Research and Innovation Fellow in Gut Microbiome Impact of Alternative Proteins

Are you an ambitious researcher looking for your next challenge? Do you have an established background in microbiology, gut microbiome or microbial ecology and functional foods? Are you interested to explore the innovation potential of a scientific discovery to bring the research to marketplace by working with food industry stakeholders? Do you want to further your career in one of the UK’s leading research-intensive universities?

We are looking for a Research and Innovation Fellow (RIF) to join a project funded by the National Alternative Protein Innovation Centre (NAPIC). NAPIC is a £38m entity (including a £15m UKRI investment) to lead the UK’s alternative protein knowledge and Innovation ecosystem. NAPIC’s vision is to make alternative proteins mainstream for a sustainable planet. The centre is led by the Universities of Leeds, Sheffield, Imperial College London and the James Hutton Institute, in collaboration with over 100 national and international partners. NAPIC is a cohesive pan-UK centre poised to revolutionise the UK’s agri-food sector by harnessing our world-leading science base through a co-created alternative protein strategy across the Discovery → Innovation → Commercialisation pipeline to support the transition to a sustainable, high growth, blended protein bioeconomy.

NAPIC is actively recruiting a number of RIFs across the four leading organisations. We seek highly motivated researchers across a range of disciplines who are eager to lead the UK’s alternative protein revolution. These RIFs will benefit from collaborations (industry and academia), international placement opportunities and tailored entrepreneurship training. They can also lead their own alternative protein agile projects within the centre.  

This particular project will use a combination of in vitro models of the human colonic microbiota, small-scale human dietary interventions, analytical chemistry and both culture-based and culture-independent measurement of the gut microbiome to assess the impact of new and alternative proteins on gut health. Specifically, this project will measure the ability of new/alternative proteins to modify the composition of the gut microbiota, influence microbial production of beneficial metabolites and improve markers human gut health.

This position will generate new data on the gut health properties of new and alternative proteins and in collaboration with other NAPIC researchers, generate an multi-functional database of new and alternative protein functional properties, which using AI/ML will then be used to develop predictive relationships between the fundamental properties of the individual proteins: amino acid sequence (e.g., from the Protein Data Bank); extent of digestion, beneficial metabolite production, gut microbiota modulation and regulation of gut health markers. The overall aim is to develop a model testing system to establish the ability of new and alternative proteins to support gut health, and enable population based transition to a low animal protein diet by delivering nutritious, health promoting alternative protein foods.

You will join a highly dynamic, interdisciplinary team focusing on the whole theme of alternative proteins, collaborating with a wide range of academics and industrial partners, helping to run workshops and outreach activities as well as conducting your own research program.  

You will have a PhD or near completion in Microbiology, Microbial Ecology, Biochemistry, or Biological Sciences or a closely related discipline together with a strong background in gut microbiome and functional foods. You will also have a positive attitude to collaborative research and the drive to make a significant contribution to making this ground-breaking project a success.

Advert information