Research Fellow in BioSciences

Job Description

Working as part of multi-disciplinary teams, you will support the Principal Investigator, Dr Clara Ferreira, in delivery of research activity on the BBSRC-funded project SoBe – SOcial modulation of defence BEhaviours, which uses Drosophila melanogaster to uncover the neurobiological basis of the 'safety in numbers' effect.

You will lead a strand of the project’s research programme, combining behavioural, neurogenetic and in vivo imaging approaches, with the opportunity to train in specialist imaging techniques alongside an international collaborating laboratory.

You will contribute your own ideas to the wider project, have the opportunity to co‑supervise students within the team, where applicable, and contribute to the laboratory’s development.

Please note this is a fixed term contract up to September 2031.

This research project is being delivered within the School of Geography and Natural Sciences, part of the Faculty of Science and Environment. You will join Assistant Professor Clara Ferreira’s research group, funded by a BBSRC New Investigator award, joining two PhD students and an RA, and working in close collaboration with Associate Professor Wolf Huetteroth's fly research group.

Applicants should hold a PhD (or be close to completion) in Neuroscience or related discipline.

We welcome applicants from a range of backgrounds (including those with prior experience in biological or biomedical fields such as neuroscience, genetics, evolution, ecology, ethology, computational/quantitative biology or invertebrate biology) who are keen to apply their skills to this system, together with experience in one or more of: optogenetics, functional imaging, molecular biology, immunohistochemistry, behavioural analysis or computational modelling.

This is a hands‑on, lab‑based role involving behavioural experiments, the generation and imaging of genetically manipulated flies, including microdissection/surgical preparation for functional imaging, for which full training will be provided, and reasonable adjustments will be considered where needed.

Further information about the requirements of the role is available in the person specification.

If you would like an informal discussion about the role, please contact Dr Clara Ferreira clar

• excellent pension schemes
• flexible working
• generous holiday entitlement
• more

Based in Newcastle upon Tyne and London, we are an on‑campus organisation and offer flexible hours and location where the role allows. We welcome applications from the UK and across the world.

Join Northumbria University, a research‑intensive institution unlocking potential and changing lives locally and globally. Named Times Higher Education's University of the Year in 2022 and Modern University of the Year in 2025, we rank top 25 in the UK for research power.

With over 37,000 students from 140+ countries, we offer world‑leading research, award‑winning partnerships, and an outstanding student experience. We empower our exceptional staff, promoting a positive work‑life balance and offering great benefits, including excellent pension schemes, flexible working, generous holiday entitlement and more.

Our Northumbria Values, co‑created by our team, define who we are:
Academic Excellence, Innovation, Inclusivity, Collaboration, and Ambition. Our Behaviours shape our work culture:
We listen and learn, support one another, respect everyone, trust each other, and are bold.

We also hold the HR Excellence in Research award for implementing the concordat supporting the career Development of Researchers and are members of the Euraxess initiative to deliver information and support to professional researchers. The University has implemented a range of flexible working arrangements, and we are happy to explore candidate requirements as part of the recruitment process.