Research Fellow (109982-1224)

Location: Stratford Campus

Duration: Ending 31 March 2028

About the Role

For informal enquiries, please contact Munehiro Asally (Associate Professor - Reader) at m.asally@warwick.ac.uk.

Research Fellow (FA6)

Fixed term Contract / Full-time / 36.5 hours per week funded by Leverhulme Trust. 

Funding has been awarded to recruit a PDRA on FA6/SP33 for 36 months; the duration may need to be reduced up to a max 34.5 months depending on the starting salary of the successful candidate and appointment is subject to approval from the Trust.

Project title: Bioelectrochemical synapse-like communication in bacteria  

KEYWORDS:  – Physics of Life, Bioelectricity, Biophysics, Electrophysiology, Microbiology

What scientific question will you investigate?  / Outline of the project aims

Bioelectrical signalling, once thought to be unique to nerve and muscle cells, is widespread throughout living systems, including bacteria. However, bacterial electrical signalling is still only scarcely studies. The aim of this project is to elucidate the novel bioelectrochemical cell-cell communication in Bacillus subtilis, advancing our understanding of bacterial electrophysiology and electrical signalling. In particular, this project explore the potential synapse-like electrochemical signalling in bacteria. 

We invite applications from candidates with research experience in quantitative biology, biophysics, electrophysiology or microbial physiology. Candidates should have experience in fluorescence microscopy and image analysis. Ideal candidate should be familiar with biophysics and electrophysiology.

About the research group

You will join the Asally group in the School of Life Sciences at Warwick University. We are a diverse group of interdisciplinary scientists who study bacterial electrophysiology, collective dynamics and engineering biology. The project will be conducted in collaboration with Prof Nicolas Dale, Ted Pridgeon Professor in Neuroscience. 

For more information about the lab, please visit https://asallylab.com

 We and the wider University of Warwick environment offer substantial opportunities for professional development including regular opportunities to attend international conferences.

You will be embedded in a vibrant quantitative biology research community at Warwick. We have state-of-art facilities including fluorescence lifetime Imaging Microscopy and Imaging Flow Cytometry.

About You  

We are looking for someone with expertise in Physics of Life, Cell Physiology, Biophysics, or Electrophysiology. We also welcome applications from people with Microbial Physiology and Engineering Biology. Applicants should be proficient in key techniques that will be applied in this project, including fluorescence microscopy and image analysis.

For further information regarding the skills required for this role please see the personal specification section of the attached job description.

If you are near submission or have recently submitted your PhD but have not yet had it conferred, any offers of employment will be made as Research Assistant at the top of level 5 of the University grade structure. Upon receipt of evidence of the successful award of your PhD, you will be promoted to Research Fellow on the first point of level 6 of the University grade structure. 

CLOSING DATE: Sunday 26 January 2025 at 11.55 pm

Full details of the duties and selection criteria for this role can be found in the vacancy advert on the University of Warwick's jobs pages. You will be routed to this when you click on the Apply button.

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