Salary
The starting salary will be from £34,610 on Grade E for the Associate level role, or from £43,482 on Grade F for the Fellow level role, depending on qualifications and experience.
Contractual hours
36.5
Package
Generous holiday allowances, flexible working, pension scheme and relocation package (if applicable).
Job category/type
Research
Date posted
30/09/2025
Job reference
R05627
Faculty of Health and Life Sciences
This new full-time post is available from 1 January 2026 until 31 December 2028 on a fixed term basis.
This role may be subject to additional background screening.
The post
The MRC Centre for Medical Mycology within the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences wishes to recruit s Postdoctoral Research Associate/Fellow (depending on skills and experience) to join the newly established team of Prof. Salomé LeibundGut-Landmann. Prof LeibundGut-Landmann's team focuses on understanding the T cell response against the skin commensal yeast Malassezia in atopic dermatitis (eczema), a very common chronic-relapsing pruritic skin disease. The multidisciplinary project is part of an MRC research programme in collaboration with Profs. Neil Gow (CMM), Helen Alexander and Carsten Flohr (both King's College London) at the intersection of skin immunology, allergology and medical mycology. Successful applicants will be responsible for characterizing the Th17/Th2 response to Malassezia and to identify how fungal strain variations modulate the antifungal T cell response. For this, you will employ in vitro and in vivo experimental models of host-fungus interaction.
The position is available from the 1st January 2026 for 3 years initially, with the possibility of a further extension (dependent on funding and performance).
About you
PDRA:
The successful applicant will be able to present information on research progress and outcomes, communicate complex information, orally, in writing and electronically and prepare proposals and applications to external bodies.
Applicants will possess a relevant PhD (or nearing completion) or possess an equivalent qualification/experience in a related field of study and be able to demonstrate sufficient knowledge in the discipline and of research methods and techniques to work within established research programmes. Applicants will have experience in T cell biology, skin immunology, flow cytometry, cell culture techniques and animal experimentation. You are expected to work collaboratively across disciplines of immunology and microbiology and think "outside of the box".
PDRF:
The successful applicant will be able to develop research objectives, projects and proposals; identify sources of research funding and contribute to the process of securing funds and make presentations at conferences and other events.
Applicants will possess a relevant PhD/DPhil in biological sciences and experience in T cell biology, skin immunology, flow cytometry, cell culture techniques and animal experimentation. You are expected to work collaboratively across disciplines of immunology and microbiology and think "outside of the box". In addition, you will provide guidance to less experienced members of the research group and assist in research communication, including manuscript writing, conference attendance, and outreach activities.
You are expected to manage your own research project independently. You should have strong organisational skills and proven ability to communicate experimental data effectively to scientists from a range of disciplines.
Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of this role.
What we can offer you
* Freedom (and the support) to pursue your intellectual interests and to work creatively across disciplines to produce internationally exciting research;
* Support teams that understand the University wide research and teaching goals and partner with our academics accordingly
* An Innovation, Impact and Business directorate that works closely with our academics providing specialist support for external engagement and development
* Our Exeter Academic initiative supporting high performing academics to achieve their potential and develop their career
* A multitude of staff benefits including sector leading benefits around maternity, adoption and shared parental leave (up to 26 weeks full pay), Paternity leave (up to 6 weeks full pay), and a Fertility Treatment Policy
* A beautiful campus set in the heart of stunning Devon
The University of Exeter
We are a member of the prestigious Russell Group of research-intensive universities and in the top 200 universities in the world (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024 and QS World University Ranking We combine world-class teaching with world-class research, achieving a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework Award 2023, underpinned by Gold ratings for Student Experience and Student Outcomes.
Our world-leading research impact has grown more than any other Russell Group university in recent years, and we are home to some of the world's most influential researchers, seeking to answer some of the most fundamental issues facing humankind today. More than 99 percent of our research is of international quality and 47 percent is world-leading (2021 Research Excellence Framework).
We encourage proactive engagement with industry, business and community partners to enhance the impact of research and education and improve the employability of our students. Read about our world leading research – Green Futures and how we are transforming education for a changing world. We are located in a beautiful part of the country and Exeter (a fast growing tech hub) is one of only a few UK cities to have been designated as a UNESCO Creative City
Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Commitment
We are committed to ensuring reasonable adjustments are available for interviews and workplaces.
Whilst all applicants will be judged on merit alone, we particularly welcome applications from groups currently underrepresented within our working community.
With over 30,000 students and 7,000 staff from 150 different countries we offer a diverse and engaging environment where our diversity is celebrated and valued as a major strength. We are committed to creating an inclusive culture where all members of our community are supported to thrive; where diverse voices are heard through our engagement with evidence-based charter frameworks for gender (Athena SWAN and Project Juno for Physics), race equality (Race Equality Charter Mark), LGBTQ+ inclusion (Stonewall Diversity Champion) and as a Disability Confident employer.
We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and welcome applications from service people.
Further information
For further information please contact Prof. Salomé Leibundgut (S.LeibundGut-).
The closing date for completed applications is Interviews are expected to take place in November.