Research Associate in Fungal Molecular Biology, Engineering and Control

Overview

We have an exciting opportunity to join the Johnston lab within the School of Medicine and Population Health. The role is part of a major new externally funded interdisciplinary programme led by Dr Thomas Paterson, bringing together bioengineering, microbiology, neuroscience and translational neurotechnology.

The programme will explore whether engineered fungal networks can be developed as controllable bioelectronic interface materials. Current neural-interface technologies remain limited by trade-offs between surgical invasiveness, tissue compatibility, spatial coverage and long-term function. Fungal networks offer a distinctive biological platform: soft, three-dimensional structures that can be grown, modified and tested as part of future bioelectronic interface systems.

The appointed candidate will contribute to an ambitious research programme developing candidate fungal biointerfaces and evaluating them against clear safety, control and functional criteria as part of a large multidisciplinary team.

You will lead the fungal engineering strand of the programme, developing candidate fungal chassis with properties required for controllable bioelectronic interface materials. This will include fungal strain selection, culture and characterisation; reporter or labelled background strains; genome editing or other molecular approaches; strain validation; and reliable handover of candidate fungal materials to the safety and function work packages.

We are particularly interested in candidates with experience in filamentous fungi, fungal genetics, CRISPR/genome editing, molecular microbiology, reporter strain construction, fungal morphology or related synthetic biology approaches. Experience with fungal systems would be valuable, but we welcome candidates with strong transferable expertise in microbial genetics and engineering.

The role would suit a highly motivated researcher who can work independently while contributing to a large interdisciplinary programme. You will be expected to develop robust experimental workflows, work closely with colleagues across the biological and bioelectronic strands of the project, and contribute to publications, milestone reporting and future development of the platform.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Design and generate engineered fungal candidates.
• Apply CRISPR/genome editing, reporter strain generation, molecular cloning, genotyping and validation methods as appropriate to the project.
• Characterise fungal growth, thermotolerance, morphology, branching, hyphal fusion/non-fusion, sporulation/propagule behaviour and rescue sensitivity.
• Develop and maintain a candidate fungal strain collection for bioelectronic interface testing.
• Develop or support assays for external growth arrest, auxotrophy/nutrient dependency and containment.
• Prepare standardised fungal candidate handoff packages for downstream biological and functional testing.
• Establish and maintain fungal culture, strain banking, recovery, passage and quality-control workflows.
• Maintain accurate records.
• Work closely with researchers in host compatibility and bioelectronic interface function.
• Assist with relevant research as directed by the project proposal in conjunction with other project members, to achieve the milestones and deliverables established in the project plan.
• Design, conduct, analyse and document experiments within your area of expertise.
• Maintain detailed, accurate and timely records of experimental procedures, results, data analyses and decisions.
• Work independently and alongside project partners to meet project objectives.
• Coordinate with other work packages to ensure candidate fungal materials are tested consistently across safety, control and functional assays.
• Contribute to candidate downselection, milestone evidence packs and progress reporting.
• Maintain equipment, software and supplies required for the project work.
• Follow mandatory Health and Safety policies and procedures, including COSHH, biosafety, GM requirements where applicable, and standard operating procedures.
• Liaise with the academic principal investigator and other academic co-investigators, collaborators and technical staff.
• Carry out strategic planning over the duration of the project in conjunction with other project members, including planning and scheduling of experimental work and resource requirements.
• Read academic papers, journals, books and professional literature to understand the context of the project within the wider literature.
• Disseminate research findings to project staff and other stakeholders, including written project reports, presentations at project meetings and contributions to reports, manuscripts or future funding applications.
• As a member of staff, you will be encouraged to make ethical decisions in your role, embedding the University sustainability strategy into your working activities wherever possible.
• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

Criteria

Essential or desirable

Stage(s) assessed at

PhD, or equivalent experience, in fungal biology, microbiology, molecular biology, synthetic biology, biotechnology, genetics, bioengineering or a related discipline

Essential

Application

Proven ability in research and evidence of research output

Essential

Interview / Application

Practical experience in fungal or microbial culture and aseptic technique

Essential

Interview / Application

Specialist knowledge and practical experience in molecular biology, genome editing, CRISPR, strain construction, reporter systems or related genetic engineering methods

Essential

Interview / Application

Ability to design, troubleshoot and validate genetic or phenotypic modification strategies

Essential

Interview / Application

Experience with genotyping, sequencing-based validation, microscopy or phenotype characterisation

Essential

Interview / Application

Excellent written and oral communication skills, with ability to translate complex information clearly

Essential

Interview / Application

Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary research team

Essential

Interview / Application

Experience working with filamentous fungi, fungal morphology, sporulation/conidiation, fungal stress responses or fungal containment

Desirable

Interview / Application

Experience with host-cell interaction assays, microscopy-based tracking, bioelectronic materials or projects involving regulated biological materials

Desirable

Interview / Application

Further Information

Grade

7

Salary

£38,784 - £47,389

Work arrangement

Full-time

Duration

1/10/2026 – 30/6/2029

Line manager

Professor of Infection Biology

Direct reports

N/A

Right to work in the UK

If you do not currently hold the right to work in the UK, you can find more information here to help determine your visa eligibility.  Additional guidance is also available on the UK Visa & Immigration website .

Our website

https://thejohnstonlab.sites.sheffield.ac.uk

Dr Thomas Paterson, Project PI: on[email protected]  or Prof Simon Johnston, position line manager at [email protected]

Next steps in the recruitment process

It is anticipated that the selection process will take place approximately 2 weeks after close of the application submission deadline. This will consist of interview and presentation. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage approximately 2 weeks after close of the application process. Contact[email protected] if you require any reasonable adjustments.

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision (opens in new window).

We are a Disability Confident Leader (opens in a new window). If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.