Post-Doctoral Researcher in Protein and Peptide Design and Production (843010)

FTE: 1 (35 hours/week)

Contract Type: Fixed Term (Until Feb 29, 2028, with possibility of extension through July 31,2029)

Closing Date: 23/09/2026

We are seeking a highly motivated researcher in protein expression and synthetic peptide chemistry to join the CoreShell Fibre Foundry programme. The successful candidate will work with a multidisciplinary team of chemists, biochemists and engineers to pioneer the use of proteins to enable manufacturing of useful microstructures.

This role focuses on recombinant expression and purification of the designed protein sequences as well as the solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) and purification of candidate sequence segments with self-assembly and biomineralisation functionalities. The project will start with the design of candidate sequence segments by the postholder based on the published literature and, in parallel, computational prediction of enhanced sequences by other team members. Then, the postholder will use SPPS to prepare short candidate sequences for functional validation and recombinant expression to prepare related proteins. The characterised material will be supplied to other chemistry and engineering team members for functional experiments. The entire team will analyse the sequence-function relationships and to achieve the project deliverables and milestones.

The postholder will work with the entire team to establish systematic workflows to keep track of constructs, batches and characterisation data, and iterate on the sequence design, peptide/protein production, and microstructure fabrication against defined deliverables and milestones. These will be evaluated by the funder as criteria for continued funding.

To be considered for the role, you should normally be educated to a PhD level in an appropriate discipline, have significant relevant work experience in addition to a relevant lower degree, or are close to PhD completion. You will have sufficient depth of knowledge in recombinant protein expression and purification, and have either experience in SPPS and peptide purification or the technical background to rapidly acquire these skills. You will have an ability to plan and organise your own workload effectively, conduct individual research work, and disseminate results. You will have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to listen, engage and persuade, and to present complex information in an accessible way to a range of audiences, and work within a team environment.

Whilst not essential for the role, applications are welcome from candidates who have: an ability to prepare research proposals, membership of relevant Chartered/professional bodies (including the Higher Education Academy), experience of relevant student supervision and teaching activities, and/or experience of knowledge exchange related activities.  

Initial interviews have been scheduled for October 2026.

For informal enquiries, please contact Iqra Azeem, Research Fellow at i.azeem@strath.ac.uk 

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