The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.

We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more. Find out more about our benefits (opens in a new window) and join us to become part of something special.

Overview

This is an exciting Post Doctoral Research Associate position aiming to engineer communities of microbes for bioremediation. Joining The Pandhal Research Group in the School of Chemical, Materials and Biological Engineering, the focus will be on developing a novel screening process to combine microalgae and bacteria strains that symbiotically degrade exemplar pollutants. The project is a collaboration between the University of Michigan, USA and the University of Sheffield, UK.

The aim is to enrich and evaluate algae and bacteria microbes for biodegradation capability, and to utilise screening to identify combinations of strains that show high growth performance. The USA team will be developing a complementary microfluidic based screening method in tandem.  and a combination of meta-omics will be undertaken to decipher functional interactions in selected consortia. The overall aim is to develop new methods for engineering microbial consortia whilst also uncovering new biological knowledge that can be leveraged to design novel biodegrading algal-bacterial communities.

You will be an active member in this flourishing research group, working at the forefront of biological engineering, and pushing boundaries on interdisciplinary solutions to some of the most challenging societal problems.

This project will suit candidates with a track record or strong interest in applications and methods to exploit microbial communities in engineering. It is vital the successful candidate has a way of working that supports the writing process, enabling them to publish the results of their high-quality research in a timely manner. The role will also involve travel to conferences and the project partner laboratory.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Strain enrichment and selection based on specific pollutants.
• Guide experimental sampling agendas that are suitable for microalgae-bacteria cultivation, media manipulation and growth process analyses
• Design and implement a systematic experimental testing screen to identify optimal parameters.
• Interpret microalgae-bacteria cell physiology and biochemical production to guide cultivation parameter optimisation.
• Contact experts in interdisciplinary fields, with both academic and industrial partners.
• Disseminate findings to collaborators, funding party, industry partners and potential end-users,
• Coordinate/organise network meetings with the aim of generating data for a follow on grants.
• Writing high quality publications and encouraging high quality writing in others.
• Present research at conferences in enthusiastic and clear manner.
• Collaborating with other members of research groups.
• Attending group meetings.
• As a member of staff you will be encouraged to make ethical decisions in your role, embedding the University sustainability strategy into your working activities wherever possible.
• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

Essential criteria

• Ph.D. or equivalent experience in Biological Engineering, Biotechnology or Applied Microbiology (assessed at: application).
• An understanding of how microbes interact in communities (assessed at: application).
• Systematic knowledge of how to design experiments that enable writing of high-quality research publications (assessed at: application/interview).
• Experience in developing and applying experimental techniques including microbial growth, growth screening and optimisations (assessed at: application/interview)..
• Effective communication skills, both written and verbal, report writing skills, experience of delivering presentations; communicating to staff at all levels the organisation’s strategic plan and their personal contribution towards it (assessed at: application/interview).
• Have experience of working as part of an interdisciplinary research team, coordinating efforts and working to deadlines (assessed at: application/interview).
• Ability to work independently and on your own initiative (assessed at: application/interview).

Desirable criteria

• Ability to learn and understand analytical workflows for biochemical characterisations, particularly those that can be embedded within high throughput screens (assessed at: application).

• Ability to motivate high performance in others (assessed at: application).

Further Information

Grade: Grade 7

Salary: £37,999 - £46,485

Duration: Fixed term until 31st October 2027

Line manager: Professor Jags Pandhal

Direct reports: Professor Jags Pandhal

For informal enquiries about this job contact
Rachel Fearon, Senior Research Support Officer: on cbe-recruiters@sheffield.ac.uk

Next steps in the recruitment process

It is anticipated that the selection process will take place on w/c 24th February 2025. This will consist of an interview with the leading academic and members of the School of Chemical, Materials and Biological Engineering where the candidate will present their past/current research and in the context of their career goals. They will also have the opportunity to ask questions before a tour of the laboratory and School. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage on the week commencing 17th January 2025. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact cbe-recruiters@sheffield.ac.uk

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision (opens in new window).
 

What we offer

• A minimum of 41 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.
• Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
• Generous pension scheme.
• A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
• A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women’s and Parent’s networks).
• Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.
• A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes; integrated with our Academic Career Pathways.
• A range of generous family-friendly policies
  • paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
  • support for those going through the menopause
  • paid time off and support for fertility treatment
  • and more

More details can be found on our benefits page: sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits (opens in a new window).

We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.

We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision (www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.