Job Description

Job number

MED05430

Faculties

Faculty of Medicine

Departments

Department of Infectious Disease

Salary or Salary range

49,017 - 57,472 per annum

Location/campus

South Kensington Campus - On site only

Contract type work pattern

Full time - Fixed term

Posting End Date

14 Oct 2025

About the role

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Are you an ambitious scientist looking to develop your career as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Microbiology and Phage Biology?



This ERC-funded project will uncover how capsid-forming phage-inducible chromosomal islands (cf-PICIs) spread between bacterial species, combining molecular genetics, structural biology, and bioinformatics. You will play a key role in advancing our understanding of microbial evolution and in shaping new antimicrobial and diagnostic strategies.

What you would be doing

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In this role, you will lead research uncovering how cf-PICIs interact with phages to spread between different bacterial species. You will design and carry out experiments in molecular microbiology, genetics, and structural biology, and use bioinformatics to interpret your findings. Your work will contribute to high-impact publications, presentations at international conferences, and the development of future antimicrobial and diagnostic strategies. You will also have the opportunity to manage aspects of the project, collaborate across disciplines, and mentor junior researchers.

What we are looking for

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Strong background in microbiology, bacteriology, or phage biology. Experience with molecular genetics, structural biology, or bioinformatics (one or more areas) Ability to design, conduct, and analyse independent research projects Proven track record of publishing in peer-reviewed journals and presenting at conferences Collaborative mindset, with excellent communication and teamwork skills Proactive, organised, and motivated to contribute to an ambitious ERC-funded research programme Hold a PhD in Microbiology or a closely related discipline, or equivalent research, industrial or commercial experience

*Candidates who have not yet been officially awarded their PhD will be appointed as a Research Assistant within the salary range 43,863 - 47,223 per annum

What we can offer you

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The opportunity to continue your career at a world-leading institution and be part of our mission to continue science for humanity. Grow your career: gain access to Imperial's sector-leading dedicated career support for researchers as well as opportunities for promotion and progression. Be part of a diverse, inclusive and collaborative work culture with various staff networks and resources to support your personal and professional wellbeing.

Further information

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This is a full-time and a fixed-term role for 24 months based at South Kensington Campus.



If you require any further details about the role, please contact: Jose R Penades - j.penades@imperial.ac.uk



https://profiles.imperial.ac.uk/j.penades

Available documents

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Attached documents are available under links. Clicking a document link will initialize its download.

Please note that job descriptions are not exhaustive, and you may be asked to take on additional duties that align with the key responsibilities mentioned above.

We reserve the right to close the advert prior to the closing date stated should we receive a high volume of applications. It is therefore advisable that you submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.



If you encounter any technical issues while applying online, please don't hesitate to email us at support.jobs@imperial.ac.uk. We're here to help.


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About Imperial

Welcome to Imperial, a global top ten university where scientific imagination leads to world-changing impact.



Join us and be part of something bigger. From global health to climate change, AI to business leadership, here at Imperial we navigate some of the world's toughest challenges. Whatever your role, your contribution will have a lasting impact.



As a member of our vibrant community of 22,000 students and 8,000 staff, you'll collaborate with passionate minds across nine London campuses and a global network.



This is your chance to help shape the future. We hope you'll join us at Imperial College London.


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Our Culture

We work towards equality of opportunity, to eliminating discrimination, and to creating an inclusive working environment for all. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries, and are committed to employing a team that has diverse skills, experiences and abilities. You can read more about our commitment on our webpages.



Our values are at the root of everything we do and everyone in our community is expected to demonstrate respect, collaboration, excellence, integrity, and innovation.