Research Fellow in computational approaches to study mRNA translation

Research Fellow in computational approaches to study mRNA translation

Overview of the Role

Are you an ambitious researcher looking for your next challenge? Do you have an established background in computational biology and bioinformatics? Do you want to further your career in one of the UKs leading research intensive Universities?

We are looking for an outstanding postdoctoral research fellow to join the Aspden group at the University of Leeds. The postdoc will be part of a large team (£5.6M, funded by a BBSRC Strategic Longer and Larger grant). The team aims to unravel the 'ribosome code', rules that explain how compositionally dissecting ribosomes enable translation of specific sets of mRNAs. Specifically, the postdoc will focus on dissecting the molecular mechanisms using bioinformatics and computational approaches. This will include analysing ribosome profiling data and direct-RNA-Seq data, as well as building novel pipelines and employing machine learning approaches to predict translational output. The postdoc will work closely with others of the team who will generate the data. Together we will be able to dissect conserved mechanisms of ribosome specialisation across eukaryotes, allowing us to unravel the 'ribosome code'.

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 awarded 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.

What we offer in return

• 26 days holiday plus approx.16 Bank Holidays/days that the University is closed by custom (including Christmas) - That's 42 days a year!
• Generous pension scheme options plus life assurance.
• Health and Wellbeing: Discounted staff membership options at The Edge, our state-of-the-art Campus gym, with a pool, sauna, climbing wall, cycle circuit, and sports halls.
• Personal Development: Access to courses run by our Organisational Development & Professional Learning team.
• Access to on-site childcare, shopping discounts and travel schemes are also available.
• And much more!

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

Dr Julie Aspden

Email: j.aspden@leeds.ac.uk

Find out more about the Faculty of Biological Sciences and the RiboCode project.

Application Details

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Job Details

• Location: Leeds - Main Campus
• Faculty/Service: Faculty of Biological Sciences
• School/Institute: School of Molecular & Cellular Biology
• Category: Research
• Grade: Grade 7
• Salary: £41,064 to £48,822 per annum
• Post Type: Full Time
• Contract Type: Fixed Term (12 Months - To complete specific time limited work.)
• Release Date: Wednesday 19 August 2026
• Closing Date: Wednesday 02 September 2026

#s1-Gen

We are looking for an outstanding postdoctoral research fellow to join the Aspden group at the University of Leeds. The postdoc will be part of a large team (£5.6M, funded by a BBSRC Strategic Longer and Larger grant). The team aims to unravel the 'ribosome code', rules that explain how compositionally dissecting ribosomes enable translation of specific sets of mRNAs. Specifically, the postdoc will focus on dissecting the molecular mechanisms using bioinformatics and computational approaches. This will include analysing ribosome profiling data and direct-RNA-Seq data, as well as building novel pipelines and employing machine learning approaches to predict translational output. The postdoc will work closely with others of the team who will generate the data. Together we will be able to dissect conserved mechanisms of ribosome specialisation across eukaryotes, allowing us to unravel the 'ribosome code'. 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 awarded 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.

• 26 days holiday plus approx.16 Bank Holidays/days that the University is closed by custom (including Christmas) - That's 42 days a year!
• Generous pension scheme options plus life assurance.
• Health and Wellbeing: Discounted staff membership options at The Edge, our state-of-the-art Campus gym, with a pool, sauna, climbing wall, cycle circuit, and sports halls.
• Personal Development: Access to courses run by our Organisational Development & Professional Learning team.
• Access to on-site childcare, shopping discounts and travel schemes are also available.
And much more!