Research Fellow in Microbial Engineering and Bioremediation

Applications are invited for a fixed term, full time Research Fellow in Microbial Engineering and Bioremediation in the School of Environmental and Natural Sciences at Bangor University.

The successful applicant will carry out the work as part of the Centre for Environmental Biotechnology (CEB, Bangor University), within the recently awarded UKRI/BBSRC grant EBIC: the Environmental Biotechnology Innovation Centre.

Duties will include applying genetic engineering and synthetic biology methods to enhance natural bioremediation processes via engineering selected microorganisms (Alcanivorax, Pseudomonas putida) for the degradation of recalcitrant organic pollutants (hydrocarbons and PFAS) and optimisation of microbial consortia to remediate industrial effluents including urban wastewater and associated biosolids. In addition, the post holder will also be involved in microcosm and field trials of pollutant degradation. The successful candidate will be expected to commence their own research in microbial genetic engineering for applications in environmental bioremediation.

Candidates should be educated to PhD standard in microbiology, molecular biology, and protein biochemistry. Previous experience in microbial engineering and optimisation for the bioremediation of organic pollutants is required. Furthermore, experience with pollutant analysis and mineralisation is essential including the identification and quantitation of hydrocarbons, PFAS, and degradation products.

The successful candidate will be expected to commence as soon as possible and the post is available for a period of 36 months.

This role will be located on campus at Bangor. Through our Dynamic Working framework , there will also be the option to spend some time working remotely (although remaining in the UK) to support work life balance, which will be discussed further with candidates at interview.

Applications will also be considered to carry out this role on a part-time or job share basis.
Applications will only be accepted via our on-line recruitment website, jobs.bangor.ac.uk. However, in cases of access issues due to disability, paper application forms are available by telephoning 01248 383865.
Closing date for applications: 29 March 2024
Committed To Equal Opportunities

The School of Environmental and Natural Sciences (SENS) is part of the College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering at Bangor University, which is one of the leading centres in the UK for teaching and research in an extensive range of science subjects. We aim to educate and train a new generation of scientists aware of societal and environmental needs in a world-class research-led environment. Core research interests of SENS include molecular ecology and evolution, cell and genome science, environmental microbiology and biotechnology, public health surveillance and plant and soil science. 

The post holder will become a key member of the EBIC project and CEB (The Centre for Environmental Biotechnology), a £8.6 M research capacity building project supported by the European Regional Development Fund/Welsh European Funding Office and co-funded by Bangor University. The EBIC project is funded by the UKRI (BBSRC) Technology Missions Fund and runs for five years starting from 16 February 2024. The EBIC research hub brings together scientists from 10 UK universities including Bangor University, who will use synthetic biology, biotechnology, and engineering approaches to develop bioremediation solutions for urgent environmental challenges. The Bangor University team involved in the EBIC project is led by Prof Peter Golyshin and focuses on the identification, isolation, and optimisation of microorganisms and their enzymes for degrading recalcitrant organic pollutants. The successful candidate will be working side-by-side with staff active in Environmental Microbiology (Prof Peter Golyshin), Enzyme Discovery (Prof Alexander Yakunin) and Soil and Wastewater Microbiology (Prof Davey Jones).

Other ongoing CEB projects include mining the extremophilic microbial diversity and biochemical characterisation of new enzymes for various applications.

The post is part of an established team working in environmental microbiology, enzyme discovery, and bioremediation at the Centre for Environmental Biotechnology (CEB). The post holder will be responsible for planning, conducting, analysing and publishing experimental studies in relevant research areas.

The research outcomes will include enhanced grant capture and high-quality peer-reviewed publications in scientific journals.

The post will also facilitate the use of highly specialised CEB equipment by academic staff of Bangor University to enhance overall grant income and improving research outputs of core CEB staff.

• Leading research on the identification, isolation, and optimisation of microorganisms and their enzymes for degrading recalcitrant organic pollutants (hydrocarbons, oil, PFAS).
• Conducting research on genetic engineering of selected microorganisms including P. putida and Alcanivorax for applications in bioremediation.
• Applying synthetic biology tools for enhancing bioremediation processes using engineered microbial strains.
• Establishing and optimising quantitative protocols for pollutant analysis and mineralisation.
• Performing microcosm and field trials of organic pollutant degradation.
• Supporting the EBIC team and CEB staff (Golyshin, Yakunin and Jones) in key aspects of the EBIC project including, taking a lead in selecting novel experimental methods for microbial engineering.
• Coordinating research on microbial engineering and bioremediation of organic pollutants within the EBIC project.
• Planning, prioritising and organising the research and resources in order to meet the EBIC objectives and operate within financial targets.
• Taking responsibility for the maintenance of genetic engineering resources and infrastructure and reporting progress to the Bangor EBIC team.
• Performing analysis of data produced in the EBIC projects for the preparation of research papers and patents.
• Writing patents and research papers for submission to peer-reviewed journals about the outcomes and findings resulting from the EBIC project.
• Identification and quantitation of enzyme reaction products using various approaches (HPLC, spectrophotometry, mass spectrometry).
• Providing training for CEB students and staff in microbial engineering and bioremediation.
• Assisting in supervision of undergraduate, Research Masters and PhD students.
• Administration responsibilities including participating in project meetings and taking the lead in specific tasks.

• The post holder will be expected to participate in performance review and developmental activities.
• The post holder will be expected to comply with the University’s equality policies and statements, Dignity at Work and Study Policy and the University’s Welsh Language Scheme.
• The post holder has a general and legal duty of care in relation to health, safety and wellbeing and must take all reasonable steps to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for themselves and for other members of staff, students and visitors affected by their actions or inactions. The post holder is also required to comply with all applicable health and safety policies, procedures and risk assessments.
• The post holder must comply with relevant legal and financial policies and procedures and be aware of their responsibilities in terms of the legal requirements of their post.

Qualifications/Training

Essential

• PhD degree in molecular biology, microbiology, or biochemistry.

Experience/Knowledge  

Essential

• A strong background in microbial genetics and experience with a broad range of molecular biology and synthetic biology tools.
• Strong expertise in microbial genetic engineering and optimisation for bioremediation applications.
• Broad experience in organic pollutant analysis and/or identification of degradation products using quantitative methods.
• Experience in laboratory (microcosm) and field trials of pollutant degradation.
• Experience in preparing research papers for publication, reports, grant and patent applications.
• Experience in collecting experimental data and maintaining data records (ensuring confidentiality, data security and backup).

Desirable

• Experience in supervising graduate students and junior researchers.
• Experience in environmental microbiology and microbial physiology of Alcanivorax spp. and P. putida.
• Expertise in microbial biodegradation and bioremediation.
• Good organisational skills in the context of conducting projects to a specified timetable.

Skills/Abilities

Essential

• Demonstrate good verbal and written skills.
• Demonstrate ability to work as part of a team with good interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrate good analytical skills, ability to analyse microbial growth and degradation kinetics data and present results appropriately.
• Demonstrate the ability to prioritise work load and work to deadlines.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the bilingual nature of the institution and area, and the ensuing responsibilities.

Desirable

• Demonstrate proven project management skills.
• Demonstrate good computer skills, including bioinformatics tools and software for molecular biology, sequence analysis and pollutant degradation kinetics (e.g. Geneious, FastTree, Autodock).

The University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds.  We strive to develop a workforce from all sections of the community regardless of sex, gender identity, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age. We promote and facilitate the use of the Welsh language through our progressive Welsh Language Policy. We comply with the Welsh Language Standards and are committed to equality of opportunity. You are welcome to apply for any job in English or Welsh and all applications submitted will be treated equally. 

We are a member of Advance HE's Athena SWAN Gender Equality charter and hold a Bronze award in recognition of our commitment to and progress towards gender equality within the University's policies, practices, and culture. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer. 

All members of staff have a duty to ensure their actions are in line with the overall environmental aims of the University and minimise their environmental impact. 

All offers are made subject to proof of eligibility to work in the UK and receipt of satisfactory references.  

We have a legal responsibility to ensure that you have the right to work in the UK before you can start working for us.  When you apply for this post you will be required to explain the basis upon which you believe you will able to live and work in the UK legally on the commencement date of the role should your application be successful.   If you do not have the right to work freely in any position in the UK already, any offer of employment we will make to you will be subject to you obtaining a right to work visa.   The following link provides information on the various visa routes into employment and the eligibility requirements (including switching visa status where permissible) https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas .   If you are successful in your application we will discuss visa options with you at the time of making the offer of employment.     

Candidates should also note that they may be required to apply for an ATAS certificate (Academic Approval Technology Scheme)  from the Counter-Proliferation and Arms Control Centre of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office before being able to apply for a visa - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/academic-technology-approval-scheme . 

Please note that, in the event of applications being received from candidates on the University's Redeployment Register with a reasonable skills match to the post specification, these applicants will be given prior consideration.