Postdoctoral Research Officer in Amphibian Host-Microbiome Interactions

The Project

The post is part of a UK–US collaborative project led by Bangor University and George Washington University (US), including partners from the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (US) and Tropical Research Institute (Panama), funded by BBSRC (UK) and NSF (US). The project will investigate the role of amphibian skin microbiomes and skin-resident immune components in determining species-specific outcomes of infection by the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd).

Invasive fungal diseases are rising globally, causing catastrophic declines in wildlife populations and posing severe threats to animal and human health. Bd is a leading cause of global amphibian biodiversity loss. Both the amphibian skin microbiome and resident immune components are known to influence infection outcomes, but the mechanisms that govern interactions between the immune system, microbiome and disease remain poorly understood.

This project will investigate the central hypothesis that species-specific interactions between skin-resident microbiomes and immune components critically define Bd infection outcomes in amphibians. This hypothesis will be explored through experimental manipulation of microbiomes and skin-resident immune components in Bd-susceptible and Bd-tolerant frog species.

The wider project will combine microbiome profiling, shotgun metagenomics, single-cell and bulk transcriptomics, histology, immune manipulation, microbiome manipulation and infection assays. These approaches will be delivered collaboratively by Bangor University and project partners in the US and Panama. This post will focus on the microbiome and metagenomics components of the project. The post holder will also work with project colleagues to integrate microbiome datasets with immune, transcriptomic and infection outcome data.

The project involves collaboration between UK, US and Panama-based partners. The post holder will be expected to liaise with project colleagues in the UK, US and Panama, contribute to knowledge exchange visits between laboratories, attend national and international conferences, and participate in and contribute to the organisation of project workshops with researchers and stakeholders in amphibian conservation and probiotic development.

Purpose of the Job

The post holder will be responsible for planning, conducting, analysing and contributing to the publication of the microbiome-related components of the project. This will include leading 16S metabarcoding, shotgun metagenomic and bacterial genome sequencing activities, integrating microbiome datasets with infection, immune and transcriptomic data generated by the wider project team, and liaising with UK, US and Panama-based project partners.

The research will provide new understanding of how amphibian skin microbial communities vary across host species and experimental treatments, how microbiome composition and function relate to host immune responses, and how these interactions influence Bd infection outcomes.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Generation and analysis of data. This will include preparing and processing DNA samples from amphibian skin and bacterial isolates; generation and analysis of 16S metabarcoding and shotgun metagenomic datasets; bacterial genome sequencing; analysing microbial community composition, microbiome function, bacterial colonisation and persistence, and bacterial host-specificity; and integrating microbiome data with data generated by the wider project team.
• To work as part of the research team in delivering research outcomes. This will include disseminating research outputs through journal articles, reports, conferences, project workshops and other appropriate routes. The post holder will collaborate with co-researchers to write up results, provide progress updates to the project team, contribute to knowledge exchange with academic and non-academic stakeholders, and maintain up-to-date knowledge of relevant scientific literature.
• Assist and support in the administration of the research project. This will include arranging and participating in project meetings; coordinating sample and data transfer, depositing data and code in appropriate repositories; liaising with internal and external partners; contributing to project updates; and helping ensure the project meets its aims and objectives.
• To assist and take part in monitoring of financial controls associated with the research project. This will include contributing to the planning and monitoring of sequencing, consumables, travel and research equipment needs associated with project; entering data and preparing reports in order to monitor research project finance; and assisting in the preparation of proposals for research funding.

Other Duties And Responsibilities

• This will include advising and collaborating with Masters and PhD students within the wider research group; contributing to project workshops and knowledge exchange visits; undertaking research visits to partner laboratories where appropriate; attending national and international conferences; and actively participating in relevant School, College and research group activities.
• The post holder will be expected to participate in performance review and developmental activities.
• The post holder will be expected to comply with the University’s equality policies and statements, Dignity at Work and Study Policy and the University’s Welsh Language Scheme.
• The post holder has a general and legal duty of care in relation to health, safety and wellbeing and must take all reasonable steps to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for themselves and for other members of staff, students and visitors affected by their actions or inactions. The post holder is also required to comply with all applicable health and safety policies, procedures and risk assessments.
• The post holder must comply with relevant legal and financial policies and procedures and be aware of their responsibilities in terms of the legal requirements of their post.

Person Specification

Essential

Qualifications/Training

• A PhD (or be near completion) in molecular ecology, microbial ecology, disease biology, bioinformatics, genomics or a related discipline.

Experience/Knowledge

• A research background in some of the following areas: microbial ecology, disease biology, host-microbe interactions, genomics.
• Previous experience in basic molecular biological techniques and high-throughput sequencing.
• Expertise in computational analysis and coding relevant to large high-throughput sequence datasets.
• Expertise in host-microbiome interactions.
• Motivation and enthusiasm about the aims of the project.
• Proven track record of high-quality publications.
• Proven track record of conference presentation.

Skills/Abilities

• Demonstrate good verbal and written communication skills (in English).
• Demonstrate good analytical skills, ability to analyse numerical data and present results appropriately.
• Demonstrate the ability to prioritise workload and work to deadlines.
• Good interpersonal skills, including willingness to coordinate with others and the ability to work as