Research Fellow

Queen's University Belfast - School of Biological Sciences

Location:BelfastSalary:£41,519 to £44,035 per annumHours:Full TimeContract Type:Fixed-Term/ContractPlaced On:2nd February 2026Closes:16th February 2026Job Ref:26/113112

The School of Biological Sciences and Institute for Global Food Security at Queen’s University Belfast is currently seeking to appoint an exceptional candidate to the post of Post-doctoral Research Fellow. The appointee will join the Huws group, focused on sustainable livestock production using the disciplines of Microbiology, Animal Science, and Bioinformatics. The successful candidate will primarily work within a multidisciplinary team undertaking research focused on sustainable ruminant production, with an emphasis on methane mitigation.

The successful candidate will work within the new £6M PeacePlus project (Acronym: CliBeef) focused on reducing methane emissions from grazing suckler beef systems (https://www.seupb.eu/latest/news/eu65m-peaceplus-funding-awarded-collaborative-innovation-projects-boost-productivity). The project presents a unique opportunity to rapidly develop innovative and transformative solutions for grazing systems, which largely dominate in UK and European agricultural systems, to transition the agri-food system to climate-neutrality by 2050. The successful candidate will be expected to develop innovative solutions for the introduction of dietary interventions to reduce methane emissions in grazing situation, through to understanding the effects of stacking different dietary interventions on animal phenotype and methane emissions, whilst understanding the mechanism of action with res pect to the rumen microbiome. A PhD student has also been recruited to aid delivery on the project and there will be an expectancy that the candidate works closely with them as a named supervisor, as well as being a core team member within the group.

The candidate will be expected to lead the research and deliver reports/publications thereafter in a timely and professional manner.

About The Person

The successful candidate must have, and your application should clearly demonstrate that you meet the following essential criteria:

• Hold or be about to obtain a PhD in a relevant area (animal science and/or microbiology (with an emphasis on anaerobic microbiology).
• Significant, relevant research experience to include:
• Experience of in vitro technologies used to mimic the rumen ecosystem.
• Experience of designing large-scale ruminant experiments
• Demonstrable microbiome analysis experience.
• Metabolomic analysis experience.
• Experience of peer-reviewed publication in a relevant area of research, within World-leading journals.
• Experience of supervising undergraduates and/or postgraduate students.
• Experience of presenting to the scientific community i.e. conference talks.

To be successful at shortlisting stage, please ensure you clearly evidence in your application how you meet the essential and, where applicable, desirable criteria listed in the Candidate Information on our website.

This post is available until 30 April 2029. Fixed term contract posts are available for the stated period in the first instance but in particular circumstances may be renewed or made permanent subject to availability of funding.