Acne Microbiome Project – Research Officer, Microbiologist (A*SRL) Full-time

Acne Microbiome Project Research Officer, Microbiologist (A*SRL)

An exciting opportunity is available for a skilled and motivated Research Officer to join the Acne Microbiome Project. We are seeking a microbiologist to support our research into the microbial mechanisms underlying skin health and disease. This role focuses on the isolation, characterization, and experimental manipulation of skin-associated microbes to advance our understanding of acne pathogenesis and therapeutic targets.

Roles & Responsibilities

About the project

The project aims to understand the microbial contribution to the pathogenesis of acne. It specifically focuses on elucidating the mechanisms by which acne-associated bacteria exacerbate the disease and identifying potential targets for novel treatments. The research involves investigating complex host-microbe interactions to drive therapeutic innovation.

About the role

• Conduct laboratory experiments on various skin-specific microbes on a regular basis.
• Isolate and culture microbes from clinical samples.
• Analyse isolates for strain-level identification using molecular and microbiological techniques.
• Work with single-species and multi-species communities of microbes to model the skin microbiome.
• Support the team with microbe-host co-culture experiments to study pathogenicity and immune response.
• Collaborate with multiple project teams to support broader research needs relating to microbiology.

Requirements

About the candidate

• Bachelor’s or master’s in microbiology, Biological Sciences, Life Sciences, Biotechnology, or a related field.
• Hands-on experience working with microbes, specifically regarding the isolation and growth of bacteria under laboratory conditions.
• Experience working with multi-species communities, skin microbes, and biofilms is highly desirable.
• Hands-on experience working with nucleic acid extraction, sequencing, and analysis.
• Experience with microscopy techniques.

Skills and abilities

• High level of organizational skills with the ability to prioritize and manage workload effectively.
• Ability to deliver agreed activities consistently on time.
• Strong record keeping and data documentation skills.

Personal Attributes

• Demonstrates initiative, creativity, flexibility, and a personal ethos of continuous improvement.
• Flexible, professional, and resourceful.
• Ability to work independently when required as well as part of a collaborative team.