Postdoctoral Research Fellow

The College of Life and Environmental Sciences

This full-time, BBSRC post is available from 3 October 2022 on a fixed term basis until 2 October 2024.

The post

The College wishes to recruit a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to participate in the grant ‘Unravelling the neuroendocrine signalling pathways guiding the developmental transition of marine invertebrate larval settlement’ (BBSRC David Phillips Fellowship, Ref BB/T00990X/1). The successful applicant will primarily investigate the hormonal regulation of larval settlement and metamorphosis in the polychaete Platynereis dumerilii, our primary lab model organism.  

The position will focus on understanding the hormonal signalling that takes place during marine larval settlement and metamorphosis. This will involve gene expression analyses, pharmacological treatments, behavioural and morphological analyses, genome editing, and potentially mass spectrometry. The applicant should have experience and/or keen interests in life history evolution, life cycle transitions, evo-eco-devo, marine invertebrate biology, and neuroendocrine signalling. See more about our research at: https://biosciences.exeter.ac.uk/staff/profile/index.php?web_id=Elizabeth_Williams

About you

The successful 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.

Applicants will possess a relevant PhD or equivalent qualification/experience in a related field of study. The successful applicant will be a nationally recognised authority in neuroendocrine signalling (neuropeptides, hormones, transmitters), evolution, molecular biology, marine invertebrate biology or biochemistry and possess sufficient specialist knowledge in the discipline to develop research programmes and methodologies. The successful applicant will also be able to work collaboratively, supervise the work of others and act as team leader as required. Applicants will have experience in spatial or temporal gene expression analyses and image analyses and will be able to disseminate results via publications and presentations. There may be opportunities to contribute to other aspects of the grant, such as larval settlement ecology and regulation of metamorphosis in crustacean or mollusc species.

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 multitude of staff benefits including sector leading benefits around maternity, adoption and shared parental leave (up to 26 weeks full pay), Paternity leave (up to 6 weeks full pay), and a new Fertility Treatment Policy
• 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 2022 and QS World University Ranking 2022). We combine world-class teaching with world-class research, achieving a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework Award 2017.

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 through this. 98% of our research is of international quality (2014 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

With over 27,000 students and 6,400 staff from 180 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), race equality (Race Equality Charter Mark), LGBTQ+ inclusion (Stonewall Diversity Champion) and as a Disability Confident employer. 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.

Further information

For further information please contact Dr. Elizabeth Williams, e-mail [email protected]

The closing date for completed applications is 19 June 2022.  Interviews are expected to take place on Tuesday 28 June 2022.