Research Associate / Senior Research Associate in Biochemistry and Ecology of Coral Venom

University of Bristol - Biological Sciences School Tea

The role

We are looking for an enthusiastic postdoctoral scientist to join Maria Sachkova’s group to conduct research on the NERC-funded project “The Role Of Venom In Coral Resilience”. The project is for 3 years starting February 2026, in collaboration with Cecilia D’Angelo, University of Southampton. The main goal of this exciting project is to reveal if venom and heterotrophic feeding play a role in surviving bleaching in corals. The work will involve characterisation of venom composition and biosynthesis dynamics under bleaching in several coral species by proteomics, transcriptomics and other lab techniques. Maria’s group has access to genomics, proteomics and aquarium facilities at Bristol. The project benefits from access to the aquarium facility at Southampton, that maintains multiple coral species under controlled conditions.

Project description:

Global climate change is leading to the decline of coral reefs, mostly due to the phenomenon of coral bleaching. Corals obtain nutrients either autotrophically from their algal endosymbionts or by feeding on planktonic prey (heterotrophy). During bleaching, the symbionts are lost and coral risk starvation, often leading to death. However, many corals can survive some episodes of bleaching by increasing their capability for heterotrophic feeding. To catch prey, corals use venom produced by specialised stinging cells. Venoms are metabolically expensive to synthesize but they can play a key role in allowing corals to overcome energy depletion during bleaching and therefore might be a key resilience mechanism. Little is known about the composition of venom in corals and its role in coral nutrition and responses to environmental disturbance. This project will establish the role of venom in surviving bleaching in corals using biochemical and molecular approaches as well as experiments with live corals cultured at University of Southampton. Being at the intersection of animal venomics and coral ecology, this project will provide new insights into the key aspects of coral biology at organismal, molecular and cellular levels.

What will you be doing?

• Planning and conducting lab and aquarium experiments in line with the main goals of the project
• Presenting results at national and international conferences
• Preparing research manuscripts for publication

You should apply if

You are experienced in (essential):

• Wet lab techniques (protein biochemistry and work with DNA/RNA)
• Basic bioinformatics (e.g. BLAST, HMMER, Pfam)
• Troubleshooting experiments and adjusting lab protocols

Experience in (desirable):

• Lab work with corals or other marine invertebrates
• Venom research
• Proteomics
• Transcriptomics or Nanostring nCounter platform
• Tissue staining techniques
• Coral ecology, especially bleaching
• Metabolic rate monitoring by respirometry

Additional information

Contact for informal queries - Maria Sachkova – maria.sachkova@bristol.ac.uk

Contract type: Open Ended (Fixed funding until 31/01/2029)

Hydrid working will be considered, depending on onsite lab resposibilities.

This advert will close at 23:59 UK time on Monday 24th November 2025

Interviews will take place on Monday 8th December 2025. Online process will be considered for any overseas applicants.

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The University of Bristol aims to be a place where everyone feels able to be themselves and do their best in an inclusive working environment where all colleagues can thrive and reach their full potential. We want to attract, develop, and retain individuals with different experiences, backgrounds and perspectives – particularly people of colour, LGBT+ and disabled people - because diversity of people and ideas remains integral to our excellence as a global civic institution.