Open Rank GRA/PDRA/PDRF in Clinical and Biomedical Sciences

Faculty of Health and Life Sciences

This role is available immediately for 3 years fixed-term contract.

Exciting opportunity for a Graduate Research Assistant, Postdoctoral Research Associate or Postdoctoral Research Fellow to work on a Medical Research Council funded project, investigating the causes of menopausal symptoms which affect over 70 percent of women, yet have been under-researched and have limited treatment options.

In this project we will use genetics to understand the physiological basis of a range of menopausal symptoms, to identify overlapping aetiology and ultimately discover potential new targets for drug therapies. We will use large genomic datasets such as UK Biobank and All of Us to generate new phenotypic variables from self-reported and primary care records, plus collecting new data in 3 population-based studies in the Southwest. We are looking for a researcher who either has skills in statistical genetics already, or has an aptitude for data science who would be keen to learn in a really supportive environment where there is considerable expertise in the field. You will be part of the Reproductive Genomics research group (https://sites.exeter.ac.uk/reprogenomics/ ) and the lead researcher on the project is Professor Anna Murray https://medicine.exeter.ac.uk/people/profile/index.php?web_id=Anna_Murray ). Our group has an excellent publication record and this projects provides a fantastic opportunity for a talented scientist to progress their career.

The role will be based in Clinical and Biomedical Sciences Department (https://medicine.exeter.ac.uk/clinical-biomedical/ ), which is at the forefront of genetics and data science research, offering a vibrant research environment with cutting-edge facilities for human genomics research. Research in CBS is focused on understanding the mechanisms and treatment of human disease and has an exceptional record in human genomics research. You will join a vibrant community of scientists and clinicians with expertise in genetic epidemiology, epigenetics, data science, and cell biology working on a range of human conditions including mental illness, dementia, diabetes, reproductive health, obesity, respiratory disease, and cancer. Our commitment to progressive research and excellence in undergraduate and postgraduate education is firmly anchored in our current expertise in the field.

Please state in your application which level role you are interested in being considered for.

Interviews are expected to take place soon after the role closes.

Please ensure you read the Job Descriptions and Person Specifications for full details of these roles.

What we can offer you

• Freedom (and the support) to pursue your intellectual interests and to work creatively across disciplines to produce internationally exciting research;
• Support teams that understand the University wide research and teaching goals and partner with our academics accordingly
• An Innovation, Impact and Business directorate that works closely with our academics providing specialist support for external engagement and development
• Our Exeter Academic initiative supporting high performing academics to achieve their potential and develop their career

• A beautiful campus set in the heart of stunning Devon

The University of Exeter

We are a member of the prestigious Russell Group of research-intensive universities and in the top 200 universities in the world (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024 and QS World University Ranking 2024).  We combine world-class teaching with world-class research, achieving a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework Award 2023, underpinned by Gold ratings for Student Experience and Student Outcomes.

Our world-leading research impact has grown more than any other Russell Group university in recent years, and we are home to some of the world’s most influential researchers, seeking to answer some of the most fundamental issues facing humankind today.  More than 99 percent of our research is of international quality and 47 percent is world-leading (2021 Research Excellence Framework).

We encourage proactive engagement with industry, business and community partners to enhance the impact of research and education and improve the employability of our students. Read about our world leading research – Green Futures and how we are transforming education for a changing world. We are located in a beautiful part of the country and Exeter (a fast growing tech hub) is one of only a few UK cities to have been designated as a UNESCO Creative City

Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Commitment

We are committed to ensuring reasonable adjustments are available for interviews and workplaces.

Whilst all applicants will be judged on merit alone, we particularly welcome applications from groups currently underrepresented within our working community. 

With over 30,000 students and 7,000 staff from 150 different countries we offer a diverse and engaging environment where our diversity is celebrated and valued as a major strength. We are committed to creating an inclusive culture where all members of our community are supported to thrive; where diverse voices are heard through our engagement with evidence-based charter frameworks for gender (Athena SWAN and Project Juno for Physics), race equality (Race Equality Charter Mark), LGBTQ+ inclusion (Stonewall Diversity Champion) and as a Disability Confident employer.

We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and welcome applications from service people.

Further information

Please contact Professor Anna Murray, [email protected]