About the job:
The School of Biological Sciences and Institute for Global Food Security at Queen’s University Belfast is currently seeking to appoint a microbiologist with bioinformatics experience to the post of Research Assistant. The appointee will join the AMR & One Health Lab, a team of interdisciplinary researchers working in veterinary and human microbiology, animal science, and bioinformatics.
The School of Biological Sciences and Institute for Global Food Security at Queen’s University Belfast invites applications for a Research Assistant in Microbiology and Bioinformatics. The successful candidate will join the AMR & One Health Lab, an interdisciplinary team spanning veterinary and human microbiology, animal science, and bioinformatics.
The postholder will characterise probiotic isolates using molecular approaches and analyse microbiota from a pig farm trial using 16S metataxonomic and shotgun metagenomic sequencing datasets. Priority will be given to candidates with expertise in bioinformatics, microbiology, and animal science.
Under the supervision of the Principal Investigator, the appointee will undertake laboratory and computational research aligned with project aims, including planning, executing, and reporting microbiological, molecular, and bioinformatic workflows to characterise gut microbiome profiles and investigate antimicrobial resistance in farmed animals.
The role involves developing and refining analytical methodologies to ensure robust data generation, statistical analysis, and accurate interpretation. The postholder will manage day to day research activities, coordinate laboratories and research resources, and contribute to short term project planning.
The appointee will prepare manuscripts for high quality journals and present findings at international conferences, providing regular progress updates to the research team and stakeholders. They will liaise with collaborators, colleagues, and students, contribute to research networks including the BBSRC ZINCLESS project, and support effective team working.
The role also includes routine administrative duties to ensure timely, budget compliant project delivery, including organising meetings, maintaining documentation, risk assessments, and supporting staff and students.
About the person
The successful candidate must have, and your application should clearly demonstrate that you meet the following essential criteria:
To be successful at shortlisting stage, please ensure you clearly evidence in your application how you meet the essential and, where applicable, desirable criteria listed in the Candidate Information.
Fixed term contract posts are available for the stated period in the first instance but in particular circumstances may be renewed or made permanent subject to availability of funding.
What we offer.
Beyond a competitive salary, the University offers an attractive benefits package including a holiday entitlement of up to 8.4 weeks a year, pension schemes and development opportunities. We support staff wellbeing with flexible working options, work-life balance initiatives and support for physical and mental health. You can find more detail on all of this and more at https://www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/HumanResources/pay-reward-and-benefits/
Queen's University is committed to promoting equality of opportunity to all. We subscribe to Equality Charter Marks such as the Diversity Charter Mark NI and Athena Swan and have established staff networks such as iRise (Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and International Staff Network) and PRISM (LGBTQ+) which help us progress equality. For further information on our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, please visit www.qub.ac.uk/diversity.
If you are an international applicant and don't already hold a visa that permits you to take up the role you are applying for, please use the information provided on our website to self-assess whether the University is likely to be able to support a visa application - http://go.qub.ac.uk/internationalstaffsupport
Candidate Information