Laboratory Manager - AI-Driven Antifungal Drug Discovery Platform

Job description

About the role

We are seeking an experienced Laboratory Manager to oversee the operational delivery of a Wellcome Trust-funded programme building an AI-driven antifungal drug discovery platform targeting Candida auris, a World Health Organization critical priority fungal pathogen. Working closely with Professor Darius Armstrong-James and a multidisciplinary consortium spanning Imperial, the University of Dundee, GSK and the Cultivarium, you will ensure the safe, compliant and efficient running of a high-containment fungal genomics laboratory.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced laboratory professional to play a central role in a high-profile antimicrobial resistance research programme.

What you would be doing

• Manage the day-to-day operations, safety and containment of the laboratory's fungal and CRISPR gene-editing work.
• Maintain risk assessments, COSHH and genetic modification compliance in line with College and regulatory requirements.
• Oversee laboratory budgets, procurement and stock management of reagents, consumables and equipment.
• Coordinate logistics and material transfer across a multi-site consortium (Imperial, Dundee, GSK, the Cultivarium).
• Line manage the project's Research Assistant and support training of postdoctoral researchers and students.
• Maintain strain repositories, laboratory databases and SOPs to ensure reproducibility.
• Liaise with departmental and College safety teams to maintain containment-level compliance.
• Support organisation of project meetings, including Joint Steering Committee logistics.

What we are looking for

• A background in microbiology, chemistry or a related discipline
• Previous experience in laboratory management
• Training in health and safety as applied to infectious diseases laboratory management
• Experience of multidisciplinary team working including working across consortia
• A good working knowledge of financial systems and budgeting
• Previous exposure to supervision and training

What we can offer you

• As a Laboratory Manager in the Department of Infectious Disease, you will benefit from a highly supportive, internationally recognised research environment and exceptional opportunities for professional and career development. We offer:
• World-class research environment
• Access to state-of-the-art facilities including advanced flow cytometry platforms, CL2 mycology laboratories, and computational infrastructure for multi-omic data analysis.
• Integration within a vibrant multidisciplinary team spanning fungal biology, immunology, systems biology, and clinical infectious diseases.

Career development and training

• Tailored development plans and regular mentoring by senior investigators.
• Opportunities to attend internal and external training courses, including advanced microscopy, flow cytometry, bioinformatics, machine learning, and leadership development.
• Support for presenting your work at national and international conferences and for contributing to publications and grant proposals.
• Experience supervising MSc and PhD students, building your teaching and mentorship portfolio.

Collaboration and networking

• Close collaboration with the Dundee Drug Discovery Unit, GSK, and the Cultivarium synthetic biology incubator.
• Opportunities to engage with the Fleming Initiative and a leading international antifungal drug discovery consortium.
• Competitive salary, sector-leading benefits, and career development support.
• The opportunity to continue your career at a world-leading institution and be part of our mission to continue science for humanity
• Benefit from sector-leading salary and remuneration package (including generous leave and pension schemes)
• Access to a range of workplace benefits including a flexible working policy, generous family leave packages, on-site leisure facilities and a cycle-to-work scheme
• Interest-free season ticket loan schemes for travel
• To be part of a diverse, inclusive, and collaborative work culture with various staff networks and resources designed to support your personal and professional wellbeing .

Further information

Part-time (17.5 h/w) , fixed-term contract for up to 4 years (subject to funding), Expected start date: Jan 2027.

To discuss please contact Darius Armstrong-James ([email protected]). See the job descriptions for more specifics.