- Job Title
- Research Scientist (Metagenomics)
- Post Number
- 1006099
- Closing Date
- 17 May 2026
- Grade
- SC6
- Starting Salary
- Salary: £37,500 - £43,350
- Hours per week
- 37
- Project Title
- Gut microbial colonization and adaptation to the human host.
- Months Duration
- 24
Job Description
Main Purpose of the Job
Applications are invited for a Research Scientist to join the Laboratory of Prof Hildebrand in the Food, Microbes and Health programme at Quadram Institute Bioscience (QIB), Norwich, UK.
The project will investigate how bacterial genomes evolve in closely related family members. Specifically the adaptation to individuals through genetic mutation and DNA modification will be investigated, relying on 3rd generation DNA sequencing from hundreds of faecal metagenomes from the newly established PEARL-AGE cohort.
The ideal candidate will have experience in working with metagenomic data, understanding the gut ecosystem, understanding bacterial evolution. Specifically knowledge in bioinformatics, cohort management, population genetics or comparative genomics, understanding either bacteria or microeukaryotes and how to analyse these in communities, will be of benefit.
The candidate will quantify adaptive processes, that microbial strains undergo in short time spans (in some cases within weeks, in others over a human lifetime). To understand these evolutionary processes better, we will explore microbial genome plasticity using classical bioinformatics (such as assembly, genome binning, gene predictions), but also population genetics, and rely on 3rd generation sequencing data. In these, we will track DNA modifications (methylations) across different metagenomes and microbial species. The overall aim is to explore microbiomes at unprecedented resolution, to resolve eco-evolutionary processes determining resilience and functional plasticity of gut microbial communities.
Long-term, this work will contribute to developing the next generation of human gut microbiome treatments and enabling personalised & data driven medicine.
Key Relationships
The post holder will work closely with other group members, the line manager Dr Falk Hildebrand (Group Leader), and key collaborators (local as well as international). The applicant is expected to help in the supervision of junior group members and to represent the group at trainings. The applicant will have direct access to established PacBio/ONT, Hi-C and single cell sequencing facilities, as well as one of UK’s largest HPC cluster at the NRP.
Main Activities & Responsibilities
- Percentage
- Analyse pro- and eukaryotic MAGs (metagenomic assembled genomes) from gut metagenomes, their community structure and functional potential.
- 35
- Investigate microbial adaptation in time series metagenomes using population genetics. Develop the analytical workflows to integrate DNA mutations and modifications.
- 35
- Cohort-related tasks on already established cohort (logistics, recruitment, ethics).
- 20
- Support group with tasks such as outreach, student supervision, writing grants.
- 5
- As agreed with the line manager, any other duties commensurate with the nature of the post, for example, contributing to the work of Institute committees.
- 5
Person Profile
Education & Qualifications
- Requirement
- Importance
- PhD in Bioinformatics, Population Genetics, Ecology or Microbiology, or equivalent experience
- Essential
Specialist Knowledge & Skills
- Requirement
- Importance
- Programming skills (C++ or Perl or python or R)
- Essential
- Ability to work independently on research projects
- Essential
- Initiative and a desire to learn, to innovate, and to move out of their comfort zone
- Essential
- Ability to troubleshoot and solve problems
- Essential
Relevant Experience
- Requirement
- Importance
- Familiarity with DNA sequencing related bioinformatics
- Essential
- Proven track-record of research output at the appropriate level
- Essential
- Supervising lab members
- Essential
- Experience of grant writing
- Desirable
- Metagenomics or population genetics experience
- Desirable
- Previous cohort supervision or creation
- Desirable
- Working with DNA mutations or modifications (bioinformatics)
- Desirable
Interpersonal & Communication Skills
- Requirement
- Importance
- Excellent communication skills, both written and oral
- Essential
- Promotes and strives for continuous improvement
- Essential
- Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to work alone and as part of a team
- Essential
- Reliable and conscientious
- 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
- Willingness to work outside standard working hours when required
- Essential
- Willingness to undertake any necessary training for the role
- 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
Group Details
The Hildebrand group uses metagenomics to research the diversity, community interactions, and evolution of microbes in communities. Currently the group has projects in both human associated and environmental (soil, lakes) microbiomes, for which custom bioinformatic solutions are developed in-house to enable a wholistic microbiome exploration. The group explored the limits of using strain-resolved metagenomics for medical gains, and to understand microbiome structures (doi: 10.1016/j.chom.2023.05.024 , 10.1101/2024.09.09.24313184 , 10.1016/j.chom.2021.05.008). See www.falk.science for group information.
The Quadram Institute is based on the Norwich Research Park, which is one of the largest single-site concentrations of research in food, genomics, and health in Europe. The Park hosts 4 BBSRC Institutes (including Quadram), 17,000 students, 3,000 full-time researchers and clinicians, and over 115 companies. The outstanding reputation of our researchers is internationally recognised, with 10 of the Park's scientists in the top 1% of the "most highly cited" in the world, including Prof Hildebrand.
Living in Norfolk
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Research Scientist (Metagenomics)
Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Scientist to join the laboratory of Prof Falk Hildebrand at Quadram Institute Bioscience (QIB), Norwich, UK.
Background:
The human microbiome is shared among family members in all life stages (doi: 10.1016/j.chom.2021.05.008). To investigate potential mechanisms and the impact on bacterial evolution, we created the PEARL-AGE cohort in Norwich (https://quadram.ac.uk/pearl-agestudy/), collecting samples from multi-generational families longitudinally, as well as biodata.
The role:
The project will investigate how bacterial genomes evolve in closely related family members. Specifically, adaptation to individuals through genetic mutation and DNA modification will be investigated, relying on 3rd generation DNA sequencing from hundreds of faecal metagenomes.
The project will investigate the following questions: Which gut microbes are most prone to colonise family members, and what are likely genetic determinants? How can some bacteria persist for decades in the same host? Are there unique genetic adaptations to each host or each host family?
The environment:
The Hildebrand group (https://falk.science) uses metagenomics to research the diversity, interactions, and evolution of microbial communities using custom software solutions. The group is jointly based at the Quadram Institute Bioscience and Earlham Institute, to bridge data and life science, developing software such as LotuS3 and MATAFILER and pushing the limits of high-resolution metagenomics (https://github.com/falklab).
The ideal candidate:
The ideal applicant holds a PhD (or equivalent) in biology, bioinformatics, computer science or a related discipline, with a background and/or interest in at least one of the following subjects:
- Microbiomes & biodiversity
- Metagenomics & patient cohorts
- Ecology & evolution
Experience in conducting scientific experiments independently, writing papers, scientific presentations is required. Skills in statistics, programming, working with human cohorts, comparative genome analysis, determining genetic adaptation, analysing DNA modifications (methylation), grant writing are beneficial. Specialised skills will be taught and developed through mentorship and collaborations.
Additional information:
Salary on appointment will be within the range £37,500 to £43,350 per annum depending on qualifications and experience. This is a full-time post for a contract of 24 months.
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 equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sectors of society. The Institute supports equality of opportunity within the workplace and expects 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 located on the Norwich Research Park, one of Europe’s largest single-site concentrations of research in food, genomics, and health. The Park hosts four BBSRC institutes (including Quadram), around 17,000 students, 3,000 researchers and clinicians, and more than 115 companies. Its researchers are internationally recognized, with 10 scientists ranked among the top 1% of the world’s most highly cited, including Prof Hildebrand (2024 & 2025).
Norwich is regularly ranked among the top UK cities to live in, known for its historic city centre and vibrant food and coffee culture. In 2026 it was named the “best UK city to live in” (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly0yypx426o).
The closing date for applications will be 17 May 2026. Interviews are planned for week commencing 1 June 2026.
The Quadram Institute Bioscience is a registered charity (No. 1058499) and is an Equal Opportunities Employer.