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University of Edinburgh

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Midlothian Hybrid 2-5 yrs exp£41k – £49k / year
Avian influenza modellingSimulation modellingMachine learningInfectious disease researchData analysis

Requirements

The successful candidate must hold a PhD in a relevant discipline and possess demonstrable expertise in modern simulation modelling and machine learning. Excellent organizational and communication skills are required for coordinating efforts among collaborators and disseminating project outcomes.

Job Description

UE07: £41,064 - £48,822 per annum

CMVM / Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies / Roslin Institute

Full Time: 35 hours per week

Fixed-term: 21 months (part time for a longer period is also possible)

 

The Opportunity:

 

Where curiosity becomes impact.

 

A unique employer in a vibrant city

 

The University isn’t just any employer. We are part of a local community and a contributor to global thinking, progress and research. In Edinburgh, you are in one of the world’s most attractive cities with active arts and social sectors, while working in a University that has made significant contributions to society, medicine, physics and teaching for over four centuries. Our people have helped create the modern world and are working on more ground-breaking technologies and practices.

The University of Edinburgh is a world-class organisation. We look for the best in the field across all disciplines and provide a working environment where academics can develop their careers and passion for their chosen subject area. You will be joining our world-leading team as a Postdoctoral Researcher in avian influenza modelling in cattle, an area of critical global significance. 

You will be developing cutting-edge, multi-scale models exploiting exceptional demographic, environmental and phylogenetic datasets, to inform control strategies for this important disease. You will work in collaboration with Colorado State University, and the Universities of Warwick and Liverpool. This exciting role offers the opportunity to directly impact public health policy in the US and the UK and develop frameworks applicable to other emergent infections in cattle. Be part of groundbreaking research that sets new standards in the field and contributes to safeguarding animal and human health on an international scale. The role thus offers unique opportunities to expand your skills and professional networks through reciprocal international visits and project meetings, advancing your career in infectious disease research. 

The successful candidate will have a PhD in a relevant discipline, and demonstrable expertise in modern simulation modelling and machine learning, as applied to research on infectious diseases. Excellent organizational and communication skills (written and oral) are required for delivery of objectives, coordination of efforts among collaborators and dissemination of project outcomes.

People have always been at the heart of our work. As part of the University, you are a part of our community. We are looking for people with drive, determination, and a passion for what they do. We are a place where everyone is welcome and offer a range of policies and benefits designed to support you in building the right career for you.


A career with us has a range of other benefits that can be tailored to your lifestyle: 

  • Professional development and subject matter expertise
  • Leading-edge research
  • Working within one of the world’s leading universities
  • Excellent benefits and support


This post is full-time (35 hours per week); however, we are open to considering flexible working patterns.

 

View the full job description (opens in a new browser tab) 

 

 

How to apply

 
Please include the following documents in your application:

- CV

- Cover letter

 

As a valued member of our team, you can expect: 

  • A competitive salary. 
  • An exciting, positive, creative, challenging and rewarding place to work. 
  • To be part of a diverse and vibrant international community.
  • Comprehensive Staff Benefits, including generous annual leave entitlement, a defined benefits pension scheme, a wide range of staff discounts, family-friendly initiatives, and flexible work options. Check out the full list on our staff benefits page (opens in a new tab) and use our reward calculator to discover the value of your pay and benefits. 

 

Championing equality, diversity, and inclusion

The University of Edinburgh holds a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance gender equality in higher education. We are members of the Race Equality Charter, and we are also Stonewall Scotland Diversity Champions, actively promoting LGBT equality. 

We welcome applications from all qualified candidates and particularly encourage applications from female researchers, minority ethnic groups, first generation academics/STEM and other underrepresented groups in academia. 

Prior to any employment commencing with the University, you will be required to evidence your right to work in the UK. Further information is available on our right to work webpages (opens new browser tab)

The University may be able to sponsor the employment of international workers in this role.  This will depend on a number of factors specific to the successful applicant.  

 

Key dates to note

The closing date for applications is 15 September 2026.

Unless stated otherwise the closing time for applications is 11:59pm UK time. If you are applying outside the UK the closing time on our adverts automatically adjusts to your browsers local time zone. 
 


As a world-leading research-intensive University, we are here to address tomorrow’s greatest challenges. Between now and 2030 we will do that with a values-led approach to teaching, research and innovation, and through the strength of our relationships, both locally and globally.
The Roslin Institute receives strategic investment from the Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and provides national capability to achieve sustainable agriculture, control diseases and enhance health through pioneering animal bioscience. 

The Institute is a key part of the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies. In the most recent Research Excellence Framework exercise, a joint submission by the School and Scotland’s Rural College placed first in the United Kingdom for agriculture, food and veterinary sciences.

The Institute is home to over 400 staff, students and visitors, including around 65 Group Leaders and Tenure Track Fellows on a path to independence. It has a vibrant programme (https://vet.ed.ac.uk/roslin/work-study/postgraduate) (opens in a new browser tab) of postgraduate research and a thriving student community. 

Research at the Institute is organised across eight divisions (Quantitative Biology, Genome Biology, Functional Genetics, Translational Bioscience, Bacteriology, Virology, Immunology, and Epidemiology) and two Institute Strategic Programmes funded by the BBSRC from 2023-28 (Genes & Traits for Healthy Animals and Prevention & Control of Infectious Diseases). 

Over £380M has been invested in physical infrastructure at Easter Bush since 2008, including for research on key terrestrial and aquatic farmed animals. This includes the National Avian Research Facility, a £24M Large Animal Research & Imaging Facility, Aquaculture facilities for fish and shellfish, and an Innovation Centre that is now fully occupied with commercial tenants. The campus serves as a key innovation hub for the Agri-Tech, Aquaculture and Animal Bioscience (3A) sector and Roslin has extensive partnerships with businesses, including animal breeding and pharmaceutical businesses able to translate its discoveries at global scale.

The Institute has a positive and inclusive culture and holds a prestigious Athena SWAN Gold award in recognition of its commitment to advance the careers of women in science.

Further details of the research conducted at the Institute can be found at The Roslin Institute website (https://vet.ed.ac.uk/roslin) (opens in a new browser tab).

Education

Postgraduate Degree

Skills

Avian influenza modellingSimulation modellingMachine learningInfectious disease researchData analysisDemographic datasetsEnvironmental datasetsPhylogenetic datasetsPublic health policyCommunication skillsOrganizational skillsCollaboration