Research Fellow – School of Biosciences – 107739 – Grade 7 Full-time NEW

Job Description

School of Biosciences

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £36,636 to £46,049 with potential progression once in post to £48,822

Grade: 7

Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to April 2028

Closing date: 18th August 2026

Background

We seek a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to join our dynamic group investigating mitochondrial genetics and function using Drosophila and human cells. The candidate will use genetic and biochemical approaches to study mitochondrial DNA inheritance during development.

You must be ambitious and able to work independently. Applicants should have, or will soon have, a PhD in genetics, biochemistry or molecular biology with a basic knowledge of mitochondrial biology. Previous experience in Drosophila work and confocal imaging would be a strong plus. This position will be supervised by Prof Hansong Ma in the School of Biosciences at the University of Birmingham.

Fixed-term: This post is for 18 months in the first instance.

Role Summary

• Work within specified research grants and projects
• Operate within area of specialism
• Analyse and interpret research findings and results

Main Duties

The responsibilities may include some but not all of the responsibilities outlined below.

• Apply knowledge in a way which develops new intellectual understanding
• Contribute to developing new models, techniques and methods
• Disseminate research findings for publication, research seminars etc
• Analyse and interpret data
• Collect research data; this may be through a variety of research methods, such as scientific experimentation, literature reviews, and research interviews
• Present research outputs, including drafting academic publications or parts thereof, for example at seminars and as posters
• Supervise students on research related work and provide guidance to PhD students where appropriate to the discipline
• Provide guidance, as required, to support staff and any students who may be assisting with the research
• Contribute to Departmental/School research-related activities and research-related administration
• Deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines
• Promotes equality and values diversity acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.

Person Specification

• First degree in area of specialism and normally, a PhD degree relevant to research area or equivalent qualifications
• High level analytical capability
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly
• Fluency in relevant models, techniques or methods and ability to contribute to developing new ones
• Ability to assess resource requirements and use resources effectively
• Understanding of and ability to contribute to broader management/administration processes
• Contribute to the planning and organising of the research programme and/or specific research project
• Co-ordinate own work with others to avoid conflict or duplication of effort
• Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, and how to actively ensure in day to day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly

OH required

The University is committed to safeguarding and we promote safe recruitment practice, therefore all associated pre-employment checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed. Due to the nature of the work undertaken in this role all successful applicants will be subject to a satisfactory Occupational Health clearance prior to appointment.

Informal enquiries to Hansong Ma, email: h.ma.6@bham.ac.uk

Use of AI in applications: We want to understand your genuine interest in the role and for the written elements of your application to accurately reflect your own communication style. Applications that rely too heavily on AI tools can appear generic and lack the detail we need to assess your skills and experience. Such applications will unlikely be progressed to interview.

We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website.