Job Purpose

We are seeking a skilled and motivated researcher to join the School of Infection & Immunity, MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research (CVR) (http://www.cvr.ac.uk/), who will play a leading role in a UKRI-funded collaboration (UK-US research Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases) with a focus on Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) virus.   The study involves close collaboration with CVR teams and partners at the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI), Entebbe.

The successful candidate will work directly with the Genomics team led by Dr Ana da Silva Filipe

(https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/infectionimmunity/staff/anadasilvafilipe/)

and the research group of Prof Emma Thomson

(https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/infectionimmunity/staff/emmathomson/).  They will have responsibility for implementing Target Enrichment-NGS and PhilSeq protocols and should have expertise in molecular biology and next-generation sequencing (NGS), including sample preparation and data analysis.

The role will be based in the UK but will involve some short trips (up to one month) to the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI), Entebee, Uganda.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Perform the following activities in conjunction with and under the guidance of the Principal Investigators (PI).

1. Assist in the planning and preparation of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) libraries, including risk assessments to handle clinical material, quality control of incoming samples, library preparation, sequencing runs, and interpretation of results.

2. Work with challenging sample types including low nucleic acid input.

3. Support the design and execution of experiments to evaluate NGS-based protocols, troubleshoot issues, and improve existing laboratory methods.

4. Contribute to discussions around troubleshooting of NGS instruments and workflows and help drive efforts toward the goal of developing robust, cutting edge NGS technologies.

5. Document research output including analysis and interpretation of all data, maintaining records and databases, drafting technical/progress reports and papers as appropriate.

6. Develop and enhance your research profile and reputation and that of CVR, enhancing the research impact in terms of economic/societal benefit, and gathering indicators of esteem.

7. The candidate will be working with the CCHF virus, specifically in developing and implementing PCR assays and sequencing strategies.

8. Contribute to the presentation of work with partners and participation in seminars/conferences to develop and enhance our research profile.

9. Contribute to the identification of potential funding sources and to assist in the development of proposals to secure funding from internal and external bodies to support future research.

10. Collaborate with colleagues and participate in team/ group/ meetings/ seminars/ workshops across the CVR and wider community.

11. Contribute to the organisation, supervision, mentoring and training of undergraduate and/or postgraduate students and less experienced members of the project team to ensure their effective development.

12. Perform administrative tasks related to the activities of the research group and School, including Budgets/Expenditure.

13. Carry out modest Teaching activities [e.g. demonstrating etc.] and associated administration as assigned by the CVR Director and in consultation with the Principal Investigator.

14. Keep up to date with current knowledge and recent advances in the field/discipline.

15. Engage in continuing professional development activities as appropriate.

16. Undertake any other reasonable duties as required by the Director of the CVR and/or Principal Investigator.

17. Contribute to the enhancement of the University’s international profile in line with the University’s Strategic Plan, World Changers Together.

This job description is not exhaustive, and the postholder may be required to undertake other relevant duties commensurate with the grading of the post.  Activities may be subject to amendment over time as the role develops and priorities and requirements evolve.

Please note that as part of your application you must address and demonstrate how you meet EACH of the essential/desirable criteria. If you do not address each criterion in the format explained below you will not be shortlisted for interview.

Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Qualifications/Knowledge

Essential

A1 Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 10 (Honours Degree or equivalent) in a biological science, or other relevant subject. May be working towards a post-graduate qualification such as a Masters (Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 11)

Or Equivalent professional qualifications in a relevant academic/research discipline, and experience of personal development in a similar role.

A2 A strong working knowledge of molecular biology, especially those relevant to high-throughput sequencing technology.

Desirable

B1 Working towards or have completed a PhD in Molecular Biology or Virology.

B2 Knowledge of viral genomics.

Skills

Essential

C1 Strong skills in quantitative PCR and high throughput sequencing and demonstration of an ability to troubleshoot in this area.

C2 Ability to implement a research project and work to deadlines to achieve its aims. C3 Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex material clearly, as well as a strong predisposition towards collaboration.

C4 Excellent laboratory bench work and organizational skills, with meticulous attention to detail. C5 Strong interpersonal skills with demonstrable ability to work well with others as well as independently.

C6 Demonstrable proficiency in authoring and reviewing protocols and summary reports as well as the ability to document all work at a level of detail sufficient to reproduce experimental results. C7 Ability to prioritize and allocate effort and resources appropriately and exercise independent judgment in developing methods and techniques and evaluating criteria for obtaining definitive results.

C8 Ability to travel and undertake work at the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI).

Experience

Essential

E1 Sufficient breadth and/or depth of knowledge in the specialist subject discipline and of research/teaching methods and techniques to work in molecular virology, demonstrated through relevant work experience.

E2 Experience with high-throughput library preparation.

E3 Ability to work independently and develop projects from broad concepts.

E4 Experience in managing complex scientific instrumentation. E5 Advanced theoretical knowledge and experience working with next-generation sequencing, including developing new protocols, identifying/analysing challenges and proposing solutions.

E6 Experience with challenging library preparation methods.

Desirable

F1 Experience using various technical software for sequence data analysis, namely R and Python.

F2 Experience in molecular virology.

Additional Details

This position is full-time and funded for 3 years.

For informal enquiries regarding this post please contact Dr Ana da Silva Filipe (ana.dasilvafilipe@glasgow.ac.uk) or Prof Emma Thomson (Emma.Thomson@glasgow.ac.uk)

Terms and Conditions

Salary will be Grade 6, £33,951 - £37,694 per annum.

This position is full time and has funding for 3 years from start date.

The University of Glasgow has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.  If you require a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK, you will be required to meet the eligibility requirements of the visa route to be assigned a Certificate of Sponsorship.

Please note that this post may be eligible to be sponsored under the Skilled Worker visa route if tradeable points can be used under the Skilled Worker visa rules. For more information please visit: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa.

As a valued member of our team, you can expect:

1 A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.

2 An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full time staff, pension - pensions handbook https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/payandpensions/pensions/, benefits and discount packages.

3 A flexible approach to working.

4 A commitment to support your health and wellbeing, including a free 6-month UofG Sport membership for all new staff joining the University  https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/staff/healthwellbeing/.

We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented within the University. Read more on how the University promotes and embeds all aspects of equality and diversity within our community https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/.

We endorse the principles of Athena Swan https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/athenaswan/ and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University.

We are investing in our organisation, and we will invest in you too. Please visit our website https://www.gla.ac.uk/explore/jobs/ for more information.

Closing Date: 17 September 2025