Research Technician in Virology at University of Leeds

Are you an early career researcher looking for a challenge?   Do you have a background in biological sciences? Do you want to further your career in one of the UK’s leading research intensive Universities?

Our laboratories are part of a thriving research environment within the Faculty of Biological Sciences, which houses over 150 research groups, 15 of which study viruses. We use structural and cell biology techniques to answer important questions about how RNA viruses perform their infection cycles, and in doing so, we hope to develop strategies to prevent virus growth and thus disease. 

The project aims to unravel the structure of native bunyavirus ribonucleoproteins (RNPs). As negative sense RNA viruses, the viral genome of bunyaviruses is covered by the viral nucleoprotein (NP) and interacts with the viral RNA-dependant RNA polymerase (RdRp) to form RNPs. RNPs are the substrate for multiple viral activities, including transcription, replication and virion formation. Therefore, a detailed understanding of the RNP structure will reveal fundamental details of the bunyavirus replication cycle and potentially targets for future anti-viral therapies. However, the structural characterisation of bunyavirus RNPs has been traditionally limited to in vitro expressed NP or RdRp. To advance our understanding of RNPs, we have recently characterised the NP-RNA complex from native RNPs purified from the model bunyavirus, Bunyamwera virus (BUNV) (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35762594/). Building on this breakthrough, we will purify and characterise the RNPs of different bunyaviruses, including model viruses for some of the deadliest viruses in existence.

You should possess a degree, BTEC higher level or equivalent in biochemistry, biological sciences or microbiology, with experience of virology approaches, recombinant DNA technology, and working with bacterial and mammalian cell culture systems. Your role will be to work alongside a post-doctoral fellow also assigned to this project, working as a team to investigate the structure of bunyavirus RNPs. You will have the opportunity to gain experience of state-of-the-art research facilities in cell biology, molecular virology, cryo-EM and cell imaging.

The University of Leeds and the Faculty of Biological Sciences are committed to providing equal opportunities for all and offer a range of family-friendly policies. The University is a charter member of Athena SWAN (the national body that promotes gender equality in higher education), and the Faculty of Biological Sciences was reawarded a Silver award in 2020.  We are proud to be an inclusive Faculty that values all staff, and are happy to consider job share applications and requests for flexible working arrangements from our employees. Our Athena SWAN webpage provides more information. 

To explore the post further or for any queries you may have, please contact: 

Dr Juan Fontana, Associate Professor

Tel.: +44 (0)113 343 8069 | Email: J.Fontana@leeds.ac.uk