Postdoctoral Fellow - Johnson Lab

Key information

Postdoctoral Fellow – Johnson Lab

Contract term: This is a full-time, fixed term (4 years) position on Crick terms and conditions of employment.

Reports to: Eachan Johnson, Group Leader

Salary for this Role: From £45,500 with benefits, subject to skills and experience

Application requirements: Please attach the following separate documents to your application in PDF format:

• a cover letter (maximum one page)
• your CV
• a description of how your specific experience and skills align with the essential criteria (maximum two pages)
• the title and the PubMed link of one scientific paper (not from our group or your previous labs, and not a review article) that has shaped your scientific perspective. Summarise why you chose this paper. Which figure was most compelling and why? (maximum 300 words)
• a short description of a project that you would like to pursue in our lab. Include references (maximum 300 words excluding references)

Application Deadline: Saturday 2nd May 2026 at 11.55pm

About us

The Francis Crick Institute is Europe’s largest biomedical research institute under one roof. Our world-class scientists and staff collaborate on vital research to help prevent, diagnose and treat illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, infectious diseases and neurodegenerative conditions.

The Crick is a place for collaboration, innovation and exploration across many disciplines. A space where the brightest minds can pursue big and bold ideas and discover answers to crucial scientific questions. We support them in a dynamic environment which fosters excellence with state-of-the-art infrastructure, cutting-edge facilities, and a creative and curious culture. We’ve removed traditional boundaries of departments, divisions and disciplines and instead have an open approach that supports every researcher. This gives us the freedom to take risks and carry out high-quality, pioneering research. Creating a space for discovery without boundaries helps us to turn our science into benefits for human health and the economy.

About the Systems Chemical Biology of Infection and Resistance Lab

The lab, which opened in January 2021 and is supported by Crick core funding, the UKRI Horizon Europe Guarantee, BBSRC and the Gates Foundation, explores how pathogenic bacteria survive and cause infection.

Working at the interface of genetics, chemical biology and machine learning, the team develops small molecules to disrupt key bacterial processes and understand their impact on survival, infection and resistance. We have developed approaches to study multiple bacterial pathogens in parallel, with a primary focus on Klebsiella pneumoniae and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The work aims to inform next-generation antimicrobial therapies.

About the Project

We are seeking a Postdoctoral Fellow to spearhead a project exploring how Mycobacterium tuberculosis survives drug treatment.

Using CRISPRi-based genetic screens and single-cell approaches, you will investigate how gene expression variability drives drug-tolerant subpopulations. This role sits at the intersection of molecular genetics, chemical biology and data science, with strong scope for innovation and collaboration.

Working closely with the team, you will drive experimental design, develop new methods, analyse large-scale datasets and contribute to publications. You will also support training and help foster a collaborative lab environment.

What you’ll be doing

You will be responsible for:

• Designing experiments and research strategy in consultation with the PI
• Carrying out experiments and analysing data
• Keeping accurate and timely records of their work
• Engaging in professional development and growth
• Liaising with external collaborators
• Presenting work at Lab meetings, conferences and consortium meetings
• Drafting manuscripts for publication

Click to see the full job description

Click to find out more about the Systems Chemical Biology of Infection and Resistance Lab

About you

Essential:

(Minimum criteria*)

• PhD (or near completion) in biological engineering, chemistry, chemical biology, molecular biology, microbiology or a related field.*
• Strong experience in bacterial molecular genetics, including CRISPRi and familiarity with high-containment laboratory environments.*
• Experience with flow cytometry, ideally within bacterial systems.*
• Solid understanding of next-generation sequencing and core bacterial processes (replication, transcription and translation).*
• Experience analysing large biological datasets using Python or R.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively, with strong organisation, attention to detail and communication skills.
• Clear motivation to apply interdisciplinary and quantitative approaches to scientific research.

Desirable

• Experience working with Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
• Experience in high-throughput screening
• Experience facilitating scientific collaborations.
• Familiarity with public health challenges related to tuberculosis
• Familiarity with high-performance computing (HPC).

About Working at the Crick

Our values  

Everyone who works at the Crick has a valuable role to play in advancing the Crick’s mission and shaping our culture!

• We are bold. We make space for creative, dynamic and imaginative ideas and approaches. We’re not afraid to do things differently.

• We are open. We’re highly collaborative and interactive, and make sure our activities are visible to the outside world.

• We are collegial. We show respect for one another, work cooperatively and support the wider community.

At the Francis Crick Institute, we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential to driving innovation and scientific discovery. We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to succeed, regardless of their background, identity, or personal circumstances. We actively encourage applications from individuals of all genders, ethnicities, abilities, and experiences. We are a Disability Confident: Committed employer and want to ensure that everyone can apply and be part of our recruitment processes and so we'll make reasonable adjustments if you need them - just let us know when you apply. If you need assistance with applying (i.e., would like to apply by phone or post) please email: ruby.oluwafemi@crick.ac.uk.

Find out more about life at the Crick.

What will you receive?  

At the Francis Crick Institute, we value our team members and are proud to offer an extensive range of benefits to support their well-being and development:

• Visas:Applicants for this role will be eligible for sponsorship to work in the UK

• Generous Leave: 28 days of annual leave, plus three additional days over Christmas and bank holidays.

• Pension Scheme: Defined contribution pension with employer contributions of up to 16%.

• Health & Well-being:

• 24/7 GP consultation services.

• Occupational health services and mental health support programs.

• Eye care vouchers and discounted healthcare plans.

• Work-Life Balance:

• Back-up care for dependents.

• Childcare support allowance.

• Annual leave purchase options.
• Crick Networks offering diverse groups’ support, community and inclusive social events.

• Perks:

• Discounted gym memberships, bike-to-work scheme, and shopping discounts.

• Subsidised on-site restaurant and social spaces for team interaction.
• Career support: A Post-doc to PI programme and other career development activities

Please note you must meet the essential criteria listed within the Role Profile, to have your application reviewed. 

We reserve the right to withdraw this advert at any given time due to the number of applications received.