Research Associate in Mycobacterial Biochemistry & Microbiology

Role Description

The York Bioenergetics Lab (bioenergetics.site) works to understand how bacteria transduce energy to maintain themselves, grow, and power processes such as infection or biotransformation. The Lab is seeking a PDRA to further its research into Mycobacterium tuberculosis and the wider mycobacteria group. M. tuberculosis is the world’s deadliest pathogen, causing devastating disease for which treatments are poorly tolerated and extended in duration; additionally, antibiotic resistance is growing.

The lab uses remission spectroscopy to measure the electron occupancy of cytochromes as they power cells in vivo, allowing the response of the cells to new bioenergetic-targeting antibiotics to be measured (e.g. Harrison et al., 2025, Nature Communications). Supporting spectroscopy, the lab uses extensive membrane protein biochemistry and cryo-EM.

The PDRA will continue our work leveraging our bioenergetic expertise to understand how mycobacteria are affected by new antibiotics such as Q203, bedaquiline, and derivatives. Several projects are now at an advanced state and ready to be progressed to completion.

The position is funded as part of Professor Jamie Blaza’s UKRI Future Leader fellowship project until October 2028.

Department

The candidate will work in the collegial and supportive environment of the York Structural Biology Laboratory, a collection of 10 academic groups. They will be a member of the Department of Chemistry, known for its strength at the biology-chemistry interface and world-leading efforts in EDI.

Skills, Experience & Qualifications needed

• Undergraduate degree in biochemistry, microbiology, or related area

• PhD in biochemistry, biophysics, bacteriology, or a related field, or equivalent experience

• Knowledge of bioenergetics, biochemistry, and microbiology

• Experience of culturing and genetically modifying bacteria, ideally mycobacteria

• Experience of protein purification, ideally of membrane proteins

• Ability and experience to develop research objectives, carry out individual and collaborative projects, planning and prioritising own work to meet deadlines

• Highly motivated and professional with collaborative work ethic, committed to high quality research and a willingness to proactively support colleagues and students

• Have, or will shortly have, published rigorous scientific findings and the ability to explain how these findings advance their field.

Interview date: To be confirmed

For informal enquiries: please contact Professor Jamie Blaza at jamie.blaza@york.ac.uk

The University strives to be diverse and inclusive  – a place where we can ALL be ourselves.

We particularly encourage applications from people who identify as Black, Asian or from a Minority Ethnic background, who are underrepresented at the University. 

We offer family friendly, flexible working arrangements, with forums and inclusive facilities to support our staff. #EqualityatYork

As a Disability Confident employer, we will ensure that a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants that meet the minimum (essential) criteria for each position will be offered an interview.  Read more about the University of York’s commitments under the Disability Confident scheme.