Research Associate
Job summary
The research programme in molecular bacteriology, led by Prof. José R Penadés, will analyse the impact of phages in the emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria. Bacteriophage-mediated gene transfer is a major evolutionary force occurring by two well-described mechanisms: generalized and specialized transduction. We have recently discovered that Staphylococcus and Salmonella phages engage in lateral transduction, the most powerful mode of...
Job listing information
- Reference MED03727
- Date posted 13 March 2023
- Closing date 13 April 2023
Job description
Job summary
The research programme in molecular bacteriology, led by Prof. José R Penadés, will analyse the impact of phages in the emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria. Bacteriophage-mediated gene transfer is a major evolutionary force occurring by two well-described mechanisms: generalized and specialized transduction. We have recently discovered that Staphylococcus and Salmonella phages engage in lateral transduction, the most powerful mode of transduction described to date. In this project, analysing important pathogens, we will investigate whether this ground-breaking strategy of gene transfer is widespread in nature. We anticipate that the results of this study will challenge basic and fundamental concepts of phage biology, which will be revisited here. Moreover, the proposed research has the potential to fundamentally restructure our understanding of the roles of bacteriophages in bacterial evolution, including the development of antimicrobial resistance and virulence in clinical strains.
Selected papers from the lab
Chen J, Quiles-Puchalt N, Chiang YN, Bacigalupe R, Fillol-Salom A, Chee MSJ, Fitzgerald JR, Penadés JR. 2018. Genome hypermobility by lateral transduction. Science362:207–212.
Tormo-Más MÁ, Mir I, Shrestha A, Tallent SM, Campoy S, Lasa I, Barbé J, Novick RP, Christie GE, Penadés JR. 2010. Moonlighting bacteriophage proteins derepress staphylococcal pathogenicity islands. Nature 465:779–782.
Haag AF, Podkowik M, Ibarra-Chávez R, Sol FG del, Ram G, Chen J, Marina A, Novick RP, Penadés JR. 2021. A regulatory cascade controls Staphylococcus aureus pathogenicity island activation. Nat Microbiol6:1300–1308.
Fillol-Salom A, Bacarizo J, Alqasmi M, Ciges-Tomas JR, Martínez-Rubio R, Roszak AW, Cogdell RJ, Chen J, Marina A, Penadés JR. 2019. Hijacking the hijackers: Escherichia coli pathogenicity islands redirect helper phage packaging for their own benefit. Mol Cell 75:1020-1030.e4.
Duties and responsibilities
- To take initiatives in the planning of research
- To direct the work of small research teams
- To conduct data analysis
- To write reports for submission to research sponsors
- To present findings to colleagues and at conferences
- To submit publications to refereed journals
- To develop contacts and research collaborations within the College and the wider community
- To promote the reputation of the Group, the Department and the College
- To provide guidance to PhD Students
- To maintain highly organised and accurate record of experimental work
- To actively participate in the research programme of the Group
- To participate in Group research meetings and internal seminars
- To contribute to the smooth running of the Group’s laboratories and, facilities with other scientists, clinicians, technicians and students within the laboratories
- Assist in the supervision of undergraduate and postgraduate research students and research assistants as required
- Any other duties as may be deemed reasonable by Head of group as well as Head of Division/Department/Section
Essential requirements
- Research Associate: Hold or be about to obtain a PhD in microbiology or a closely related discipline, or equivalent research, industrial or commercial experience
- Research Assistant: Near completion of a PhD in microbiology or a closely related discipline, or equivalent research, industrial or commercial experience
- Practical experience within a research environment and / or publication in relevant and refereed journals
- Experience of dealing with [specific groups of people, e.g. sponsors, patients]
- Practical experience in a broad range of techniques including molecular biology, microbiology, phage biology, transduction.
- Practical experience within a research environment and / or publication in relevant and refereed journals
Further information
This is a full time and fixed term post for 12 months. You will be based at the South Kensington Campus.
Candidates who have not yet been officially awarded their PhD will be appointed as a Research Assistant within the salary range £38,194 - £41,388 per annum.
Should you require any further details on the role please contact: José R Penadés, j.penades@imperial.ac.uk
The College is a proud signatory to the San-Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), which means that in hiring and promotion decisions, we evaluate applicants on the quality of their work, not the journal impact factor where it is published. For more information, see https://www.imperial.ac.uk/research-and-innovation/about-imperial-research/research-evaluation/
The College believes that the use of animals in research is vital to improve human and animal health and welfare. Animals may only be used in research programmes which are ultimately aimed towards finding new treatments and making scientific and medical advances, and where there are no satisfactory or reasonably practical alternatives to their use. Imperial is committed to ensuring that, in cases where this research is deemed essential, all animals in the College’s care are treated with full respect, and that all staff involved with this work show due consideration at every level. Find out more about animal research at Imperial.
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About Imperial College London
Imperial College London is the UK’s only university focussed entirely on science, engineering, medicine and business and we are consistently rated in the top 10 universities in the world.
You will find our main London campus in South Kensington, with our hospital campuses located nearby in West and North London. We also have Silwood Park in Berkshire and state-of-the-art facilities in development at our major new campus in White City.
We work in a multidisciplinary and diverse community for education, research, translation and commercialisation, harnessing science and innovation to tackle the big global challenges our complex world faces.
It’s our mission to achieve enduring excellence in all that we do for the benefit of society – and we are looking for the most talented people to help us get there.
Additional information
Please note that job descriptions cannot be exhaustive, and the post-holder may be required to undertake other duties, which are broadly in line with the above key responsibilities.
Imperial College is committed to equality of opportunity and to eliminating discrimination. All employees are expected to follow the Imperial Values & Behaviours framework. Our values are:
- Respect
- Collaboration
- Excellence
- Integrity
- Innovation
In addition to the above, employees are required to observe and comply with all College policies and regulations.
We are committed to equality of opportunity, to eliminating discrimination and to creating an inclusive working environment for all. We therefore encourage candidates to apply irrespective of age, disability, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion and belief, gender reassignment, sex, or sexual orientation. We are an Athena SWAN Silver Award winner, a Disability Confident Leader and a Stonewall Diversity Champion.
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