Postdoctoral Researcher / Research Officer

Our group at Swansea University is seeking to appoint a Research Officer / Postdoctoral Researcher to work on the biodiscovery of novel plastic-degrading enzymes. The postdoctoral project is part of the multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional, European project “Biocatalytic membranes for micro/nano plastic degradation within wastewater effluents” (BMRex) funded by the European Innovation Council and Innovate UK.

 

In your project, you will explore plastic-associated microbial communities and identify novel plastic-degrading enzymes to contribute to the overall aim of BMRex. Your role will involve collection of microbial communities from environmental microplastic, extraction and quality control of environmental DNA and RNA, sequence-based analysis of metagenomes and metatranscriptomes of microbial communities, and bioinformatic analysis for enzyme candidates using e.g. python or R. You will write-up the work for submission to top-tier research journals and help to communicate our work to the public.

 

This position offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to the development of a breakthrough technology for plastic degradation within BMRex, while also providing excellent prospects for professional and personal development. You will work with state-of-the-art technologies including lab automation and collaborate with leading experts in the field, building a strong international network that will enhance your career prospects. Additionally, you will have access to ongoing training opportunities that will allow you to enhance your technical skills and personal development. Our supportive team culture fosters a healthy work-life balance, providing you with the necessary tools to balance your professional obligations with your personal life and well-being.

 

The successful candidate must possess a PhD Degree in Microbiology, Biotechnology, Bioinformatics, Computational Biology or equivalent. They will have experience in molecular laboratory work (e.g. DNA and RNA extraction) and bioinformatic analysis. They will have experience in conducting independent research of publishable quality, and ideally are able to program e.g. in python or R.

 

Informal enquiries are welcome and should be directed to Dr Eva Sonnenschein e.c.sonnenschein@swansea.ac.uk

 

Please apply on the Swansea University homepage www.shorturl.at/acCNO

Application deadline:
Start date: Flexible
Location: Swansea University, Swansea, UK