- Job Title
- Research Scientist
- Post Number
- 1004934
- Closing Date
- 7 Sep 2025
- Grade
- SC6
- Starting Salary
- Salary: £37,500 - £45,350
- Hours per week
- 37
- Months Duration
- 60
Job Description
Main Purpose of the Job
We are looking to hire a Research Scientist to support research in the Buscaino Lab, which has recently relocated to the Quadram Institute. This position is part of an exciting project focused on the fungal organism Candida albicans, a major component of the human microbiome and a significant opportunistic pathogen.
The project aims to understand how C. albicans adapts to different host environments and to uncover the key regulatory pathways that govern its transition from a harmless commensal to a pathogenic organism. A central focus will be on how C. albicans interacts with other members of the host microbiome and how these interactions influence its behaviour, colonisation, and virulence.
Key responsibilities will include generating C. albicans mutants using genome editing techniques and applying genomic and transcriptomic approaches to dissect regulatory networks involved in adaptation, host interaction, and pathogenicity. The role will be supported by the advanced sequencing and bioinformatics platforms available at the Quadram Institute, providing a rich environment for cutting-edge research at the host–microbe interface.
Key Relationships
Internal: The position will report to Prof Alessia Buscaino, who will lead the project at Quadram. The post-holder will also work closely with other researchers in the Buscaino Lab. They will also work alongside the Principal Investigator to supervise junior members of the lab, help coordinate ongoing research activities, contribute to the writing of scientific papers and funding proposals.
External: Externally, the post-holder will be expected to interact with academic collaborators in the UK and overseas, present findings at national and international conferences. The post-holder will engage in public outreach and science communication to share the lab’s research with broader audiences.
Main Activities & Responsibilities
- Percentage
- Experimental work – Genome engineering of Candida albicans; genomics, epigenomics, and transcriptomics
- 70
- Data analysis, collaboration, and writing – Data analysis; interaction with collaborators; writing scientific publications and project proposals for funding
- 20
- Supervision – Supervising junior researchers
- 5
- As agreed with the line manager, any other duties commensurate with the nature of the post
- 5
Person Profile
Education & Qualifications
- Requirement
- Importance
- PhD in Microbiology, Genetics or related discipline
- Essential
Specialist Knowledge & Skills
- Requirement
- Importance
- Genome editing in fungal organisms
- Essential
- Mycology with a focus on human fungal pathogens
- Essential
- Genome editing in fungal organisms Mycology with a focus on human fungal pathogens Genomics and transcriptomics
- Essential
Relevant Experience
- Requirement
- Importance
- Experience working with Candida albicans
- Essential
- Demonstrated ability to perform research
- Essential
- Authorship in peer-reviewed journal
- Essential
- Experience in supervising junior lab members
- Essential
Interpersonal & Communication Skills
- Requirement
- Importance
- Excellent communication skills, both written and oral
- Essential
- Good interpersonal skills, with the ability to work as part of a team
- Essential
Additional Requirements
- Requirement
- Importance
- Attention to detail
- Essential
- Promotes equality and values diversity
- Essential
- Willingness to embrace the expected values and behaviours of all staff at the Institute, ensuring it is a great place to work
- Essential
- Able to present a positive image of self and the Institute, promoting both the international reputation and public engagement aims of the Institute
- Essential
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and security of information where appropriate
- Essential
- Willingness to work outside standard working hours when required
- Essential
- Ability to undertake occasional travel (national and international) related to collaborations and/or seminars
- Essential
Who We Are
Quadram Institute Bioscience
The Quadram Institute is at the forefront of a new interface between food science, gut biology and health, developing solutions to worldwide challenges in food-related disease and human health.
We are engaged in fundamental and translational food and health research, alongside clinical studies, endoscopy and industry, working together to become a leading international hub for food and health research, combining scientific excellence and clinical expertise, delivering impacts on patient care and accelerating innovation.
The Quadram Institute is a diverse and multicultural scientific community. We thrive on our international and European links, appointing staff from across the world. Any candidate who would like further information on current or anticipated immigration requirements can contact the HR Team on +44 (0)1603 450888 or nbi.recruitment@nbi.ac.uk.
For more information about working at Quadram Institute Bioscience, please click here.
Department
Food, Microbiome and Health
Living in Norfolk
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Research Scientist
Applications are invited for a Research Scientist to join the Laboratory of Dr Alessia Buscaino in the Food, Microbiome and Health programme at Quadram Institute Bioscience (QIB), based in Norwich, UK.
Background:
The Buscaino Lab, which has recently relocated to the Quadram Institute, will explore an exciting project focused on the fungal organism Candida albicans, a major component of the human microbiome and a significant opportunistic pathogen.
The project aims to understand how C. albicans adapts to different host environments and to uncover the key regulatory pathways that govern its transition from a harmless commensal to a pathogenic organism. A central focus will be on how C. albicans interacts with other members of the host microbiome and how these interactions influence its behaviour, colonisation, and virulence.
Key responsibilities will include generating C. albicans mutants using genome editing techniques and applying genomic and transcriptomic approaches to dissect regulatory networks involved in adaptation, host interaction, and pathogenicity. The role will be supported by the advanced sequencing and bioinformatics platforms available at the Quadram Institute, providing a rich environment for cutting-edge research at the host–microbe interface.
The ideal candidate:
The successful candidate will have a PhD in microbiology, genetics, or a related discipline. They will have skills in genome editing in fungal organisms as well as skills in mycology with a focus on human fungal pathogens. Candidates will also have previous experience working with Candida albicans.
Additional information:
Salary on appointment will be within the range £37,500 to £45,350 per annum depending on qualifications and experience. This is a full-time post for a contract of 5 years.
This role meets the criteria for a visa application, and we encourage all qualified candidates to apply. Please contact the Human Resources Team if you have any questions regarding your application or visa options.
We are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion, and welcome applications from all sectors of society. The Institute values of Respect, Innovation, Collaboration and Excellence are at the heart of all we do, and we expect all employees to share and display these values. To support our commitment, we have a range of family, faith and diversity friendly working arrangements to help all staff achieve excellence in their area of work.
As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee to offer an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for this vacancy.
About the Quadram Institute:
The Quadram Institute is a new interdisciplinary research institute dedicated to understanding how food and microbes interact to promote health and prevent disease. Its mission is to deliver healthier lives through innovation in gut health, microbiology and food. A partnership between Quadram Institute Bioscience, the University of East Anglia, the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and BBSRC, it brings together scientists and clinicians in a state-of-the-art building on the Norwich Research Park. This is one of Europe’s largest centres of life sciences and home of the John Innes Centre and The Earlham Institute. (https://quadram.ac.uk/).
The closing date for applications will be 7 September 2025.
The Quadram Institute Bioscience is a registered charity (No. 1058499) and is an Equal Opportunities Employer.