Post-Doctoral Researcher, APC Microbiome Ireland

14 Feb 2025
Job Information

Organisation/Company

University College Cork

Department

HR Research

Research Field

Medical sciences » Health sciences

Researcher Profile

Recognised Researcher (R2)

Positions

Postdoc Positions

Country

Ireland

Application Deadline

14 Mar 2025 - 12:00 (Europe/Dublin)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by a EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

24 Months, Fixed-Term, Whole-Time Post

Position Summary

Applications are invited for a Post-Doctoral Researcher position based within APC Microbiome Ireland at University College Cork.

The Research Institute: APC Microbiome Ireland was formed in 2003 with funding by Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland and in conjunction with key industry partners. It represents a seamless collaboration between UCC, Teagasc, Moorepark and MTU. It is widely recognised that our microbiome (community of bacteria/viruses and fungi that live in and on our bodies) plays an important role in human health and has become one of the most dynamic, complex and exciting areas of research in both food and pharmaceutical arenas. Over the last two decades the APC has established itself as one of the leading global centres in gut microbiota research. The APC has made several landmark discoveries and has published over 3,500 research articles in peer-reviewed journals, generating many journal covers and associated editorials. The APC comprises over 300 individuals, including the scientific PI’s (the APC Faculty) funded by the partner Institutions, the management team, and a dedicated group of research scientists, research assistants and postgraduate’s students.

ROLE SUMMARY: Fungal pathogens represent a growing public health threat due to increased virulence and resistance to antifungal drugs. Candida and other fungal species are prevalent within the intestinal microbiota and are generally commensal. However, in some individuals, especially immunocompromised and/or hospitalised patients taking antibiotics, Candida overgrowth can occur, resulting in serious infections. Understanding how gut bacteria outcompete fungi for nutrients and niches and prevent overgrowth could lead to new intervention measures and novel therapeutics reducing the health burden of fungal infection. 

We seek an enthusiastic Post-Doctoral Researcher with extensive microbiology experience to join our recently funded JPIAMR consortium. The consortium will use genomic and metagenomic approaches to understand fungal transmission dynamics within hospitals and will identify and characterise commensal gut bacteria that have anti-fungal properties. The successful candidate will be based within the newly established Browne Lab in the School of Microbiology and APC Microbiome Ireland in University College Cork, https://research.ucc.ie/profiles/D010/hilary.browne@ucc.ie

The Role:  This 2-year funded position is suitable for someone who has just completed or is about to complete their PhD in human gut microbiome research, microbiology or similar fields. The primary role is to develop and implement high-throughput phenotypic screening assays to identify commensal gut bacteria that are inhibitory against Candida species. Once identified, these bacteria will be characterised to determine the underlying inhibitory mechanisms using microbiology approaches, metabolomics or other suitable techniques. The successful candidate will work closely with members of the Browne Lab as well as collaborators within our JPIAMR consortium. Expected start date is March 2025.

UCC is an accredited research organisation and as such can form hosting agreements with third country nationals (and non-EEA nationals) for the purpose of conducting research in the University.

Project Title: Targeting fungal pathogens with gut bacteria

Post Duration: 24 Months, Whole-Time Post  

Salary: €44,847 – €51,313 per annum, IUA PD1 Salary Scale

For an information package including further details of the post see https://ore.ucc.ie/ .   

Informal enquiries can be made in confidence to Dr Hilary Browne, School of Microbiology and APC Microbiome Ireland Tel: + 353 (0) 21 4902004; Email: hilary.browne@ucc.ie    

Where to apply

Website

https://ore.ucc.ie/

Requirements
Skills/Qualifications

Role Description

This title will apply to newly qualified Post-Doctoral Researchers and will be considered as a period of training as the researcher will have dual goals in terms of the research project and their own career development.  The researcher will be mentored by a Principal Investigator (PI).  It is expected that a researcher would spend not more than 3 years at the Post Doctoral level, subject to the term of the project and would then be eligible to compete for a Senior Post Doctoral post advertised by the University.

The primary focus of the Postdoctoral Researcher will be research however a particular emphasis during this stage should include:

• To conduct a specified programme of research under the supervision and direction of a Principal Investigator/Project Leader.
• To engage in appropriate training and professional development opportunities as required by the Principal Investigator, School or College in order to develop research skills and competencies.
• To gain experience in grant writing.
• To engage in the dissemination of the results of the research in which they are engaged, as directed by, with the support of and under the supervision of a Principal Investigator.
• To become familiar with the publication process.
• To acquire generic and transferable skills (including project management, business skills and postgraduate mentoring/supervision).
• To engage in the wider research and scholarly activities of the research group, School or College.
• To interact closely with postgraduate research students who are studying for a Masters or a PhD and possibly have an agreed role in supporting these students in their day to day research in conjunction with an academic supervisor.
• To carry out administrative work to support the programme of research.
• To carry out additional duties as may reasonably be required within the general scope and level of the post.
• To contribute to costing research grant proposals and assist in the financial management of a research project.

 

Health & Safety: In addition to the statutory safety duties of all employees (as prescribed in safety legislation and the relevant local safety statement) each staff member is responsible for:

• Discharging any safety functions delegated to them by their Head of College \ School \ Department \ Centre \ Unit, in relation to the areas/ activities under their control
• Co-operating and assisting the University and the Head of College \ School \ Department \ Centre \ Unit in the discharge of their statutory safety responsibilities
• Ensuring that all work under their control, is undertaken safely and without risk to health and complies with the provision of all relevant statutory legislation

Note:  As the university continues to expand and evolve, it is likely that flexibility in regard to the allocation of specific duties will be necessary.  Accordingly, the list of duties specified above is not intended to be exclusive or restrictive; duties may be added or withdrawn but any such alteration will take place after consultation with the appointee.

 

Specific Requirements

SELECTION CRITERIA

 The successful candidate will be expected to have:

Essential Criteria

• A PhD in human gut microbiome research, anaerobic microbiology or related fields.
• Extensive microbiology experience, especially related to human gut microbiome research.
• Excellent writing and verbal communication skills demonstrated through publications and conference presentations.
• Excellent organisational and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently on day-to-day basis and lead own research.
• Ability to work closely with consortium collaborators from multiple disciplines including computational and clinical backgrounds.
• Appropriate research experience.
• Appropriate technical competence and accomplishment.
• A capability of working within a project team to achieve results.
• Good communication, organisation and interpersonal skills.
• A commitment to gaining practical experience working on a research project.
• Ability to work well within a team.
• The successful candidate will be required to contribute to the APC’s Public Engagement programme by being involved in science related dissemination activities for the public and schools.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of working with fungi.
• Knowledge of functional profiling of gut bacteria using transcriptomic or metabolomics approaches.
• Broad knowledge of microbial genome analysis.

 

Please note that Garda vetting and international police clearance check may form part of the selection process.

Candidates are requested to make a personal assessment of these criteria against their own qualifications, skills and abilities to assess whether they should apply for the post

Please note: Candidates who do not demonstrate that they meet the criteria as detailed above will not be short listed.

The University, at its discretion, may undertake to make an additional appointment(s) from this competition following the conclusion of the process.

 

 

 

 

Languages

ENGLISH

Research Field

Medical sciences » Health sciences

Additional Information
Additional comments

Applications must be submitted online via the University College Cork vacancy portal (https://ore.ucc.ie/ ). Queries relating to the online application process should be referred to recruitment@ucc.ie , quoting the job-title and project name.

Candidates should apply, in confidence, before 12 noon (Irish Local Time) on Friday, 14th of March 2025 

No late applications will be accepted.

Please note that an appointment to posts advertised will be dependent on University approval, together with the terms of the employment control framework for the higher education sector.

UCC is committed to creating and fully embracing an inclusive environment where diversity is celebrated.  As a University we strive to create a workplace that reflects the diversity of our student population where people from a wide variety of backgrounds learn from one another, share ideas, and work collaboratively. UCC is committed to being an employer that recognises the value of diversity amongst its staff.  We encourage applicants to consult our policies at https://www.ucc.ie/en/edi/policies/  and initiatives at https://www.ucc.ie/en/edi/implementation/  and we welcome applications from everyone, including those who are underrepresented in the protected characteristics set out in our Equal Opportunities & Diversity Policy.

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER

 

 

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

University College Cork

Country

Ireland

State/Province

Cork

City

Cork

Geofield

Contact

City

Cork

Website

http://www.ucc.ie/en/

Street

Western Road

E-Mail

hilary.browne@ucc.ie

STATUS: EXPIRED

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