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Reference: NOV20240471
Expiry date: 04:00, Fri, 6th Dec 2024
Location: Liverpool
Salary: £32,232.00 - £37,999.00 Per Annum
Benefits: 30 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, plus Christmas closure days
Duration: Fixed-term appointment to 31st May 2025

Salary: £32,232 - £37,999 (starting salary will be £32,232 p.a.)

Full- time, fixed-term appointment to 31st May 2025

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and dedicated Research Assistant to join our team in the Tropical Disease Biology Department.

This is a fixed term Research Assistant position to join a collaborative research team (also including Fabrice Graf, LSTM, Dept Clinical Sciences; Eva Heinz, University of Strathclyde; Liverpool Clinical Laboratories, NHS) investigating the genomics of circulating carbapenemase producing Enterobacterales in the Liverpool City Region. An additional focus will be resistance to the drug cefiderocol within these isolates.

The successful candidate will use various cutting edge bioinformatic approaches to catalogue resistance genes within the isolates, interrogate the genomic context of these genes eg plasmid or transposon carriage, and utilize a variety of microbiological and biochemical assays to determine the prevalence and cause of cefiderocol resistance within the isolate set.

There is also the opportunity to become involved in several ongoing and new projects within the group, primarily involving collaboration with UK and LMIC clinical teams, investigating outbreaks of AMR bacteria, and investigating unusual AMR phenotypes.

Key responsibilities include:

Laboratory duties

• Perform all necessary experimental work on the project, including;
• Whole genome sequencing using illumina and oxford nanopore platforms
• Using qPCR to determine relative gene copy numbers
• DNA extraction
• Microbiological experiments including growth and fitness assays
• Biochemical measurement of beta-lactamase activity

Assist/lead in various ongoing research projects involving the investigation of hospital outbreaks and unusual AMR phenotypes:

• Characterising clinical bacterial isolates for antimicrobial susceptibility
• Extraction of DNA for whole genome sequencing
• Bioinformatic analysis of assemblies to identify the AMR gene repertoire
• Analysing data with input from clinical collaborators

Provide support and supervision to students and technical staff within the group

• To assist in training and mentoring staff that provide technical assistance to your project
• Support students and technicians working on similar topics, especially in the analysis of their data

Develop novel projects

• Contribute to the writing of research grants/ fellowships in collaboration with PIs.
• Disseminate findings through publications and conferences, as relevant to research

Ideally you will be able to demonstrate:

• MSc/MRes in a related subject

• Expertise in microbiology / bacterial culture
• Sequencing library prep
• General molecular biology experience e.g. PCR, DNA extraction
• Bioinformatic analysis of NGS data
• Experience of conducting whole genome phylogenetic analysis
• Experience and development of reviewing laboratory SOP’s and Risk Assessment
• Experience of investigating resistance to cefiderocol (desirable)

For a full list of essential and desirable criteria please refer to the job description and person specification)

Additional benefits of joining LSTM:

• 30 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, plus Christmas closure days
• Generous occupational pension schemes
• Government backed “cycle to work” scheme.
• Affiliated, discounted staff membership to the University of Liverpool Sports Centre
• Plus, a host of additional family friendly policies

Closing Date: 6th December 2024

Application Process: To apply for the position please click on the apply link and upload your CV and Covering Letter.

Due to the volume of applications, we receive, we may close our vacancies early. It is therefore advisable to apply as early as possible if you would like to be considered for a role.

Inclusion is central to our values at LSTM

We seek to attract and recruit people who reflect the diversity across our communities, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, nationality, faith or belief, social background, age and disability. LSTM selects candidates based on skills, qualifications, and experience.

We welcome conversations about flexible working; and applications from those returning to employment after a break from their careers.

About LSTM

Founded in 1898 and the oldest of its kind in the world, the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) is an internationally recognised centre of excellence for teaching and research in tropical diseases. Through the creation of effective links with governments, NGOs, private organisations and global institutions and by responding to the health needs of communities, LSTM aims to promote improved health, particularly for people of the less developed/resource poorest countries in the tropics and sub-tropics.

LSTM actively promotes Equal Opportunities and Safeguarding Policies