Postdoctoral Research Associate in Protein Biochemistry and Applied Entomology

Working at Durham University

A globally outstanding centre of teaching and research excellence, a warm and friendly place to work, a unique and historic setting - Durham is a university like no other.

As one of the UK's leading universities, Durham is an incredible place to define your career. The University is located within a beautiful historic city, home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and surrounded by stunning countryside. Our talented scholars and researchers from around the world are tackling global issues and making a difference to people's lives.

We believe that inspiring our people to do outstanding things at Durham enables Durham people to do outstanding things in the world. Being a part of Durham is about more than just the success of the University, it's also about contributing to the success of the city, county and community.

Our University Strategy is built on three pillars of research, education and wider student experience, but also on our keen sense of community and of inspiring others to achieve their potential.

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We want our University to be a place where people can be free to be themselves, no matter what their identity or background. Together, we celebrate difference, value one another and are each responsible for creating an inclusive community that is respectful and fair for all.

Find out more about the benefits of working at the University and what it is like to live and work in the Durham area on our Why Join Us? - Information Page

The Role and Department

The Dept. of Biosciences is currently ranked in the top 5 UK Biology Departments in University league tables (4th in the Guardian University Guide, 5th in The Complete University Guide) and has a 100% internationally recognised research environment (REF2021). Our basic science underpins applications across each-and-every sector of the bio-economy, including Biotechnology, Ecology and Agritechnology. Research programmes are grouped in the following areas: Molecular Plant Sciences; Biomolecular Interactions; Ecology, Evolution and Environment; and Animal Cells and Systems. These groups organise focused seminar series, Research Away Days, manage joint research facilities, oversee mentoring, internal peer review and serve to nucleate larger research projects. Along with our excellent research facilities such as bioimaging, proteomics, metabolomics and genomics we offer a high quality and supportive environment for our research staff. The Dept. of Biosciences partners with other areas of research strength in Durham University including Computational Sciences and Chemistry and encourages multidisciplinary research for Health and Wellbeing. The Department holds an Athena SWAN Bronze award. Athena SWAN is a national initiative that recognises the advancement of gender equality, representation and progression. The Department embraces excellence in all of its forms and invites all qualified applicants to apply. We particularly welcome applications from women and black and minority ethnic candidates who are under-represented in the academic sector.

The Role

Applications are invited for a PDRA to conduct research in a collaborative project with Fundecitrus, a Brazilian association maintained by citrus growers and juice manufacturers from the State of São Paulo to foster the sustainable development of the citrus industry.

Project Title "Developing novel protein-based strategies for the control of the Asian citrus psyllid Diaphorina citri."

Our research group focusses on the exploitation of venom-derived neurotoxic peptides for the control of insect pests and this project builds upon an established collaboration with Fundecitrus to explore opportunities to develop new strategies for the control of the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri. D. citri is a key vector of the phloem-limited bacteria Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas), that causes Huanglongbing, the most serious and currently incurable disease of citrus worldwide.

This role will involve the generation of expression constructs and the production, purification, and characterisation of recombinant proteins. The Artificial Intelligence platform Alpha-fold and Alpha-fold 2 will be used to design expression constructs and proteins will be expressed transiently in Nicotiana benthamiana and in Pichia pastoris by bench-top fermentation. Characterisation of protein products will involve biochemical approaches (protein purification, SDS-PAGE, Western blotting) as well as working with model insect pests (aphids and lepidopteran larvae). We are looking for an excellent communicator, both in oral and written form, who is able to collaborate effectively with our partner organisation Fundecitrus.

In addition to this research project, the successful applicant will be expected to contribute to the day-to-day management of the laboratory as detailed in the requirements and responsibilities given below. The post is fixed term for 6 months with a possibility for further extension and the successful candidate will be working with Professor Elaine Fitches.

Further information about the role and responsibilities is at the bottom of this job description.

Working at Durham

A competitive salary is only one part of the many fantastic benefits you will receive if you join the University: you will also receive access to the following fantastic benefits:

• 30 Days annual leave per year in addition to 8 public holidays and 4 customary days per year - a total of 42 days per year.
• The University closes between Christmas and New Year - please include or delete if not applicable.
• We offer a generous pension scheme, As a new member of staff you will be automatically enrolled into the University Superannuation Scheme (USS).
• No matter how you travel to work, we have you covered. We have parking across campus, a cycle to work scheme which helps you to buy a bike and discount with local bus and train companies.
• There is a genuine commitment to developing our colleagues professionally and personally. There is a comprehensive range of development courses, apprenticeships and access to qualifications and routes to develop your career in the University. All staff have dedicated annual time to concentrate on their personal development opportunities.
• Lots of support for health and wellbeing including discounted membership for our state of the art sport and gym facilities and access to a 24-7 Employee Assistance Programme.
• On site nursery is available plus access to holiday camps for children aged 5-16.
• Family friendly policies, including maternity and adoption leave, which are among the most generous in the higher education sector (and likely above and beyond many employers).
• The opportunity to take part in staff volunteering activities to make a difference in the local community
• Discounts are available via our benefits portal including; money off at supermarkets, high street retailers, IT products such as Apple, the cinema and days out at various attractions.
• A salary sacrifice scheme is also available to help you take advantage of tax savings on benefits.
• If you are moving to Durham, you may be eligible for help with removal costs and we have a dedicated team who can help you with the practicalities such as house hunting and schools. If you need a visa, we cover most visa costs and offer an interest free loan scheme to pay for dependant visas.

Discover more about our total rewards and benefits package here.

Durham University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion

Equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are a key component of the University's Strategy and a central part of everything we do. We also live by our Purpose and Values and our Staff Code of Conduct. At Durham we actively work towards providing an environment where our staff and students can study, work and live in a community which is supportive and inclusive. It's important to us that all colleagues undertake activities that are aligned to both our values and commitment to EDI.

We welcome and encourage applications from those who are currently under-represented in our work force, including people with disabilities and from racially minoritised ethnic groups.

If you have taken a career break or periods of leave that may have impacted on the volume and recency of your research outputs and other activities, such as maternity, adoption or parental leave, you may wish to disclose this in your application. The selection committee will take this into account when evaluating your application.

The University has been awarded the Disability Confident Employer status. If you are a candidate with a disability, we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process. We will make adjustments to support the interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, reasonable adjustments will be made to support people within their role.
Person Specification

Essential Criteria:

Qualifications

A PhD (or be close to submission) in biology or biochemistry.

Experience

Significant experience in the design and cloning of hybrid recombinant proteins for expression in yeast and/or bacteria and/or in planta systems (construct design, PCR, transformation, primer design etc).

Experience in the production and affinity purification of recombinant proteins.

Experience in biochemical methods used to characterise recombinant proteins (SDS-PAGE, native PAGE, Western blotting etc)

Excellent written and verbal communication skills - demonstrable ability to write material of a quality commensurate with publication in highly-ranked journals.

Excellent organisational skills -including team and independent working and working to strict deadlines

Skills

7. Experience of using A.I. platforms such as alpha fold2 software to predict protein structure to inform the design of expression constructs

8. Experience in the production of recombinant proteins by bench-top fermentation (ideally yeast, but also bacterial systems).

9. Experience of working with insects (feeding/topical bioassays, dissection, tissue/protein sample preparation.

Desirable Criteria

Experience

10. Strong publication record in peer-reviewed journals, commensurate with stage of career.

11. A track record of presenting research at conferences, symposia, or meetings, commensurate with stage of career.

12. Demonstrable ability to develop research proposals and designs in collaboration with other academics.

13. Experience of overseeing students with respect to the development of their practical/research skills e.g. acting as a demonstrator; supervising student projects/practicals.

Skills

14. Demonstrable ability to plan and manage independent research.

How to Apply

To progress to the assessment stage, candidates must evidence each of the essential criteria required for the role in the person specification below. It will be at the discretion of the recruiting panel as to whether they will also consider any desirable criteria, but we would urge candidates to provide evidence for all criteria.

While some criteria will be considered at the shortlisting stage, other criteria may be considered later in the assessment process, such as questions at interview.

Submitting your application

We prefer to receive applications online. We will update you about your application at various points throughout the selection process, via automated emails from our e-recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to make sure you have not missed any of our updates.

What to Submit

All applicants are asked to submit:

• a CV and cover letter which details your experience, skills, and achievements in meeting (or the potential to meet) the criteria set out below.

Department contact for academic-related enquiries

Professor Elaine Fitches, e.c.fitches@durham.ac.uk

Contact information for technical difficulties when submitting your application

If you encounter technical difficulties when using the online application form, we prefer you send enquiries by email. Please send your name along with abrief description of the problem you're experiencing toe.recruitment@durham.ac.uk

Alternatively, you may call 0191 334 6801 from the UK, or +44 191 334 6801 from outside the UK. This number operates during the hours of 09.00 and 17.00 Monday to Friday, UK time. We will normally respond within one working day (Monday to Friday, excluding UK public holidays).

Key responsibilities:

• Planning the research programme in consultation with the PI and CoI. To include design of experiments; ordering and scheduling resources such as consumables, access to relevant facilities, to ensure that experiments progress as planned.
• Working independently and in compliance with health and safety operating procedures to conduct research activities as agreed, to include cloning for recombinant protein expression (yeast and N. benthamiana) operation of bench-top fermenter, protein purification and characterisation etc. Following established protocols but adapting where necessary and appropriate.
• Manage own time, including planning and prioritising workplan in consultation with the line manager and within the framework of the research proposal to ensure completion of tasks within specified deadlines.
• Oversee the maintenance of insect cultures to ensure that there are viable, healthy stocks, in the amounts required to complete planned experiments.
• Conduct analysis and data interpretation and maintain accurate records of data and materials produced during the project.
• Prepare written reports outlining the progress and results of the research, for distribution to key stakeholders, to include funding bodies and other relevant external and internal audiences; such as peer review publications, patent applications, proposals for follow-on funding etc., whilst ensuring protection of intellectual property is not compromised.
• To understand and convey material of a specialist or highly technical nature to the team or group of people through presentations and discussions that leads to the presentation of research papers in conferences and publications.
• Participate in project team meetings, specifically reporting on progress of defined research objectives and contributing to discussions and decision making with regard to the planning and design of experiments; interpretation of results and other tasks required to deliver the research proposal.
• To publish high quality outputs, including papers for submission to peer reviewed journals and papers for presentation at conferences and workshops under the direction of the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder.
• To conduct individual and collaborative research projects under the direction of the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder.
• To deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines by discussing with the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder and offering creative or innovative solutions.
• To liaise with research colleagues and make internal and external contacts to develop knowledge and understanding to form relationships for future research collaboration.
• To work with the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder and other colleagues in the research group, as appropriate, to identify areas for research, develop new research methods and extend the research portfolio.
• To deliver training in research techniques/approaches to peers, visitors and students as appropriate.
• To be involved in student supervision, as appropriate, and assist with the assessment of the knowledge of students.
• To contribute to fostering a collegial and respectful working environment which is inclusive and welcoming and where everyone is treated fairly with dignity and respect.
• To engage in wider citizenship to support the department and wider discipline.
• To engage in continuing professional development by participation in the undergraduate or postgraduate teaching programmes or by membership of departmental committees, etc. and by attending relevant training and development courses.

This post is fixed term for 6 months (1st January 2025 -30th June 2025), with a possibility for a further extension (for a further 2 years)

The post-holder is employed to work on research/a research project which will be led by another colleague. Whilst this means that the post-holder will not be carrying out independent research in his/her own right, the expectation is that they will contribute to the advancement of the project, through the development of their own research ideas/adaptation and development of research protocols.

Successful applicants will, ideally, be in post by 1st January 2025.

Next Steps

Short-listed candidates will be invited to the University, either virtually or in-person and will have the opportunity to meet key members of the Department. The assessment for the post will normally include a presentation followed by an interview.

In the event that you are unable to attend in person on the date offered, it may not be possible to offer you an interview on an alternative date.

Please note that in submitting your application Durham University will be processing your data. We would ask you to consider the relevant University Privacy Statement Job Applicants/Potential Job Applicants - Durham University which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data.

When appointing to this role the University must ensure that it meets any applicable immigration requirements, including salary thresholds which are applicable to some visas.