Job reference: BMH-030748
Salary: UoM Grade 6 £37,694 - £41,064 per annum depending on relevant skills and experience
Faculty/Organisational Unit: Biology, Medicine Health
Location: Oxford Road
Employment type: Fixed Term
Division/Team: Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology & Gastroenterology
Hours Per Week: Full Time
Closing date (DD/MM/YYYY): 18/02/2026
Contract Duration: Available from 01/04/2026 to 31/03/2029
School/Directorate: School of Medical Sciences

Job Description

We are seeking an enthusiastic and highly motivated Post Doctoral Research Associate to join the Gibbs Lab, which studies the role of the circadian clock in regulating immunity.

This role offers the opportunity to take an integrated approach across murine models and human samples to discover how glucocorticoids direct the anti-inflammatory potential of Tregs, using transcriptomics and cellular phenotyping you will delineate the influence of endogenous and synthetic glucocorticoids over Treg function.

Funded through an MRC project grant titled “How circadian rhythms in glucocorticoids direct the anti-inflammatory potential of regulatory T cells”, this research builds on the lab’s previous work on circadian regulation of inflammation (e.g. Hand L E et al., Nat Comms (2020) and Downton P et al., Open Biology (2024)).

The University of Manchester is home to the Centre for Biological Timing one of the leading circadian biology research groupings in Europe. The group includes more than 30 principle investigators with research interests spanning molecular biology, genetics, electrophysiology, and physiology and houses state-of-the-art facilities for the study of circadian rhythms at the whole organism, cellular, and molecular level.

The successful candidate will lead this project, including, but not limited to, planning and performing experiments, identifying and developing suitable techniques for the collection and analysis of data, reporting on progress and producing high quality work for publication.

The project will be supported by a dedicated technician. In addition to leading this work, the post holder will play an active role within the wider research team, supervise junior colleagues and students, and play an active role in shaping future research directions.

Applicants should hold (or be close to completing) a PhD (or equivalent) in a related discipline, with strong background knowledge in circadian biology, immunology and/or inflammatory disease. Be able to demonstrate excellent communication skills, a collaborative mindset, and enthusiasm for contributing to a vibrant research environment are essential.

Successful candidates may be subject to pre-employment screening carried out on our behalf by a third party. The offer of employment will be dependent on the successful candidate passing that screening. Whilst you will be required to provide express consent at a later stage, by continuing with your application now you acknowledge that you are aware that such screening will take place, and agree to take process.

What you will get in return:

  • Fantastic market leading Pension scheme
  • Excellent employee health and wellbeing services including an Employee Assistance Programme
  • Exceptional starting annual leave entitlement, plus bank holidays
  • Additional paid closure over the Christmas period
  • Local and national discounts at a range of major retailers

As an equal opportunities employer we welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of age, sex, gender (or gender identity), ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation and transgender status. All appointments are made on merit.

Our University is positive about flexible working – you can find out more here

Hybrid working arrangements may be considered.

Please be aware that due to the number of applications we are unfortunately not able to provide individual feedback on your application.

Please note that we are unable to respond to enquiries, accept CVs or applications from Recruitment Agencies.

Any CV’s submitted by a recruitment agency will be considered a gift.

Enquiries about the vacancy, shortlisting and interviews:

Email: julie.gibbs@manchester.ac.uk

General enquiries:

Email:recruitmentservices.people@manchester.ac.uk

Technical support:

https://jobseekersupport.jobtrain.co.uk/support/home

This vacancy will close for applications at midnight on the closing date.

Please see the link below for the Further Particulars document which contains the person specification criteria.



Take a look around the company https://www.manchester.ac.uk/