Research Associate: Horizontal Gene Transfer

Pay range

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We are looking for a Research Associate to join our team exploring how horizontal gene transfer (HGT) shapes plant evolution. This position will bridge large‑scale comparative genomics and population genetic approaches to uncover how genes move and persist across plant lineages. In the first phase of the project, you will analyse over 400 flowering plant genomes from the Darwin Tree of Life initiative and use phylogenomic pipelines to quantify the frequency and diversity of HGT across angiosperms.

The second part of the project will focus on natural populations of the grass Alloteropsis semialata in Tanzania and Zambia. We will generate whole‑genome data for thousands of individuals to estimate the frequency spectra of transferred genes, with the aim of inferring the distribution of fitness effects and the background rate of HGT in natural populations. The post will be supervised by Dr Luke Dunning at the University of Sheffield and embedded within the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) Research Cluster.

This is a highly collaborative project, and it will involve working closely with other post‑doctoral researchers and academics from the Universities of Edinburgh, Oxford and Bangor. You will lead the bioinformatic and evolutionary analyses, with opportunities to contribute to field sampling and molecular lab work. This is an excellent opportunity to play a central role in a pioneering, interdisciplinary project on genome evolution and adaptation in plants.

• Lead bioinformatic and phylogenomic analyses to identify and characterise HGT events across flowering plants.
• Analyse whole‑genome Illumina datasets from natural populations to estimate the rate and fitness effects of HGT in natural settings.
• Participate in field sampling and molecular laboratory work as required.
• Collaborate closely with project partners across the Universities of Sheffield, Edinburgh, Oxford, and Bangor to ensure effective data sharing, analysis coordination, and synthesis of results.
• Take a lead role in data analysis, interpretation, and preparation of results for publication.
• Prepare manuscripts for submission to leading scientific journals.
• Present findings at national and international conferences.
• Attend and contribute to lab meetings and project meetings with collaborators.
• Contribute to the supervision, mentoring, and training of students and other research staff within the lab where appropriate.
• Carry out any other duties commensurate with the grade and scope of the post as required.

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience does not match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

Essential (Application/interview):

• Have a PhD (or equivalent postdoctoral level work experience) in a relevant area.
• A proven track record of research in an appropriate area of biology.
• Expertise in developing bioinformatic pipelines.
• Experience of phylogenomic analysis.
• Experience of a range of population genetic analyses.
• Ability to work as part of a team with varied skills and…