Job Description

Grade UE07: 41,064 to 48,822 per annum

CSE / School of Biological Sciences / Institute of Infection and Immunology Research

Full Time: 35 hours per week

Fixed Term: 40 months

The Opportunity:

African trypanosomes are eukaryotic parasites that are important agents of human disease but also have major impact on livestock health in sub-Saharan Africa. Here they cause the disease 'nagana', a fatal wasting of livestock. Our laboratory has long term interest in the transmission biology of these parasites, studying how they prepare for uptake by their vector (tsetse flies) by exploiting cell-to cell communication to regulate parasite numbers in the host and drive development of the parasite. This has allowed molecular characterisation of the parasite's quorum sensing signalling pathway (Mony, MacGregor et al, Nature 2014, PMID: 24336212; Rojas et al, Cell , 2019, PMID: 30503212). In the field, trypanosome infections are often comprised of more than strain or species of the parasite as different parasite lines circulate among livestock herds and in game animals in the same geographical region. In experimental infections our laboratory has demonstrated that over the course of several weeks of coinfection between trypanosome species in rodents, the parasites adapt their sensitivity to the cell-to-cell communication signal, this causing them to increase their disease virulence. We have isolated a number of selected parasite lines from coinfections and plan to understand the molecular and genetic basis of how they have adapted after competition in a coinfection, thereby becoming more virulent. This project will involve a combination of bioinformatic, genomic, transcriptomic and laboratory manipulation of the selected parasite lines.


Relevant information can be found within our lab website (https://biology.ed.ac.uk/the-matthews-lab) and recent publications (e.g. Oldrieve et al, Nature Communications, 2024; PMID 39622840; Larcombe et al, 2023; Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2023; PMID: 37824530).
This post is advertised as full-time (35 hours per week), however, we are open to considering part-time or flexible working patterns. We are also open to considering requests for hybrid working (on a non-contractual basis) that combines a mix of remote and regular on-campus working.

Your skills and attributes for success:

Strong bioinformatic expertise to interrogate parasite genomes and transcriptomes Experience working with CL3 pathogens, especially African trypanosomes, and genetically manipulating them Ability to interpret and present data orally and in writing Capacity to work as a team, helping operation of the laboratory or the projects of other lab members collaboratively if needed Willingness to work with in vivo infections, including animal handling and parasite phenotype analysis in infections.

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Application Information

Please ensure you include the following documents in your application:

CV Cover letter, explaining your reasons for applying and skills appropriate to the job description

As a valued member of our team you can expect:

A competitive salary An exciting, positive, creative, challenging and rewarding place to work. To be part of a diverse and vibrant international community Comprehensive Staff Benefits, such as a generous holiday entitlement, competitive pension schemes, staff discounts, and family-friendly initiatives. Check out the full list on our

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Championing equality, diversity and inclusion

The University of Edinburgh holds a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance gender equality in higher education. We are members of the Race Equality Charter and we are also Stonewall Scotland Diversity Champions, actively promoting LGBT equality.


Prior to any employment commencing with the University you will be required to evidence your right to work in the UK. Further information is available on our

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The University may be able to sponsor the employment of international workers in this role. This will depend on a number of factors specific to the successful applicant.

Key dates to note

The closing date for applications is

14th November 2025.

Unless stated otherwise the closing time for applications is 11:59pm GMT. If you are applying outside the UK the closing time on our adverts automatically adjusts to your browsers local time zone.