Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy
This new full-time post is available at either Postdoctoral Research Associate or Fellow level, from 2nd February 2026 for 3 years on a fixed-term basis within the Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy.
The post
The Faculty wishes to recruit a Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA) or Postdoctoral Research Fellow (PDRF) to support the work of Dr Alex Hayward and Professor Chris Bass. This BBSRC funded post is available from 2nd February 2026, or as soon as possible after this date, for 3 years.
The postholder will be responsible for bioinformatic analyses and the drafting of resulting manuscripts, to investigate links between transposons (mobile genetic elements) and the evolution of insecticide resistance, on the exciting new BBSRC funded project:
‘Are transposons important facilitators of resistance evolution in the major agricultural pest fall armyworm?’
For this, the postholder will investigate the contribution of transposons to resistance evolution in genome sequences of the fall armyworm moth. This will involve research to tease apart the potential role of transposons in host evolution, using methods in transposon detection, annotation and analysis, focussing on available and new high-quality genome sequences, and those arising from a selection experiment performed in collaboration with pharmaceutical company, Bayer AG. The postholder will collaborate closely with staff at Bayer’s Monheim Campus, Germany, and undertake a visit to receive training in selection experiment methods and gain experience of industry.
We also welcome applications from candidates interested in working part-time hours or job-sharing arrangements, and offer flexible working arrangements.
About you
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 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 a background in genomics/bioinformatics and be able to perform research on complex genomic datasets using the command line in High Performance Computing cluster environments. This should include abilities in the use of scripting languages such as Python, and the statistical package R.
Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of this role.
What we can offer you
1. Freedom (and the support) to pursue your intellectual interests and to work creatively across disciplines to produce internationally exciting research;
2. Support teams that understand the University wide research and teaching goals and partner with our academics accordingly
3. An Innovation, Impact and Business directorate that works closely with our academics providing specialist support for external engagement and development
4. Our Exeter Academic initiative supporting high performing academics to achieve their potential and develop their career
5. 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
6. A beautiful campus set in the heart of stunning Cornwall.
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 2024). 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
Whilst all applicants will be judged on merit alone, we particularly welcome applications from groups currently underrepresented within our working community. We encourage applications from all genders and are committed to removing barriers and ensuring an accessible and inclusive recruitment process for disabled applicants, including the provision of reasonable adjustments in interviews and workplaces.
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), mental health benefits, generous parental leave, and wellbeing support, and as a Disability Confident employer.
We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and welcome applications from service people.
The Centre for Ecology and Conservation (CEC) holds an Athena Swan Silver Award for gender equality in Higher Education, is seeking chartered status for Ethnicity and Neurodiversity, and hosts an active Wellbeing, Inclusion, and Culture Committee. The CEC offers an accessible environment in office and on campus.