Postdoctoral Research Associate​/Fellow

About The Role

Postdoctoral Research Associate / Fellow. This full‑time post is immediately available. This post is offered as a fixed‑term contract and is funded by Medical Research Council until 30/04/2027. The starting salary will be from £34,610 on Grade E for the Postdoctoral Research Associate level and from £43,482 on Grade F for the Postdoctoral Research Fellow level, depending on knowledge, skills and experience.

Faculty of Health and Life Sciences. The Faculty wishes to recruit a Postdoctoral Research Associate or Fellow to participate in fundamental research into human pluripotency in the group of Professor Austin Smith. The successful applicant will study interconversion between naive and primed states of pluripotency and the underlying mechanisms that adjust developmental competence. The post will include stem cell culture, signalling and genetic perturbation, and multimodal "omics" analyses.

Postdoctoral Research Associate:
The successful applicant will be able to present information on research progress and outcomes, communicate complex information orally, in writing and electronically, and prepare proposals and applications to external bodies. Applicants will possess a relevant PhD or an equivalent qualification/experience in a related field of study and be able to demonstrate sufficient knowledge in the discipline and of research methods and techniques to work within established research programmes.

Applicants will be able to culture and genetically manipulate mammalian stem cells and to generate and analyse sequencing data.

Postdoctoral Research Fellow:
The successful applicant will be able to develop research objectives, projects and proposals; identify sources of research funding and contribute to the process of securing funds and make presentations at conferences and other events. Applicants will possess a relevant PhD or an equivalent qualification/experience in a related field of study. The successful applicant will be a nationally recognised authority in the subject area and possess sufficient specialist knowledge in the discipline to develop research programmes and methodologies.

The successful applicant will also be able to work collaboratively, supervise the work of others and act as team leader as required. Applicants will be able to culture and genetically manipulate mammalian stem cells and to generate and analyse sequencing data.

Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of this role.

Please contact Professor Austin Smith at

• Freedom to pursue intellectual interests and work creatively across disciplines.
• Support teams that understand the university-wide teaching goals and partner with academics accordingly.
• An Innovation, Impact and Business directorate that works closely with academics providing specialist support for external engagement and development.
• Exeter Academic initiative supports high-performing academics to achieve their potential and develop their career.
• Sector-leading benefits including maternity, adoption and shared parental leave up to 26 weeks full pay, paternity leave up to 6 weeks full pay, and a fertility treatment policy.
• A beautiful campus set in the heart of Devon and Cornwall.