Main Purpose of the Job

Postdoctoral Researchers work with limited supervision to carry out individual and collaborative research projects relevant to the overall needs of the research programme.

Key Relationships

Internal: Line manager, group members and, as necessary, other researchers, research support staff and students across the Institute.
External: Collaborators in Liverpool University (Jamie Hall and members of his lab), collaborators in Manchester University (Michael Brockhurst, Neil Dixon and members of their labs). 

Main Activities & Responsibilities

Percentage

Identify, plan, carry out and modify experiments to meet the objectives of the project

50

Prepare results, reports and manuscripts for publication in leading scientific journals and other relevant media

15

Disseminate research findings through presentations to various audiences at internal, national and international meetings

5

Collaborate with colleagues within the Institute in the development of original and world-class research, including contributing to research proposals and grant applications

5

Liaise with colleagues at Liverpool and Manchester Universities to enable successful delivery of the wider research project

5

Ensure research and record keeping is carried out in accordance with good practice, Scientific Integrity and in compliance with local policies and any legal requirements

5

Contribute to the smooth running of the group, including the effective use of resources, supervision of visitors to the laboratory and assisting with training others, encouraging scientific excellence

5

Continually strive for excellence, seeking out and acting on feedback and relevant learning and development opportunities

5

As agreed with the line manager, any other duties commensurate with the nature of the post, for example, contributing to the work of Institute committees

5

Education & Qualifications

Requirement

Importance

PhD (full award or expected within 6 months) or equivalent in microbiology or a related discipline

Essential

BSc or equivalent in biosciences

Essential

Specialist Knowledge & Skills

Requirement

Importance

Fundamental molecular microbiology techniques

Essential

Advanced understanding of bacterial genetics and genetic manipulation

Essential

Protein biochemistry skills

Essential

Experience of protein biophysical analysis techniques (SPR, ITC etc.)

Essential

Experience of molecular host-microbe interaction research

Desirable

Experience of plasmid/mobile genetic element research

Desirable

Experience of quantitative proteomics, RNA-seq and/or other

Desirable

Relevant Experience

Requirement

Importance

Demonstrated ability to perform research and develop novel ideas

Essential

Proven record in scientific writing

Essential

Experience of oral research presentations

Essential

Experience of supervising, training and mentoring visitors and students

Desirable

Preparing data / information for grant proposals

Desirable

Interpersonal & Communication Skills

Requirement

Importance

Excellent communication skills, both written and oral, including the ability to present complex information with clarity

Essential

Good interpersonal skills, with the ability to work as part of a large cross-institute team

Essential

Demonstrated ability to work independently, using initiative and applying problem solving skills

Essential

Excellent time management and organisational skills

Essential

Ability to collaborate with internal and external stakeholders

Essential

Ability to follow instructions/Standard Operating Procedures

Essential

Promotes and strives for continuous improvement

Essential

Additional Requirements

Requirement

Importance

Promotes equality and values diversity

Essential

Willingness to embrace the expected values and behaviours of all staff at the Institute, ensuring it is a great place to work

Essential

Able to present a positive image of self and the Institute, promoting both the international reputation and public engagement aims of the Institute

Essential

Ability to maintain confidentiality and security of information where appropriate

Essential

Willingness to work outside standard working hours when required

Essential

Ability to undertake occasional travel (national and international) related to collaborations and/or seminars

Essential

Attention to detail

Essential

John Innes Centre

The John Innes Centre is an independent, international centre of excellence in plant and microbial genetics, carrying out fundamental and strategic research, to train scientists and making our findings available to society.

Our research makes use of a wide range of disciplines in the biological and chemical sciences including; cell biology, biochemistry, chemistry, genetics and molecular biology.

For more information about working at the John Innes Centre, please click here.

We pride ourselves on being a welcoming and inclusive working environment for all. We have a diverse and multicultural scientific community and thrive on our European and international links, appointing staff from across the world. Any candidate who would like further information on current or anticipated immigration requirements can contact the HR Team on +44 (0)1603 450888 or nbi.recruitment@nbi.ac.uk.

We are proud to hold a prestigious Athena SWAN Gold award, recognising the impact of our work in promoting gender equality in science. We are also a proud member of the Stonewall Diversity Champion’s programme, a founding signatory of the Tecnician Commitment and, as a Disability Confident employer, guarantee to offer an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post.

The John Innes Centre is a registered charity (No. 223852), limited by guarantee (registered in England No. 511709).

Department

Molecular Microbiology

Our holistic approach integrates cellular physiology, molecular genetics (including functional genomics), biochemistry and structural biology. In the Department of Molecular Microbiology we study bacterial metabolism, physiology, gene regulation and development, and plant-bacterial interactions. Major themes of our work on Gram-negative bacteria are the molecular basis of signal transduction in response to various environmental signals and studies on the biology of ammonia channel proteins which are conserved in all domains of life.

The Department's comprehensive Streptomyces programme, studying antibiotic production, morphological differentiation and stress responses, is underpinned by the newly-acquired genome sequence of the model species S. coelicolor, and cutting-edge techniques in functional genomics. Another major research area is the Rhizobium-legume symbiosis where our studies range from bacterial quorum-sensing and plant-bacterial signalling interactions to the developmental responses of plants to their microbial symbionts.

The Department capitalises on the John Innes Centre's emerging strengths in functional genomics, structural biology and advanced cytological techniques, as well as exploiting novel links between research on bacterial and plant processes.

Group Details

The Malone lab is a multidisciplinary research group in the JIC Molecular Microbiology Department. The lab studies the molecular mechanisms of plant interaction by soil and plant-associated Pseudomonas species.  

Living in Norfolk

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Postdoctoral Researcher
Salary:            £37,500 to £40,600 per annum depending on qualifications and experience.
Contract:        Full-time, 36 months
Location:        John Innes Centre, Norwich, UK.
Closing date: 25 July 2025
Reference:     1004918

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Postdoctoral Researcher to join the Malone Group at the John Innes Centre, working on cutting-edge science in the field of Molecular Microbiology.

About the John Innes Centre:

The John Innes Centre is an independent, international centre of excellence in plant and microbial sciences. We nurture a creative, curiosity-led approach to answering fundamental questions in bioscience, and translate that knowledge into societal benefits. Our strategic vision, Healthy Plants, Healthy People, Healthy Planet, sets out our ambitious long-term goals for the game changing impact of our science globally. 

Our employees enjoy access to state-of-the-art technology and a diverse range of specialist training opportunities, including support for leadership and management. Click here to find out more about working at the John Innes Centre.

About the Malone Group and the role:

Working in the John Innes Centre in Norwich under the supervision of Professor Jake Malone, this post-doctoral researcher position is funded by the BBSRC project “How does plasmid-chromosome crosstalk influence the spread of genes through complex microbial communities?” This project is a collaboration with Professors Neil Dixon and Michael Brockhurst at Manchester University and Dr Jamie Hall at Liverpool University, and aims to investigate how plasmid-borne regulatory genes impact the horizontal gene transfer (HGT) efficiency of plasmids in soil microbiomes, and how this may be exploited to facilitate bioremediation.

Plasmid-mediated HGT drives evolutionary innovation by enabling bacteria to gain new functions including antibiotic resistance and metabolic competencies. Our recent work revealed that besides these functional traits, plasmids naturally encode diverse regulatory proteins that manipulate host behaviour for the plasmid’s benefit, a process known as plasmid-chromosome crosstalk (PCC). PCCs can drive plasmid spread through microbiomes even in the absence of direct selection for plasmid-encoded traits, potentially allowing valuable functions to be efficiently engineered into native microbiomes in situ. Despite its importance, PCC is currently poorly understood. We do not understand how PCC commandeers control of bacterial functions, the diversity of PCC regulators across the breadth of plasmids, or the extent to which PCC controls HGT dynamics in microbiomes.

The JIC researcher will use a combination of molecular microbiology and biochemistry to characterise the PCC regulon in the environmental megaplasmid pQBR103 and its host microbe, the plant-associated bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens. You will generate a molecular-level understanding of PCC, mapping the regulatory interactions of different plasmid-encoded regulators and their integration to reveal the underlying molecular control architecture. You will work closely with colleagues in JIC, Liverpool and Manchester throughout the project, who will apply complimentary approaches (including bioinformatic mining and microbiome engineering) to develop an integrated understanding of PCC in microbiome function and evolution.

The ideal candidate:

You will have a PhD (full award or expected within 6 months) or equivalent in microbiology or a related discipline. You will have in-depth knowledge of fundamental molecular microbiology techniques and have an advanced understanding of bacterial genetics and genetic manipulation. You should also have demonstrable ability to perform research and develop novel ideas and a proven record in scientific writing.  

Additional information:

For further information and details of how to apply, please visit our website http://jobs.jic.ac.uk or contact the Human Resources team on 01603 450814 or nbi.recruitment@nbi.ac.uk quoting reference 1004918.

This role meets the criteria for a visa application, and we encourage all qualified candidates to apply. Where the successful applicant requires a visa, we will fund the costs for their visa and the Immigration Health Surcharge. Please contact the Human Resources Team if you have any questions regarding your application or visa options.

We are an equal opportunities employer, actively supporting inclusivity and diversity.  As a Disability Confident organisation, we guarantee to offer an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for this vacancy. We are proud to hold a prestigious Gold Athena SWAN award in recognition of our inclusive culture, commitment and good practices towards advancing of gender equality. We offer an exciting, stimulating, diverse research environment and actively promote a family friendly workplace. The Institute is also a member of Stonewall’s Diversity Champions programme.

The John Innes Centre is a registered charity (No. 223852) grant-aided by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.