Research Fellow in Within-Host Microbial Genomics

Research Fellow in Within-Host Microbial Genomics

The Division of Biosciences at UCL is one of the world's foremost centres for research and teaching in the biological sciences. We have an outstanding international reputation and a community of over 500 staff and more than 300 PhD students engaged in cutting edge research and collaboration. Further information can be found on our website.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a new Wellcome-funded research programme led by Dr Gemma Murray in the Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment at UCL. The programme will investigate how commensal bacteria contribute to the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance in bacterial pathogens. The postholder will join a growing interdisciplinary research team bringing together expertise in evolutionary biology, genomics, microbiology, ecology and quantitative modelling.

We are looking to appoint an enthusiastic Research Fellow with interests in bacterial evolution, genomics and antimicrobial resistance to take a leading role in a major component of a new Wellcome-funded research programme. The Fellow will work on a longitudinal study of pigs on commercial farms in Catalonia, Spain, combining repeated sampling of individuals over time with deep sequencing of within-host bacterial diversity to investigate how bacterial strains and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes spread, persist and move within and between hosts, and how these processes are shaped by antimicrobial treatment.

The study will generate a high-resolution longitudinal dataset combining deep sequencing of culture-enriched S. suis populations, shotgun metagenomics, targeted single-colony sequencing and long-read sequencing with detailed host, treatment and epidemiological metadata.

The postholder will work closely with the PI, veterinarians, technical staff and collaborators to shape sampling and sequencing strategies, contribute to fieldwork and sample processing, and develop the analytical approaches used to interpret these data. They will take a leading role in genomic and statistical analyses, applying and developing approaches to investigate within-host diversity, transmission and AMR gene flow. There will be substantial scope to develop new analytical pipelines and methodological approaches, and to shape the direction of the research as new questions emerge. We do not expect candidates to have prior experience in all of these areas, and training and support will be available in areas outside the postholder's existing expertise.

This post is being advertised alongside a complementary Research Fellow position focused on global AMR dynamics in S. suis. Each Fellow will lead a distinct component of the research programme, while also having opportunities to work together to connect processes occurring within and between hosts to patterns observed across global bacterial populations.

The start date is flexible and can be agreed in discussion with the line manager. The post is funded by Wellcome for three years, with possibility of extension. The postholder will be based in the Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment at UCL. The role involves a combination of computational, laboratory, field sampling and collaborative work, with regular on-site working required. It will involve several research trips to Catalonia during the project, particularly during periods of farm sampling. The postholder will be line managed by Dr Gemma Murray.

The successful candidate will have a PhD, or PhD close to completion, in microbial genomics, microbiology, bioinformatics, epidemiology or a closely related discipline, together with a strong understanding of bacterial evolution and genomics. They will have experience analysing microbial genomic data and experience of research involving biological samples, with an understanding of relevant bacterial culture, sample-processing and sequencing workflows. They should be interested in working across the field, laboratory, sequencing and analytical components of the project.

We are looking for someone who can work effectively and collaboratively across disciplines, organise and coordinate complex research activities, and contribute intellectually to the development of the project as it progresses. Additional practical experience relevant to the project, such as in microbiological or molecular laboratory methods, livestock or veterinary sampling, sequencing workflows, or development of bioinformatic pipelines would be particularly valuable.

If you need reasonable adjustments or a more accessible format to apply for this job online or have any queries about the application process, please contact the HR Administrator.

If you have any queries about the role, please contact Dr Gemma Murray.

This appointment is subject to UCL Terms and Conditions of Service for Academic Staff. Please visit for more information.

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• 41 Days holiday (27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)
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• Relocation scheme for certain posts
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