**Job Description**
This Postdoctoral Research Associate position within the Wanford Group at King’s College London focuses on molecular microbiology and infectious diseases research, specifically the pathogenesis of antibiotic-resistant *Klebsiella pneumoniae* (Kp) infections. The role involves leading a high-impact project to define the mutational mechanisms regulating Kp capsule expression during infection and identify functional consequences of capsule regulation on host-pathogen interactions at the molecular level. The successful candidate will develop their independent research project using cutting-edge microbiological, biochemical, molecular genetics, and comparative genomics approaches, contributing data to peer-reviewed manuscripts and collaborating within the department and with external partners.
**Skills & Abilities**
� Prior experience with bacterial pathogens.
� Proven ability to design, implement, and analyse experiments.
� Advanced molecular microbiology skills, including DNA/RNA extraction, PCR/qRT-PCR, and genetic manipulation of bacterial pathogens (plasmid construction, transformation, generation of deletion mutants).
� Experience with omics-based techniques (e.g., comparative genomics, RNA-seq).
� Capacity to work independently and as part of a collaborative team.
� Excellent verbal and written communication skills (documented by presentations at academic meetings and publications).
� Excellent organisational skills, academic integrity, and rigor.
� Experience in fluorescence microscopy and/or flow cytometry-based readouts of infection.
� Experience with biochemical assays (e.g., Western blotting).
� Experience handling/processing samples in vivo infection models and/or human samples.
� Experience with eukaryotic cell culture systems.
**Qualifications**
Required Degree(s) in:
� Molecular Microbiology
� Cell Biology
� Immunology
**Experience**
Other:
� Prior experience with bacterial pathogens.
� Candidates who have submitted their PhD thesis and are awaiting award of their PhDs will be considered.
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