic microbiology experimentation, along with experience of bioinformatic analysis of microbial genomics and/or transcriptomic data
• Experience in cell culture techniques and cytotoxicity testing
• Familiarity with molecular biology techniques, including ELISA, qPCR, histoimmunochemistry, and flow cytometry
• Familiarity with high-resolution imaging e.g. fluorescent confocal microscopy
• Evidence of peer-reviewed publications and independent research project execution in the field of microbiology
• Computational and/or AI-related skillsets are highly desirable
• High level analytical capability
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly
• Fluency in relevant models, techniques or methods and ability to contribute to developing new ones
• Ability to assess resource requirements and use resources effectively
• Understanding of and ability to contribute to broader management/administration processes
• Contribute to the planning and organising of the research programme and/or specific research project
• Co-ordinate own work with others to avoid conflict or duplication of effort
  Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, and how to actively ensure in day to day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly.

Further particulars can be found here

Informal enquiries to Lisa Powell, email:

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