Research Fellow in Synthetic Biology (Fixed term for 2 years)

Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) is a distinctive, unique institution, rooted in the Liverpool City Region and with a global presence. Our students and staff, past, present, and future, are the beating heart of our city and can be found in every corner of every industry and community. We couldn’t exist anywhere else and have shaped the city in which we belong. Working with the people of Liverpool to improve lives and support communities is at the heart of why we were founded and why we exist today.

We are seeking to appoint a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to join Dr Olorunniji’s team based at the LJMU School of Pharmacy & Biomolecular Sciences to take a leading role in the delivery of a 24-month project to uncover how proteins acquire moonlighting functions, using large serine recombinases (LSRs) and their directionality factors (RDFs) as a model.

You will design, implement and benchmark machine learning pipelines for sequence-structure analysis and protein function prediction; lead genomic and transcriptomic analyses (including genome assembly and annotation). You will hold a PhD and a strong background in bioinformatics, computational biology, molecular biology or a related discipline, with experience in protein sequence and structure analysis.

You will also be fluent in the use of Python, and experienced in processing large scale sequencing datasets, constructing and maintaining sequence databases, molecular phylogenetics and genomic sequence analysis. Experience with deep learning for structural biology and bioinformatics, protein sequence/structure methods, and application of machine-learning approaches to biological problems are essential.

You will be actively involved in regular communication with the Rice lab (University of Chicago) and will collaborate in the preparation of scientific reports and manuscripts and participate in selected meetings and conferences. 

In return, we offer an excellent benefits package including generous annual leave entitlement, pension scheme, induction and development support as well as family-friendly policies.

This is an exciting time to join the university as we deliver the LJMU Strategy 2030 and its vision of LJMU as an inclusive civic university transforming lives and futures, by placing students at the heart of everything we do.

If you feel that this is the role you have been looking for and your skills and experience can make a real difference at LJMU, we look forward to hearing from you.

The School/Department is committed to promoting equality and diversity, including the Athena SWAN Gender Equality charter for promoting the career of Women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) in higher education. We particularly welcome applications from women and other under-represented groups for this post, and all appointments will be made on merit.  

Please note all of our vacancies will be closed to applications at midnight on the advertised closing date, unless otherwise stated.

LJMU are committed to adhering to the Principles set out in the Researcher Development Concordat; in line with this all fixed-term researchers will be supported to complete 10 days professional development activities per year (pro-rata).