Research Fellow in Engineering Biology

Organisation/Company UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON Research Field Biological sciences Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) First Stage Researcher (R1) Application Deadline 18 Aug 2026 - 00:00 (UTC) Country United Kingdom Type of Contract Other Job Status Full-time Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

The McCarthy Lab has an exciting opportunity for a prospective Research Fellow who is interested in synthetic biology approaches to engineer biofilms to better tackle environmental challenges.

You will be joining a highly interdisciplinary project, where we will blend synthetic biology, environmental engineering, and biotechnology to develop disruptive solutions to major environmental challenges. Experience with advanced cloning systems, CRISPR tools, metagenomic mining and the use of different biofilm imaging platforms is highly desirable. There will be a particular focus on developing approaches to harness bacterial community behaviours like biofilm formation to better tackle environmental pollutants such as waste plastics. Our aim is to leverage cutting-edge advancements in synthetic biology and biofilm engineering to develop innovative strategies for bioremediation, with a key focus on scalable solutions that can be readily adopted by the waste and water sectors.

This fast-paced project will give the successful candidate the opportunity to develop new skills by working closely with our interdisciplinary team and build their international profile including through research visits to academic collaborators and working with SMEs.

The successful candidate will be responsible for accurate and efficient data generation, data management, collation and the reporting of results to the project lead. The post-holder will need to demonstrate excellent attention to detail, organisational, team working and communication skills and have a keen interest in drafting research outputs for peer-review publication. The successful applicant will work closely with other researchers within the McCarthy Lab and with other EBIC partners.

Applicants must have a PhD in a relevant discipline. Experience and knowledge in the field of biofilm formation is essential. Experience in some or all of the following: advanced cloning systems, CRISPR tools, metagenomic mining and the use of different biofilm imaging platforms is highly desirable. They should be enthusiastic, well motivated and be able to work both independently and collaboratively. Please include one paper or preprint that illustrates research skills that are relevant to this project.

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcome applicants who support our mission of inclusivity.

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