Research Technician - Evolutionary Biology

3 year contract

The Instituteof Zoology, based at Regent’s Park, London, is the research arm of the Zoological Society of London. Imperial College is the number 5 ranked university in the world and the relevant campus is located at St. Mary’s Hospital, Paddington. 

We would like to appoint an experienced Research Technician for 3 years (fixed-term and full-time) to join a research group investigating the evolutionary ecology of chytrid fungi causing global amphibian extinctions We are funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) to investigate the patterns and processes that are leading to disease-driven amphibian declines by utilising population genomics, experimental ecology and fieldwork. We are extending on our previous work to assess how evolutionary diversification of amphibian-associated chytridiomycete fungi occurs and the consequences for potential amphibian hosts. The successful candidate will provide laboratory support for the project and be responsible for a) molecular analyses of tissue and swab samples; b) organizing a collection of amphibian-associated chytridiomycete fungi; c) assisting a post-doctoral researcher preparing genomic libraries for sequencing and; d) management of Home Office licensed experiments. Laboratory techniques including fungal DNA extractions, real time PCR and data management are required and experience with amphibian animal work would be advantageous. The position is based at both the Institute of Zoology and Imperial College, St. Mary’s campus at Paddington and will be cosupervised by Dr. Trent Garner (IoZ) and Prof. Mat Fisher (Imperial). The successful candidate may be required to complete experimental projects in South Africa.

Candidates should have at least a BSc or equivalent in biological sciences, excellent skills in molecular biology and the ability and willingness to perform Home Office licensed work. 

Please refer to our website for a Job Description.

Informal enquiries should be directed to Dr Trent Garner (trent.garner@ioz.ac.uk).  

Interested candidates should email a cover letter and their CV, together with the names and addresses of two academic referees to the Human Resources Department (hr@zsl.org) by 30^th November 2013.

Short-listed applicants will be invited for interview in mid-December.

The Zoological Society of London is a charity registered in England and Wales no. 208728