Job Description

Salary

The starting salary will be from 34,610 up to 36,636 on Grade E, 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

19/12/2025

Job reference

Q12598

Faculty of Health and Life Sciences

This new full-time post is available from 1 April 2026 on a fixed term basis until 31 March 2029.

The post

We wish to recruit a Postdoctoral Research Associate to join Dr Chloe Rackham's research team, to focus on understanding the pancreas niche and therapeutic potential of pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) and mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) in Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) prevention and treatment. This position is funded through a Medical Research Council collaborative research project (Dr Chloe Rackham (principal investigator), co-investigators: Prof Sarah Richardson and Dr Martin Eichmann) and is available from 1st April 2026 to 31st March 2029.

Ideally, you will have experience in primary MSC/PSC and/or islet culture and downstream assays, molecular biology and flow cytometry. The studies conducted for this project will use primary isolated human islets and human pancreatic MSCs and PSCs. Experience in RNA-seq analysis, bioinformatics and imaging is also advantageous. You will be one of two post-doctoral researchers working on this MRC-Funded Project. One researcher is already working in the research team of Dr Chloe Rackham and together within the wider Islet Biology at Exeter (IBEx) team, you will be advancing this research field to help inform human pancreatic stromal cell-based strategies to support the survival and long-term function of endogenous pancreatic islets and transplanted islet cells.

You will join the expanding Diabetes discipline within the Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences at the University of Exeter. The position is based at the recently purpose-built laboratories within the RILD building, University of Exeter (EX2 5DW), a 27 million joint venture between the University of Exeter and the Royal Devon University Hospital, specifically designed to accelerate translation of scientific discoveries to improve human health.

This position suits someone who is highly collaborative and possesses excellent communication and time-management skills.

The selection process will include competency-based questions, a presentation of your recent research and motivations for applying, and a panel interview.

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 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 be able to undertake research focused on primary MSC/PSC and human islet co-culture assays. Experience in type 1 diabetes research and/or MSC or PSC research will therefore be of benefit. Experience in some of the following techniques: RNA isolation, RT-qPCR, flow cytometry, RNA-seq analysis, bioinformatics and imaging is also essential.

Please ensure you read the 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 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

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

Dr Chloe Rackham

, e-mail:

c.rackham@exeter.ac.uk.

The closing date for completed applications is 26th January 2026. Interviews are expected to take place on Wednesday 18th February and/or Friday 20th February 2026.