Research Associate in Super-resolution microscopy

Salary: Grade 7 (£37,694 - £47,389)

Contract: Full‑Time (35 hours per week), Fixed Term until 27/08/2026

Holiday Entitlement: 33 days annual leave, plus 9 buildings closed days for all full time staff. Use our total rewards calculator:  to see the value of benefits provided by Heriot‑Watt University.

This Research Associate position will support cutting edge research into Type VI secretion systems (T6SS) and their roles in bacterial–fungal interactions. This project, will employ novel fluorescent protein tools to visualise how bacterial effector proteins are delivered into fungal cells. Using advanced single- and dualcolour singlemolecule localisation microscopy (3D PALM and dSTORM), we will track individual effector molecules from their packaging within the secretion machinery, through firing and membrane penetration, to their final sites of catalytic activity.

We will also investigate the downstream consequences of effector toxicity within fungal cells.

The position is based primarily at Heriot‑Watt University in the laboratory of Dr Colin Rickman, offering handson experience with stateoftheart superresolution imaging through the facilities of the Edinburgh Super-Resolution Imaging Consortium (ESRIC). This role provides an excellent opportunity to develop expertise not only in advanced microscopy, but also in data processing, quantitative analysis, and modern imaging workflows.

• Conduct research on T6SS effector delivery from bacteria into fungal cells.
• Employ engineered fluorescent proteins to visualise effector trafficking.
• Perform single- and dual‑colour single‑molecule localisation microscopy (including 3D PALM and dSTORM).
• Track effector proteins from packaging within the secretion machinery through to their catalytic sites in fungal cells.
• Investigate cellular responses and downstream effects resulting from effector‑mediated toxicity.
• Contribute to data acquisition, processing, quantitative analysis, and documentation.
• Work collaboratively within the laboratory of Dr Colin Rickman at Heriot‑Watt University.

• PhD in super‑resolution microscopy, with specialisation in the development of fluorescent proteins, or a submitted PhD thesis in this area at the start of employment.
• Hands‑on experience with single‑ and dual‑colour PALM (Photoactivation Localisation Microscopy) in 2D and 3D.
• Demonstrated research track record in analysing Type VI secretion systems within bacterial–fungal co‑cultures using advanced fluorescence microscopy.
• Ability to operate and troubleshoot both Olympus TIRF microscopes and Leica SP8 confocal microscopes independently.
• Proficiency in 3D deconvolution and localisation analysis using SVI Huygens software.
• Strong capability to design, manage, and progress research independently.
• Excellent communication skills, including high‑quality written outputs and effective oral presentations.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively within a research team at Heriot‑Watt and with external scientific collaborators.

• Demonstrable hands‑on experience culturing bacterial and fungal cells, including establishing and maintaining bacterial–fungal co‑cultures.
• Experience in live and fixed sample preparation specifically for super‑resolution microscopy.
• Direct experience working with photoactivatable fluorescent proteins, both in vitro and in vivo.
• Direct experience of analysis of datasets using Image
  
  J, SVI Huygens and Imaris and figure generation using Graphpad Prism and Adobe Illustrator.
• Experience collaborating within multidisciplinary scientific teams, including effective work with external collaborators beyond the immediate research group.

Applications can be submitted up to midnight (UK time) on Wednesday 11th February 2026.

Please submit your CV & covering letter via the Heriot‑Watt on‑line recruitment.

We welcome and will consider flexible working patterns e.g., part‑time working and job share options.

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