Postdoctoral Research Associate Full-time NEW

Postdoctoral Research Associate

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Postdoctoral Research Associate to join the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies (OSGA) and contribute to the interdisciplinary Oxford Martin School Pandemic Genomics Programme. The successful candidate will work on a research project investigating equitable genomic surveillance during infectious disease emergencies, examining how inequalities in genomic data generation, sharing and use influence scientific knowledge and public health responses.

Working under the supervision of Dr Janey Messina, and collaborating with an interdisciplinary team including Professors Oliver Pybus, Ann Kelly, Moritz Kraemer and Christopher Dye, the postholder will contribute to research at the intersection of epidemiology, genomics and social science.

This is a full-time fixed-term position available as soon as possible until 31 December 2027. Flexible working arrangements, including remote working within the UK when necessary, are supported.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct independent and collaborative research on inequalities in genomic surveillance using quantitative, qualitative and mixed-methods approaches.
• Compile, curate and analyse publicly available pathogen genomic datasets to investigate patterns of representation and bias.
• Design and undertake qualitative research activities, including interviews and surveys with scientific, policy and institutional stakeholders.
• Integrate quantitative and qualitative findings to develop analytical frameworks addressing equity, accessibility and data governance.
• Prepare peer-reviewed academic publications and policy-focused outputs.
• Present research findings to academic, policy and interdisciplinary audiences through seminars, workshops and reports.
• Collaborate with project investigators and partners across disciplines and institutions.
• Ensure research activities comply with ethical, governance and data-management requirements.
• Support the development of future funding applications and related research initiatives.
• Contribute to the intellectual life of the research group through meetings, seminars and collaborative activities.

About You

Applicants should have:

• A completed PhD/DPhil (or be close to completion) in a relevant discipline such as global health, epidemiology, health geography, genomics or a related field.
• Research experience relevant to infectious disease surveillance, global health or health equity.
• Strong analytical skills and experience of mixed-methods research.
• The ability to design and conduct independent research while contributing effectively to collaborative projects.
• Excellent written communication skills, with evidence of high-quality academic or policy-relevant outputs.
• Strong oral communication skills and the ability to engage with diverse academic and non-academic audiences.
• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to manage research activities to meet project deadlines.
• A commitment to research integrity, ethics and responsible data use.
• A commitment to fostering an inclusive and collaborative research environment.

Desirable experience includes working with large-scale pathogen genomic datasets, conducting stakeholder interviews, engaging with policy-relevant research, and contributing to interdisciplinary projects spanning epidemiology, genomics and social sciences.

How to Apply

Applications should include a letter of application, CV, and contact details for three referees. We request that candidates do not submit any published work at this stage. Further details regarding the application process and information on how to apply can be found in the attached job description.

For informal academic inquiries, please contact Professor Janey Messina (jane.messina@ouce.ox.ac.uk). For any administrative that are not academic in nature, please contact the HR Team at recruitment@area.ox.ac.uk. Inquiries will be treated confidentially; they will not form part of the selection decision.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse academic environment. Applications are particularly encouraged from women, black, and minority ethnic candidates, who are underrepresented in academic posts at Oxford. The University is committed to fairness, consistency and transparency in selection decisions. Members of selection committees will be aware of the principles of equality of opportunity, fair selection and the risks of bias. There will be both female and male committee members wherever possible.

If, for any reason, a candidate has taken a career break or has had an atypical career and wishes to disclose this in your application, the selection committee will take this into account, recognising that research output may be reduced as a result. If you, as an applicant, require reasonable adjustments to be made in the interview process, please do reach out and discuss this with our HR team. We will do our best to facilitate and accommodate reasonable adjustments.

Only applications submitted online and received before noon (UK time) Monday 22nd June 2026 can be considered. Interviews will take place online via Teams on Thursday 9th July 2026.