Postdoctoral Research Scientist
Glycoscience Group
National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science
Ref. No. 109-13
Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for a full time three year fixed term
position as a postdoctoral researcher in the Glycoscience Group at National University of
Ireland, Galway.
Background:
Carbohydrates (glycans) coat every living cell and are involved in almost all essential
biological processes and many diseases. Glycans and their corresponding proteins (lectins)
are also critical in host-microbial interactions and particularly in colonisation by pathogenic
species and infection on mucosal surfaces. The Glycoscience Group at NUI Galway are
developing novel tools for exploring these interactions in order to improve our understanding
of host-pathogen relationships and ultimately to develop novel anti-microbial approaches.
Food for Health Ireland:
The above vacancy has arisen because of a recent award to the Glycoscience Group from
Food for Health Ireland (FHI). FHI is a leading global innovation centre for the development
of nutritional functional ingredients to improve health, wellness and quality of life. Its mission
is to combine the world class scientific capabilities of its Irish academic partners (University
College Dublin, University College Cork, University of Limerick, Teagasc Food Research
Centre Moorepark, Dublin City University, National University of Ireland Maynooth, and
National University of Ireland Galway) with the market expertise of its industry partners
(Carbery Group, Dairygold Food Ingredients, Glanbia plc, and Kerry Group), in order to
generate a pipeline of innovative, nutritional, functional ingredients/ products for the global
food industry.
FHI is funded by Enterprise Ireland and its industry partners. FHI is now entering its second
phase of funding, which will focus on the following thematic areas:
 Healthy Ageing and Performance Nutrition
 Glycaemic Management
 Appetite Modulation
 Infant Nutrition
 Healthy Cheeses
 Technology
Job descriptions:
Working as an integral member of the Infant Nutrition and Technology teams of FHI, the
successful candidate will focus on glycosylation aspects of milk and milk components and
will apply microarray technology to identify milk glycan fractions with selected bioactivities.
Excellent facilities and equipment are available within the Glycoscience Group to support the
research, which is expected to deliver the basic information needed to make a significant
impact on health risk through functional food development.
Qualifications
The successful candidate should have a PhD, or a PhD in prospect, in a biological discipline
with a strong chemical component. The successful candidate will be expected to play a key
role in the milk glycan-related research output of the Glycoscience Group and will aid in the
research supervision of junior members of the team. They should provide evidence of their
interest in the application-oriented research funded by FHI. They will be expected to have:
 A strong background in modern microbiological and biochemical techniques
 Experience in glycoanalytical methods, glycan separation and application to
glycobiology
 Experience of microarray technology as applied to glycan-lectin interactions
 Research interests in glycobiology
 Ability to work as part of a team, including consulting, collaborating and building
relationships with key stakeholders
 Excellent laboratory skills, organizational skills, communication skills, report writing
and data analysis
Salary: €37,750 - €46,255 per annum (Public sector pay policy pertaining to new entrants
will apply)
Start date: 15th January 2014
Further information on research and working at NUI Galway is available on Research at NUI
Galway
For information on moving to Ireland please see www.euraxess.ie
Detailed information on the activities of the Glycoscience Group is available at our websites
http://ncbes.nuigalway.ie/glycoscience-group.aspx or http://www.agrc.ie/. For informal
discussion
about
this
post,
please
contact
Professor
Lokesh
Joshi
Lokesh.Joshi@nuigalway.ie
To Apply: Please send a cover letter, research statement and curriculum vitae to include a
list of publications and the names and addresses of at least three referees via e-mail (PDF
only) to Ms. Sarah McGauley, e-mail: vpresearch@nuigalway.ie
Applicants must include the post ref. no: NUIG 109-13 in subject line of e-mail application.
Closing date for receipt of applications is 5pm, Friday 6th December 2013.
Interviews will be held the week of the 16th of December
National University of Ireland, Galway is an equal opportunities employer.