Job Number
BU04038
School/Department
School of Environmental & Natural Sciences
Grade
7
Contract Duration
36 months
Responsible to
Lecturer in Zoology
Overview
The College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering at Bangor University is one of the leading centres in the UK for teaching and research in a range of science subjects. With over 2,500 students and 350 academic, technical and administrative staff, the College consists of three academic schools: Environmental and Natural Sciences; Ocean Sciences; and Computer Science & Engineering.
The School of Environmental and Natural Sciences conducts world-leading research and teaching across a diverse range of topics including microbiology, public health, zoology, biology, forestry, geography, agriculture and conservation.
With Bangor University being based in stunning North Wales the school is the obvious choice for students and researchers interested in the natural world and environment. Alongside having the forests and mountains of Snowdonia, and the cliffs and sandy beaches of Anglesey on our doorstep.
The School of Environmental and Natural Sciences also boasts cutting-edge laboratories and analysis equipment, free access to the Supercomputing Wales cluster, a botanic garden, research farm, animal care facilities, aquariums, growth rooms and greenhouses, and a natural history museum.
The Project
The post is part of a UK–US collaborative project led by Bangor University and George Washington University (US), including partners from the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (US) and Tropical Research Institute (Panama), funded by BBSRC (UK) and NSF (US). The project will investigate the role of amphibian skin microbiomes and skin-resident immune components in determining species-specific outcomes of infection by the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd).
Invasive fungal diseases are rising globally, causing catastrophic declines in wildlife populations and posing severe threats to animal and human health. Bd is a leading cause of global amphibian biodiversity loss. Both the amphibian skin microbiome and resident immune components are known to influence infection outcomes, but the mechanisms that govern interactions between the immune system, microbiome and disease remain poorly understood.
The wider project will combine microbiome profiling, shotgun metagenomics, single-cell and bulk transcriptomics, histology, immune manipulation, microbiome manipulation and infection assays. These approaches will be delivered collaboratively by Bangor University and project partners in the US and Panama. This post will focus on the microbiome and metagenomics components of the project. The post holder will also work with project colleagues to integrate microbiome datasets with immune, transcriptomic and infection outcome data.
The project involves collaboration between UK, US and Panama-based partners. The post holder will be expected to liaise with project colleagues in the UK, US and Panama, contribute to knowledge exchange visits between laboratories, attend national and international conferences, and participate in and contribute to the organisation of project workshops with researchers and stakeholders in amphibian conservation and probiotic development.
Purpose of the Job
The post holder will be responsible for planning, conducting, analysing and contributing to the publication of the microbiome-related components of the project. This will include leading 16S metabarcoding, shotgun metagenomic and bacterial genome sequencing activities, integrating microbiome datasets with infection, immune and transcriptomic data generated by the wider project team, and liaising with UK, US and Panama-based project partners.
The research will provide new understanding of how amphibian skin microbial communities vary across host species and experimental treatments, how microbiome composition and function relate to host immune responses, and how these interactions influence Bd infection outcomes.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
1. Generation and analysis of data. This will include preparing and processing DNA samples from amphibian skin and bacterial isolates; generation and analysis of 16S metabarcoding and shotgun metagenomic datasets; bacterial genome sequencing; analysing microbial community composition, microbiome function, bacterial colonisation and persistence, and bacterial host-specificity; and integrating microbiome data with data generated by the wider project team.
2. To work as part of the research team in delivering research outcomes. This will include disseminating research outputs through journal articles, reports, conferences, project workshops and other appropriate routes. The post holder will collaborate with co-researchers to write up results, provide progress updates to the project team, contribute to knowledge exchange with academic and non-academic stakeholders, and maintain up-to-date knowledge of relevant scientific literature.
3. Assist and support in the administration of the research project. This will include arranging and participating in project meetings; coordinating sample and data transfer, depositing data and code in appropriate repositories; liaising with internal and external partners; contributing to project updates; and helping ensure the project meets its aims and objectives.
4. To assist and take part in monitoring of financial controls associated with the research project. This will include contributing to the planning and monitoring of sequencing, consumables, travel and research equipment needs associated with project; entering data and preparing reports in order to monitor research project finance; and assisting in the preparation of proposals for research funding.
Other Duties and Responsibilities
5. This will include advising and collaborating with Masters and PhD students within the wider research group; contributing to project workshops and knowledge exchange visits; undertaking research visits to partner laboratories where appropriate; attending national and international conferences; and actively participating in relevant School, College and research group activities.
6. The post holder will be expected to participate in performance review and developmental activities.
7. The post holder will be expected to comply with the University’s equality policies and statements, Dignity at Work and Study Policy and the University’s Welsh Language Scheme.
8. The post holder has a general and legal duty of care in relation to health, safety and wellbeing and must take all reasonable steps to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for themselves and for other members of staff, students and visitors affected by their actions or inactions. The post holder is also required to comply with all applicable health and safety policies, procedures and risk assessments.
9. The post holder must comply with relevant legal and financial policies and procedures and be aware of their responsibilities in terms of the legal requirements of their post.
Person Specification
Qualifications/Training
Essential
10. A PhD (or be near completion) in molecular ecology, microbial ecology, disease biology, bioinformatics, genomics or a related discipline.
Desirable
11. Previous postdoctoral experience in a related area.
Experience/Knowledge
Essential
12. A research background in some of the following areas: microbial ecology, disease biology, host-microbe interactions, genomics.
13. Previous experience in basic molecular biological techniques and high-through put sequencing.
14. Expertise in computational analysis and coding relevant to large high-throughput sequence datasets.
15. Expertise in host-microbiome interactions.
16. Motivation and enthusiasm about the aims of the project.
17. Proven track record of high-quality publications.
18. Proven track record of conference presentation.
Desirable
19. Experience in development of reproducible bioinformatics workflows.
20. Experience in analysis of shotgun metagenomic datasets.
21. Experience in analysis of metabarcoding datasets.
22. Experience in analyses for integrating multi-omics datasets.
23. Knowledge of amphibian disease biology.
Skills/Abilities
Essential
24. Demonstrate good verbal and written communication skills (in English).
25. Demonstrate good analytical skills, ability to analyse numerical data and present results appropriately.
26. Demonstrate the ability to prioritise workload and work to deadlines.
27. Good interpersonal skills, including willingness to coordinate with others and the ability to work as part of a team.
28. Willingness to travel to and spend time at partner institutions in the US and Panama.
Desirable
29. Demonstrate proven project management skills.
30. Demonstrate good computer skills, including MS Office, Powerpoint, Excel or equivalents.
31. The ability to communicate in Welsh is desirable for this post. If applicants are not able to speak / write in Welsh at present, there are many opportunities to learn if the successful candidate wishes to do so.
General
We are a member of Advance HE's Athena SWAN Gender Equality charter and hold a Silver award in recognition of our commitment to and progress towards gender equality within the University's policies, practices, and culture.
The University has recently achieved a Race Equality Charter Bronze award reflecting our commitment to building an inclusive and equitable society for black, Asian and minoritised ethnic staff.
We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer.
All members of staff have a duty to ensure their actions are in line with the overall environmental aims of the University and minimise their environmental impact.
All offers are made subject to proof of eligibility to work in the UK and receipt of satisfactory references.