Graduate Research Assistant in Exeter

 Graduate Research Assistant

This Royal Society-funded full-time post is available from mid-November 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter, for 12 months.

This post is offered as a fixed term contract and is funded by the Royal Society until 15 November 2027.

In line with the University’s fair employment for all principles, any further funding opportunities identified will be reviewed and discussed during the contract. 

Faculty of Health and Life Sciences (Living Systems Institute)

The Faculty wishes to recruit a Graduate Research Assistant to support the work of Dr Adam Monier. The successful applicant will investigate how bacteria, including nitrogen-fixing diazotrophs, take up and metabolise organic nitrogen, combining laboratory experiments with bioinformatic analyses, as part of a Royal Society-funded research programme on microbial metabolism and ecological interactions.

The post will include culturing bacterial strains, including diazotrophs, and running growth experiments under different nitrogen regimes; applying molecular biology techniques such as nucleic acid extraction, PCR, qPCR and cloning; building and testing genetic constructs using synthetic biology approaches; carrying out comparative genomic and phylogenetic analyses of nitrogen-related genes across microbial genomes and metagenomes; and writing up results for publication and presentation.

The successful applicant will be able to present information on research progress and outcomes, communicate complex information orally, in writing and electronically, and support the preparation of proposals and applications to external bodies.

Applicants will be educated to MSc level in Biology, Microbiology, Bioinformatics or a related field of study, or possess equivalent research experience, and be able to demonstrate sufficient knowledge in the discipline and of research methods and techniques to work within established research programmes. Applicants will be able to demonstrate practical experience of standard molecular biology techniques (such as nucleic acid extraction, PCR and gel electrophoresis), of bioinformatic analyses (such as comparative genomics and phylogenetics), and of culturing microorganisms using aseptic technique. Experience of working with diazotrophic bacteria, or of genetic engineering or synthetic biology approaches in bacteria, would be an advantage.

Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of this role.

Please contact Dr Adam Monier, [email protected]