Research Fellow

Queen's University Belfast - School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences

Placed On: 2nd February 2026
Closes: 15th February 2026
Job Ref: 26/113096

You will be employed in a postdoctoral position within the RNA Biology Group, led by Dr Seyed Mehdi Jafarnejad, to study the role of a mechanism of regulation of mRNA translation in controlling the innate immune response to viral infections and DNA damage. The project is in close collaboration with Professor Alfredo Castello at University of Glasgow and Drs Sarah Maguire and Rebecca Coll at QUB. The successful applicant will employ molecular biology techniques and high-throughput assays (e.g. ribosome profiling, RNA-Seq, CLIP, cytokine array) to study this mechanism and how modifying it alters cellular responses to immune triggers such as viruses or genotoxic stress.

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 molecular biology, cell biology, biochemistry, immunology, virology or a related discipline*must be obtained within 3 months of closing date of post
• Significant relevant research experience (inclusive of PhD studies) with publication record commensurate with experience in the fields of RNA biology, translational control, or RNA decay.
• Experienced in a range of molecular and cellular biology techniques, such as PCR, CRISPR, site-directed mutagenesis, western blot, flow cytometry, ELISA

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.

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.

What we offer

Beyond a competitive salary, the University offers an attractive benefits package including a holiday entitlement of up to 8.4 weeks a year, pension schemes and development opportunities. We support staff wellbeing with flexible working options, work-life balance initiatives and support for physical and mental health. You can find more detail on all of this and more on our website.

Queen's University is committed to promoting equality of opportunity to all. We subscribe to Equality Charter Marks such as the Diversity Charter Mark NI and Athena Swan and have established staff networks such as iRise (Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and International Staff Network) and PRISM (LGBTQ+) which help us progress equality.

For further information on our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, please visit our website.

If you are an international applicant and don't already hold a visa that permits you to take up the role you are applying for, please use the information provided on our website to self-assess whether the University is likely to be able to support a visa application.