Postdoctoral Research Associate ​/ Fellow

About The Role

Postdoctoral Research Associate / Fellow

This Lister-prize funded full-time post is available from 1 September 2026 till 31 August 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.

The Faculty wishes to recruit a Postdoctoral Research Associate or Fellow to participate in a research project funded by the Lister Institute for Preventative Medicine. The successful applicant will work with clinical isolates of the human pathogen Klebsiella pneumoniae and conjugative plasmids to study plasmid competition and the genetic basis underlying this. The broader aim of the project is to understand how we can modulate plasmid competition outcomes in order to reduce the spread of antimicrobial resistance.

The candidate will work as part of a dynamic and highly collaborative team at the University of Exeter's Cornwall Campus, supervised by Professor Stineke van Houte and Dr David Sünderhauf.

The post will include bacterial culturing of clinical isolates and lab-adapted strains, plasmid conjugation assays, selective plating and fluoresence microscopy, and potentially also flow cytometry (including cell sorting) and genome engineering. The post also includes analyses and synthesis of experimental and genome sequence data.

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 nearing completion) or possess 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 conduct microbiological assays and data analyses as outlined above.

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 possess an equivalent qualification/experience in a related field of study. The successful applicant will be a nationally recognised authority in insert 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 conduct microbiological assays and data analyses as outlined above.

Please contact Prof. Stineke van Houte,

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