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Current Opportunities!
1) Postdoctoral Research Associate Position in Fungal Genomics & Molecular Diagnostics (November 2026)
Help tackle one of the world's fastest emerging drug-resistant fungal pathogens!
An exciting opportunity is available for an ambitious postdoctoral researcher to join a multidisciplinary team investigating the emergence of Trichophyton indotineae (Ti) - a multidrug-resistant fungal pathogen that is rapidly spreading worldwide and is now a major public health challenge.
Based in the Bates Lab with close collaborations across Barts Health NHS Trust and Imperial College London, you will work at the interface of genomics and antimicrobial resistance, molecular diagnostics, and clinical epidemiology, helping to develop new tools that could transform the diagnosis and surveillance of Ti. East London is currently at the centre of the UK's outbreak, offering a unique opportunity to undertake research with immediate clinical and public health impact.
What you'll do
You will play a leading role in a translational research programme that will:
Sequence and analyse fungal genomes to understand transmission and evolution.
Identify the genetic basis of multidrug resistance.
Develop a rapid multiplex qPCR diagnostic capable of detecting T. indotineae and resistance-associated mutations.
Using this new diagnostic, help to establish one of the UK's first molecular surveillance programmes for Ti.
Publish high-impact research and present your work at international conferences.
About you
A PhD (or near completion) in microbiology, mycology, molecular biology, genomics, bioinformatics, infectious disease epidemiology or a related discipline.
Experience with molecular biology and next-generation sequencing.
Strong computational skills (e.g. Linux, R, Python).
An interest in microbial genomics, antimicrobial resistance or infectious disease research.
Excellent communication skills and enthusiasm for collaborative, translational science.
Why join us?
This is an opportunity to contribute to research that addresses an urgent global health challenge while developing expertise in fungal genomics and translational microbiology.
You'll benefit from:
Access to state-of-the-art genomics and molecular biology facilities.
Close collaboration with Barts Health NHS Trust and the Royal London Hospital.
A supportive, interdisciplinary research environment.
Opportunities to publish in leading journals and present at international conferences.
Training in clinical genomics, molecular diagnostics and grant writing.
Mentoring to help develop your independent research career.
For informal enquiries, please contact Kieran Bates at k.bates[at]qmul.ac.uk.
2) Research Associate Position in Microbiology (November 2026)
Work at the interface of robotics, quantum sensing and microbiology!
We will soon be advertising a Research Associate position to join a recently funded ARIA research programme at the interface of robotics, quantum sensing, and microbiology. The project in collaboration with the University of Sheffield aims to develop novel “magnetobiont” technology, enabling the controlled deployment, tracking, and recovery of microbes in complex environments. This approach has diverse potential applications in ecosystem interventions, from bioremediation of pollutants to suppression of plant and animal pathogens. As a proof-of-concept, we will first develop magnetically labelled defensive symbionts as a targeted biocontrol approach against the Chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), which has driven global amphibian declines.
What you'll do
You will work with an established library of Bd inhibitory bacteria to test and develop magnetic labelling methods, alongside experiments to optimise magnetobiont tracking and recovery. From this work, we aim to move bioaugmentation beyond passive microbial supplementation towards targeted, controllable microbial interventions for ecosystem and disease management.
You will work with group members and collaborators at Sheffield University to develop experiments, collect data, and conduct analyses. The post holder will also provide guidance to less experienced members of the group, including undergraduate and postgraduate students, and contribute to general lab management.
About You
You will hold an undergraduate degree in biological sciences or a similar quantitative science. You should have wet experience including microbiology and molecular biology. Experience in cell labelling methods and flow cytometry / microscopy are highly desirable. You should also have strong analytical skills, excellent communication skills, and the ability to work independently and collaboratively.
PhD Studentships
If you are interested in doing a PhD in my group, please do get in touch. QMUL is involved in various Doctoral Training Programmes (e.g. the LIDO dtp) with other potential funding streams also available.
Post-doctoral Fellows
If you are interested in joining us as a post-doctoral researcher, please get in touch early to discuss ideas and funding. There are a range of opportunities to apply for funding, that may depend on the topic or applicant's nationality e.g. 1851 Royal Commission, Leverhulme Trust, NSF, EMBO, Newton International Fellowship, Swiss National Science Foundation, and Marie Curie Actions.
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