Research Assistant, APC Microbiome Ireland

12 Months, Fixed-Term, Whole-time Post

Position Summary

The PHAGENET focuses on the role of phage transduction in the rapid microbial evolution in the human gut, dissemination of beneficial and detrimental (e.g. antibiotic resistance) genetic determinants, as well as its wider implications for microbial ecology. The research will involve an array of approaches, including long-read high-throughput sequencing, faecal chemostat models, random transposon insertion libraries in gut bacteria and animal colonisation models.

At the core of this project is an ex vivo anaerobic faecal microbial chemostat model, designed to enable exchange of virus-like particles (VLPs) between two spatially segregated microbial communities, allowing to monitor VLP-mediated gene flow and transfer of phage communities between individual microbiomes. Analysis of phage transduction and other modes of HGT in the complex community will be performed through tracking of transposon-labelled mobilised bacterial DNA, isolation and sequencing of individual bacterial cultures (strict anaerobes), shotgun metagenomics, long-read sequencing of virus-like particle (VLP)-associated DNA.

APC Microbiome Ireland was formed in 2003 and since then it has established itself as one of the leading global centres in gut microbiota research. The centre has made several landmark discoveries and has published over 3500 research articles in peer-reviewed journals, generating many journal covers and associated editorials. The APC is a lively trans-disciplinary environment with clinicians, clinician-scientists and basic scientists from diverse backgrounds working in teams, sharing ideas and resources.

UCC is an accredited research organisation and as such can form hosting agreements with third country nationals (and non-EEA nationals) for the purpose of conducting research in the University.

Project Title: PhaGeNet: phage mediated genetic networking in the human gut microbiome

Post Duration: 12 Months

Salary: €30,025 – €39,908 p.a. (IUA Research Assistant Scale)

For an information package including further details of the post see https://ore.ucc.ie/.  

Informal enquiries can be made in confidence to Andrey Shkoporov, Ph.D., APC Microbiome Ireland, Tel: + 353 (0) 21 490 1771; Email: [email protected] 

Applications must be submitted online via the University College Cork vacancy portal (https://ore.ucc.ie/). Queries relating to the online application process should be referred to [email protected], quoting the job-title and project name.

Candidates should apply, in confidence, before 12 noon (Irish Local Time) on Friday, 29th March 2024.

No late applications will be accepted.

Please note that an appointment to posts advertised will be dependent on University approval, together with the terms of the employment control framework for the higher education sector.

UCC is committed to creating and fully embracing an inclusive environment where diversity is celebrated.  As a University we strive to create a workplace that reflects the diversity of our student population where people from a wide variety of backgrounds learn from one another, share ideas, and work collaboratively. UCC is committed to being an employer that recognises the value of diversity amongst its staff.  We encourage applicants to consult our policies at https://www.ucc.ie/en/edi/policies/ and initiatives at https://www.ucc.ie/en/edi/implementation/ and we welcome applications from everyone, including those who are underrepresented in the protected characteristics set out in our Equal Opportunities & Diversity Policy. 

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER