Senior Research Associate in transcriptomics and epigenetics of ageing in bats

The role

A post-doctoral Senior Research Associate position is available for one year at the University of Bristol to perform research on social stress, epigenetics and immune function across bat lifespans. The study will be on a population of greater horseshoe bats in Gloucestershire studied for over 60 years by Dr Roger Ransome. Since 1993, studies on genetic relatedness, ageing and heritability have been led by Professor Gareth Jones. The study will be based at the School of Biological Sciences and is led by Professor Jones.

The overarching goal of this project is to determine how social stress, due either to differences in social status or lack of social integration, influences innate immunity over the lifespan of bats. Bats show extraordinary longevity and sociality. No other mammalian group exhibits comparable longevity relative to body size or variation in sociality. In addition, recent evidence indicates that some bats do not exhibit several hallmarks of aging and can modulate their immune response to tolerate high levels of virus exposure. The study is part of a project funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and involves collaborations with The University of Maryland, University College Dublin and Princeton University.

The project aims are:

1. Update a pedigree over 5 years using analysis of bespoke microsatellite markers and parentage analyses.
2. Obtain DNA methylation (DNAm) profiles of bats to determine epigenetic consequences of ageing in relation to social and reproductive stress.
3. Use expression of mononuclear white blood cells after ex vivo stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to quantify immune response in first year and old (i.e. greater than mean adult lifespan) individuals of both sexes to determine if there are sex differences in immunity over the lifespan.

What will you be doing?

• Extract DNA, use microsatellite primers & perform parentage analyses to update pedigree.
• Extract DNA for use with a mammalian epigenetic clock chick to measure epigenetic age acceleration and relate findings to social and reproductive proxies of stress.
• Lead blood extractions on wild bats to subject blood samples to LPS and control treatments.
• Lead analyses on results from these methods.
• Collaborate closely with the PI & other researchers on the project.
• Work with PI (Professor Gareth Jones) and other team members to ensure there is a roadmap to match deadlines and milestones and continually review this roadmap on a weekly basis.
• Contribute to developing publications & presenting findings in adequate platforms.
• Exhibit technical and intellectual independence.
• Bring to the attention of managers any matters relating to the health and safety of staff, students and visitors.

You should apply if

• You have a PhD in vertebrate molecular ecology.
• Experience working in field biology and the molecular biology of ageing.
• Use of methods including genotyping, transcriptomics & DNA methylation analyses
• Field work involving Home Office licensed procedures with wild mammals is desirable.

Additional information

For informal queries about the role please contact: Gareth Jones gareth.jones@bristol.ac.uk

Contract type: Open-ended (fixed term funding for one year)

Our strategy and mission

Available documents

• ACAD107913_Senior Research Associate_JD.pdf

Advert information