Sanger Institute

Do you want to help us improve human health and understand life on Earth? Make your mark by shaping the future to enable or deliver life-changing science to solve some of humanity’s greatest challenges.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Postdoctoral Fellow with expertise in both wet-lab and dry-lab techniques for multi-omics research to join the Bacterial Genomics and Evolution Faculty Group, led by Nick Thomson. This fixed-term position, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as part of the “Accelerating Syphilis Vaccine Development” project, is available until December 2026 and is based within the Parasites and Microbes Programme (PaM) at the world-renowned Wellcome Sanger Institute. The role focuses on investigating host-pathogen interactions and offers a unique opportunity to contribute to impactful global health research.

About the Role:

Our lab aims to investigate how variation in bacterial genomes relates to their hosts or niches, changes over time and geography, and responses to therapeutic interventions. Among other diseases, we also focus on sexually transmitted infections, particularly syphilis, caused by Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum. Research on T. pallidum is hindered by its dependence on host cells for growth, complicating in vitro cultivation and leaving critical questions unanswered. This project aims to address these gaps by unraveling T. pallidum’s distinctive biology and host interactions, ultimately seeking to identify effective vaccine candidates and improve our understanding of T. pallidum biology to combat syphilis.

We are seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher to support cutting-edge projects at the interface of host-pathogen interactions, genomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics.

You will be responsible for:

• Isolating clinical strains of T. pallidum using established in vitro culture system
• Characterising newly isolated strains using a range of techniques, including (but not limited to) molecular assays (e.g. genomic and transcriptomic NGS sequencing), metabolomics approaches, and advance microscopy (e.g. electron microscopy, high-resolution fluorescence microscopy, live imaging)
• Integrating multi-omics data to explore host-pathogen interactions and pathogen dependencies on the host
• Contributing to manuscript preparation and presenting findings at national and international scientific conferences

About You:

We are looking for an ambitious individual who wants to lead projects and develop their own ideas. You will be expected to be an active member of the team and collaborate with other teams inside and outside of the institute.

Essential Technical Skills:

• PhD in relevant subject area, or on track to be awarded your PhD within 6 months of starting the role
• Proven ability to deliver research projects
• A track record of demonstrating research excellence and expertise in your area of research
• Strong wet-lab skills (tissue culture, aseptic technique and sterile work-flows, molecular assays, advance microscopy)
• Basic bioinformatics skills (Bash, R, Python) and experience with high-performance computing

Essential Competencies and Behavioural Skills:

• Proven ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with wide range of persons of differing level, abilities and knowledge
• Foster an inclusive culture where all can thrive and diversity is celebrated
• Team player with the ability to work with others in a collegiate and collaborative environment
• Ability to effectively communicate ideas and results and present orally to groups
• Commitment to personal development and updating of knowledge and skills
• Ability to prioritise, multi-task and work independently
• Detailed orientated, strong organizational and problem-solving skills

About Us:

The successful candidate will work under the close supervision of Linda Grillova, an independent Career Development Fellow within the Bacterial Genomics and Evolution Faculty Group set within a world leading genomics institute. You would be working closely with informaticians, wet-lab biologists, Postdoctoral Fellows and PhD students within the group and across this programme. You will have substantial support and opportunities to broaden your skill-set and further your career. When you join us as a Postdoctoral Fellow, you will benefit from a unique and well-resourced learning environment that will equip you for your future career.

For more information about being a Postdoctoral Fellow with us, please visit: https://youtu.be/1-vxm2nBmFA

Other information:

Please apply with your CV and a Cover Letter outlining how you would meet the criteria set out above.

Salary: PDF £38,000 - £49,156 Role profile

Contract Type: Until December 2026, externally funding

Recruitment Process: Zoom interviews w/c 30th June, Face to face Interviews w/c 14th July

Closing Date: 22nd June 2025

Hybrid Working at Wellcome Sanger:

We recognise that there are many benefits to Hybrid Working; including an improved work-life balance, with more focused time, as well as the ability to organise working time so that collaborative opportunities and team discussions are facilitated on campus. The hybrid working arrangement will vary for different roles and teams. The nature of your role and the type of work you do will determine if a hybrid working arrangement is possible.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:

We aim to attract, recruit, retain and develop talent from the widest possible talent pool, thereby gaining insight and access to different markets to generate a greater impact on the world. We have a supportive culture with the following staff networks, LGBTQ+, Parents and Carers, Disability and Race Equity to bring people together to share experiences, offer specific support and development opportunities and raise awareness. The networks are also a place for allies to provide support to others.

We want our people to be whoever they want to be because we believe people who bring their best selves to work, do their best work. That’s why we’re committed to creating a truly inclusive culture at Sanger Institute. We will consider all individuals without discrimination and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees, where everyone can thrive.

Our Benefits:

We are proud to deliver an awarding campus-wide employee wellbeing strategy and programme. The importance of good health and adopting a healthier lifestyle and the commitment to reduce work-related stress is strongly acknowledged and recognised at Sanger Institute.

Sanger Institute became a signatory of the International Technician Commitment initiative In March 2018. The Technician Commitment aims to empower and ensure visibility, recognition, career development and sustainability for technicians working in higher education and research, across all disciplines.