Job reference: BMH-032741
Salary: £38,448 to £41,885 per annum, depending on relevant experience
Faculty/Organisational Unit: Biology, Medicine Health
Location: Oxford Road
Employment type: Fixed Term
Division/Team: Division of Molecular and Cellular Function
Hours Per Week: Full Time
Closing date (DD/MM/YYYY): 13/11/2026
Contract Duration: 36 months
School/Directorate: School of Biological Sciences

Job Description

Please upload a single PDF document containing your CV and cover letter.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a postdoctoral Research Associate, with a background in protein biochemistry, molecular biology or molecular recognition, to work within the Kulathu group under the supervision of Professor Yogesh Kulathu. The post holder will be part of the Kulathu group, which is based at the University of Manchester. How do different ubiquitin signals direct different cellular outcomes? We investigate how ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like signalling coordinate cellular quality control, combining innovative tools with biochemical, structural and cellular approaches.

The candidate will support the aims of a BBSRC funded research programme to develop precision tools to dissect ubiquitin signalling. This innovative project will study how polyubiquitin chains of different linkages encode cellular signals. You will develop a nanobody toolkit to recognise these chains and enable new experiments in ubiquitin biology. Your work will connect nanobody selection and engineering with protein biochemistry, quantitative binding assays and cellular applications. Working with colleagues in structural biology, proteomics and cell biology, you will investigate molecular recognition and develop approaches to detect, visualise and interrogate ubiquitin signalling. There will be scope to shape the toolkit’s applications, pursue the biological questions it opens up and create reagents of lasting value to the research community.

This position offers an ideal opportunity for an enthusiastic, well-motivated individual with interest in tool and methodology development to work as part of a sociable multi-disciplinary team consisting of biochemists, structural biologists, cell biologists and proteomics researchers. We offer scientific ownership and mentoring tailored to your development towards independence. Inclusion, empathy and integrity underpin our culture. We welcome motivated and creative researchers who enjoy challenging problems and want to create tools that enable discovery across a field. The ideal candidate will have excellent experimental design, quantitative analysis and problem-solving skills, and will be able to work with minimal supervision. A rigorous and collaborative approach to research is essential for the position. Experience of protein biochemistry or molecular biology is required, together with a clear interest in ubiquitin signalling. Experience with protein engineering, studying protein-protein interactions or cellular imaging would be advantageous.

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.


Hybrid working arrangements may be considered.

Please be aware that due to the number of applications we unfortunately may 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 recruitment enquiries from recruitment agencies should be directed to recruitmentservices.people@manchester.ac.uk

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

Enquiries about the vacancy, shortlisting and interviews:

Name: Professor Yogesh Kulathu

Email: yogesh.kulathu@manchester.ac.uk

General enquiries:

Email: recruitmentservices.people@manchester.ac.uk

Technical support:

https://knowledge.jobtrain.co.uk/jobseeker [knowledge.jobtrain.co.uk]

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/