Postdoctoral Research Associate in Disease Transmission Genetics and Modelling

Closing date: 13 November 2026 at 11:59PM

Full Time - 35 Hours Per Week, or part-time 80%.

Fixed term: 24 months full time, or potentially longer if part-time until contract end of 31.5.2029

The Opportunity:

We would like to recruit a driven and enthusiastic colleague to join the group as Postdoctoral Research Fellow, funded by a prestigious research grant on the genetic and immune determinants and evolutionary constraints underlying individual variation in host infectiousness. In this project we harness data from the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster as a model system of infection, immunity, and behaviour to disentangle the genetic and immune determinants, and evolutionary constraints underlying pathogen transmission. The project requires a set of advanced analytical and computational modelling skills to apply genetic-epidemiological inference and prediction models to the project data. By applying these skills you will generate important new scientific insights on the diverse drivers of disease transmission for more effective disease control.

Your skills and attributes for success:

We welcome applications from all over the world that meet the following qualifications:

• PhD, or near completion of a PhD (within 3 months), in a discipline with a substantial quantitative component (e.g. quantitative genetics, statistics, bioinformatics, theoretical biology or physics, applied mathematics).
• Proven research track record in quantitative genetics and genomics, generalised linear mixed models, Bayesian statistics/ MCMC and mathematical modelling of disease or other dynamic biological processes*.
• Experience in high performance computing, in particular writing efficient computational code for genetic and statistical data analyses and simulation studies.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills evidenced through a track record of research outputs, including publications in peer reviewed scientific journals and presentations at scientific conferences.
• Excellent organisation and time management skills and ability to work independently and in a team.
• Knowledge of Drosophila or other model species genetics is desirable.

*We do not expect a single candidate to fulfil all these criteria, and trained and support will be provided to acquire new skills.

£41,064 to £48,822. Per Annum. UE07