About the role

We are seeking a talented and driven Research Associate to join the Becky Mayer Centre for Phage Research within the Department of Genetics, Genomics and Cancer Sciences at the University of Leicester. This role offers a unique opportunity to play a vital role in a high-impact international project addressing infectious diseases in aquaculture.

Working in close collaboration with partners in Vietnam, you will lead efforts to isolate and characterise bacteriophages from shrimp and tilapia farms in the Mekong Delta. Your work will contribute to the development of sustainable, environmentally friendly therapeutic approaches to improve aquaculture resilience in Southeast Asia. You’ll be part of a vibrant, multidisciplinary team conducting cutting-edge research into phage metagenomics and virome analysis.

You will have autonomy in planning and executing research, managing data collection and interpretation, contributing to publications and grant applications, and disseminating findings at international conferences. You’ll also have the opportunity to mentor junior researchers and students while supporting the wider objectives of the research centre.

About you

You will hold a PhD (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline, with experience in environmental microbiology, large-scale environmental sample processing, and DNA extraction for viromes. You’ll bring strong expertise in phage isolation and characterisation, as well as computational skills including Linux and programming languages such as Python, Perl or Bash.

A solid understanding of aquaculture and fish pathogens is essential, along with knowledge of metagenomics and virome analysis. You’ll be a confident communicator with proven experience of working both independently and collaboratively on research projects. A commitment to continuous professional development and a willingness to travel and work in Vietnam are key.

We value individuals who are proactive, inclusive, and impact-driven—aligned with our values as Citizens of Change. If you're looking to make a meaningful contribution to sustainable aquaculture and thrive in a dynamic research environment, we would love to hear from you.

Additional information

Informal enquiries are welcome and should be made to Professor Martha Clokie or Associate Professor Andy Millard, Centre for Phage Research, [email protected].

Applications for job share will be considered.

As part of the University’s ongoing commitment to professional development, this role will also be considered on a seconded basis for existing staff members. Please ensure this is discussed with your line manager prior to applying. More information regarding secondments can be found here

The University of Leicester has been changing the world, and changing people’s lives, for 100 years. When you join us, you’ll become part of a community of Citizens of Change, which includes not only our staff and our current students but also thousands of Leicester graduates around the world.

As a diverse and forward-thinking employer, we embed the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion into everything we do. That includes not just our core missions of teaching and research, but also our support for staff, students and our local community through our values of Inspiring, Impactful and Inclusive through our values of Inspiring, Impactful and Inclusive.

We’re committed to the wellbeing of all our staff and to the sustainability of our environment, on our campus and beyond. We offer a competitive salary package, excellent pension scheme and a generous annual leave allowance, along with opportunities to develop your career in a supportive and collaborative environment.