Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Faculty of Health and Life Sciences

This role offers the opportunity for hybrid working – some time on campus and some from home.

This new full – time post is available from immediately on a fixed term basis until October 2026.

Applications to this position will be reviewed on a rolling basis and the post may be closed at any time once the role is filled. 

The post

The Faculty wishes to recruit a computational Postdoctoral Research Associate or Fellow to participate in a Wellcome funded collaborative project spanning the University of Exeter, University of Cambridge, and the University of Helsinki, studying human-specific gene regulation in pancreatic beta-cell development. This post is available immediately.

The successful applicant lead the analysis of single-cell genomics data collected over pancreatic cell type differentiation to understand how transposable elements have integrated into and reshaped the human endoderm differentiation network. This post builds off our discovery that primate specific KRAB Zinc Finger transcription factor ZNF808 is necessary for human pancreas development (https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.08.23.21262262v1).

The post will be supervised by Dr. Nick Owens at the University of Exeter. The post will use single-cell transcriptomic and chromatin accessibility data generated from perturbations to transposable elements and KRAB zinc fingers to understand human pancreas development. The post provides an opportunity to lead on how gene regulatory networks have been innovated by transposable elements in primates and humans.

More information can be found on our research at: https://owensnick.github.io/

About you

We welcome research fellow applications at grade F, or for those at an earlier career stage, research associate applications at grade E. The successful research fellow applicant will be able to develop research objectives, projects and proposals; identify sources of research funding and contribute to the process of securing funds and make presentations at conferences and other events. The successful research associate applicant will be able to present information on research progress and outcomes, communicate complex information, orally, in writing and electronically and prepare proposals and applications to external bodies.

Applicants will possess a relevant PhD (or be nearing completion) and will have experience analysis large single-cell genomic datasets. Experience studying gene regulatory networks in development and or transposable elements will be desirable. Applicants will have strong data and coding skills.

The successful research fellow will be an internationally recognised researcher in their field, and possess sufficient specialist knowledge in the discipline to develop research programmes and methodologies. Applicants at research associate level will be to demonstrate sufficient knowledge in the discipline and of research methods and techniques to work within established research programmes.

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

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 150 universities in the world (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023 and the 2022 Academic Ranking of World Universities released by Shanghai Rankings).  

Our research income in recent years means we’re the fastest growing UK Research University with some of the world’s most influential scientists, and we seek to answer some of the most fundamental issues facing humankind today. More than 99% of our research is of international quality and our world-leading research impact is growing faster than any other Russell Group university (2021 Research Excellence Framework). We are using the power of our education and research to create a sustainable, healthy and socially just future.  Our shared purpose and vision continually moves us forward to make a difference to our people, our communities, our partners and the world around us.  Read about our world leading research on 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 City of Literature

Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Commitment

Whilst all applicants will be judged on merit alone, we particularly welcome applications from groups currently underrepresented within our working community. Reasonable adjustments are available for interviews and workplaces.

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.

For further information please contact Dr. Nick Owens, e-mail [email protected].