Research Assistant in Evolutionary Microbiology
Department of Zoology, South Parks Road, Oxford
Grade 6:£27,057 - £32,277 p.a.
Professor Craig Maclean's lab is seeking to recruit a Research Assistant to work on a Wellcome Trust funded project to study the evolutionary biology of antibiotic resistance in pathogenic bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staph aureus). This post is based at the Department of Zoology, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PS and is offered on a fixed-term basis for 3 years.
The overall goal of this project is to use a combination of high-throughput resistance profiling, competition assays, and sequencing to understand how bacterial populations evolve in response to antibiotic treatment in clinical settings and in vivo experiments. The postholder will work in conjunction with a PDRA to carry out the wet-lab components of this project, and will regularly interact with a Bioinformatics PDRA. The postholder will also play an important role in the management of the laboratory.
This post is ideally suited for applicants who have a relevant degree and/or previous experience work experience in clinical Microbiology and bacterial genetics. This project will involve carrying out large-scale experiments, and the postholder will require excellent organisation and management skills. The postholder will join a dynamic and interdisciplinary team working on the evolutionary biology of antibiotic resistance, and the postholder will work as a key member of this team. Previous experience in evolutionary biology is an asset, but is not required for this post.
Overview of the role
Reporting to Principal Investigator. The post holder is a member of a research group with responsibility for the provision of research support for a Wellcome Trust funded project to investigate the evolutionary biology of antibiotic resistance in pathogenic bacteria. The overall goal of this project is to use a combination of resistance profiling, competition assays, and sequencing to understand how bacterial populations evolve in response to antibiotic treatment in clinical settings and in vivo experiments. The postholder will work in conjunction with a PDRA to carry out the wet-lab components of this project, and will regularly interact with a Bioinformatics PDRA to carry out this project. The postholder will also play an important role in the management of the laboratory and will provide guidance to research students and postdoctoral researchers where apporpriate.
Responsibilities/duties
- Carryout high-throughput assays to measure key phenotypic traits of clinical pathogen isolates (antimicrobial resistance, competitive ability)
- Genotype clinical isolates(DNA extraction, PCR, qPCR)
- Construct tagged reporter strains (cloning, transformation)
- Responsible for general laboratory management and administration, including stock control of laboratory consumables, and maintaining lab collection of clinical isolates
- Contribute to wider project planning, including ideas for new research projects
- Determine the most appropriate methodologies to test hypotheses, and identify suitable alternatives if technical problems arise
- Select, follow, and adapt experimental protocols
- Gather, analyse, and present scientific data from a variety of sources
- Contribute to scientific reports and journal articles and the presentation of data/papers at conferences
Selection criteria
Essential
- Hold a Bachelor’s degree in relevant subject, together with some relevant experience
- Experience working with Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Staph aureus
- Experience with basic bacterial molecular genetics (DNA extraction, PCR, transformation, etc.)
- Excellent team working skills
- Excellent organizational skills
Desirable
- PhD in relevant subject area
- Previous experience as a research assistant
- Experience in lab management
- Experience with antimicrobial susceptibility testing
- Experience with high-throughput phenotypic assays
- Experience with experimental evolution
- Experience with flow Cytometry
- Experience in data analysis
- Experience in computer programming
- Experience in manuscript preparation
How to apply
If you consider that you meet the selection criteria, click on the Apply Now button on the ‘Job Details’ page and follow the on-screen instructions to register as a user. You will then be required to complete a number of screens with your application details, relating to your skills and experience. When prompted, please provide details of two referees and indicate whether we can contact them at this stage. You will also be required to upload a CV and supporting statement which explains how you meet the selection criteria for the post. The supporting statement should explain your relevant experience which may have been gained in employment, education, or you may have taken time away from these activities in order to raise a family, care for a dependant, or travel for example. Your application will be judged solely on the basis of how you demonstrate that that you meet the selection criteria outlined above and we are happy to consider evidence of transferable skills or experience which you may have gained outside the context of paid employment or education.
Please save all uploaded documents to show your name and the document type.
All applications must be received by midday on the closing date stated in the online advertisement.
Informal enquires should be addressed to Professor Craig Maclean (craig.Maclean@zoo.ox.ac.uk).
The closing date for applications is 12.00 noon on Friday 4 December 2015.
Contact Person :Personnel
Vacancy ID :120940
Contact Phone :01865 271278
Closing Date :04-Dec-2015
Contact Email :personnel@zoo.ox.ac.uk
Application Deadline - 04th December 2015
- (Use Vacancy ID 120940 in Vacancy ID search box to view original post)
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