Research Fellow in Microbial Ecology, Biological Sciences(UK Visa Sponsorship available)

Job Description

About the Role

The University of Aberdeen is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Microbial Ecology to join a BBSRC-funded project in collaboration with Durham University. The project focuses on Biological Nitrification Inhibition (BNI) in rice, exploring natural variation in BNI efficiency in both domesticated and wild rice.

The successful candidate will investigate the ecological mechanisms regulating BNI in soil-grown rice. Specifically, the role involves:

Identifying BNI compounds using LC-MS and advanced statistical tools.

Testing inhibition profiles on ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and archaea (AOA).

Assessing impacts on microbial diversity, ecosystem processes, and global nitrogen cycling.

Developing new hypotheses and contributing original ideas within the project scope.

This interdisciplinary role offers opportunities to collaborate with microbiologists, soil scientists, plant scientists, chemists, modellers, and bioinformaticians within the School of Biological Sciences and beyond.

About You

The ideal candidate will be:

Enthusiastic, creative, and collaborative.

Experienced in microbial ecology, soil microbiology, biogeochemistry, or related fields.

Skilled in analytical methods such as LC-MS and microbial community analysis.

Able to contribute ideas, work across disciplines, and engage with a large research team.

Project Environment

The project is supported by a strong interdisciplinary team at the University of Aberdeen, including:

Prof. Cecile Gubry-Rangin (Microbial Ecology)

Prof. Marcel Jaspars (Organic Chemistry)

Dr Gareth Norton (Plant Molecular Genetics)

You will also interact with researchers working on sustainable agriculture projects such as BNI in wheat.

Additional Information

Salary: Grade 6 (£38,249 per annum).

Location: University of Aberdeen, School of Biological Sciences.

Visa Sponsorship: Skilled Worker and Global Talent visa routes may be available.

The University of Aberdeen values diversity and welcomes applications from all backgrounds.