Job Purpose

The post holder will join the School of Infection and Immunity, MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research (CVR) and will make a leading contribution to an ERC-funded project vRNP-capture with the goal of elucidating the composition, regulation and functional relevance of picornaviral ribonucleoprotein complexes during infection. Working with the Prof Alfredo Castello’s research group (Systems Virology), the postholder will apply viral RNA interactome capture to define how virally encoded proteases and interferon signalling remodel viral RNPs, using coxsackievirus B3, echoviruses and rhinoviruses as model systems. The role includes generating and analysing protease-deficient viral mutants, integrating proteomics and RNA biology, and collaborating with international experts. The successful candidate will also be expected to contribute to scientific publications and funding proposals, and to help manage and direct aspects of this complex interdisciplinary project as opportunities allow.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1. Take a leading role in the planning and conduct of assigned research in accordance with the project deliverables and the research strategy of the MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research (CVR).

2. Comply with ERC work monitoring and policies.  Act in accordance with the highest ethical standards, ensuring transparency, protecting data, maintaining confidentiality, and explicitly prohibiting any form of data falsification.

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

4. Establish and maintain your research profile and reputation and that of the working group and CVR, including establishing and sustaining a track record of independent and joint publications of international quality in high-profile refereed journals, enhancing the research impact in terms of economic/societal benefit.

5. Survey the research literature and environment, understand the research challenges associated with the project and subject area, and develop and implement a suitable research strategy. Keep up to date with current knowledge and recent advances in the field.

6. Present work at international and national conferences, at internal and external seminars, colloquia and workshops to develop and enhance our research profile.

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

8. Develop, manage and maintain internal and external collaborations.

9. Take a leading role in laboratory meetings, seminars, workshops and School-wide research group activities to enhance the wider knowledge, outputs and culture of the CVR.

10. Supervise, mentor and train undergraduate and postgraduate students, interns, and other less experienced members of the project team to ensure their effective development.

11. Generate, manage, document, maintain and store the data generated with the standards described in the project.

12.  Perform administrative tasks related to the activities of the project, including budgets, expenditure, ordering, and contribute to laboratory management organization and general duties.

13.  Make a leading contribution to teaching activities and public outreach in consultation with the PI.

14.  Engage in personal, professional and career development, to enhance both specialist and transferable skills in accordance with desired career trajectory.

15.  Contribute to the enhancement of the University’s international profile in line with the University’s strategic Plan.

These key tasks are not intended to be exhaustive but simply highlight a number of major tasks which the staff member may reasonably be expected to perform.

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 of the criteria in the format explained below, you will not be shortlisted for interview.

Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills, and Experience  

Knowledge/Qualifications  

Essential: 

A1 Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 12 (PhD) in molecular biology, biochemistry, virology or microbiology, plus a track record emerging independence within a research/professional environment or alternatively possess professional qualifications and experience equivalent to PhD level plus postdoctoral experience.

A2 A comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge of current issues and future directions within the relevant research disciplines, including molecular virology and RNA biology.

A3 Well-developed working knowledge of research methods, technical models, equipment and techniques relevant to the project/discipline including viral infection systems, molecular cloning, mammalian cell culture, microscopy, and RNA biology.

Skills Essential

C1 Research creativity and cross-discipline collaborative ability.

C2 Team leadership skills including demonstrable supervisory skills.

C3 Highly motivated, able to use initiative and quick to learn new techniques.

C4 Excellent interpersonal skills including team working and a collegiate approach.

C5 Excellent communication skills (oral and written), including public presentations and the ability to communicate complex concepts clearly and concisely.

C6 Appropriate organisational/workload/project/budget/people management skills.

C7 Data analysis and interpretation skills. C8 Creative, flexible and pragmatic approach to solving research problems.

Experience Essential

E1 Substantial depth of relevant research experience, including postdoctoral experience.

E2 Proven experience in OMIC approaches and computational data analysis.

E3 Experience of planning and progressing work activities within professional guidelines or organisational policy, applying initiative and independent judgement.

E4 Developing track record of research outputs compatible with enhancing the School’s research profile in accordance with School objectives, with at least one first-author research article in a reputed peer-reviewed journal.

E5 Experience of making distinct contributions to identifying and pursuing research funding (or equivalent business development) applications.

E6 Proven ability to works with others in collaborative work. Collaborative peer-reviewed articles or preprints will be considered as formal evidence.

E7 Commitment to open research, as appropriate to the discipline, through open data, open code, open educational resources and practices that support replication.

Desirable

F1 Experience of participating in activities that translate research into impact to benefit the economy and wider society

F2 Experience of contributing to the design and delivery of teaching and assessment in higher education or other relevant environments.

F3 Experience supervising, mentoring, or advising students.

F4 Experience with R and/or Phyton computing languages.

F5 Familiarity with RNA interactome capture and other methods to study protein-RNA interactions.

Further Enquiries

Informal enquiries should be directed to Professor Alfredo Castello Alfredo.Castello@glasgow.ac.uk 

Terms and Conditions

Salary will be Grade 7, £41,064 - £46,049 per annum.

This position is full time and has funding until 30 November 2027.

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: 5 February 2026 at 23:45