Postdoctoral Research Associate in Environmental Engineering and Microbiology: Antimicrobial Resistance and Metal Pollution Durham University in United Kingdom

Durham University’s Department of Biosciences invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Environmental Engineering and Microbiology to join CARMA, the Co-selection of Antimicrobial Resistance by Metals Alliance.

CARMA is a UKRI-funded, transdisciplinary research programme investigating how metal pollution in rivers and wastewater can co-select for antimicrobial resistance, and what this means for human health, environmental regulation, and intervention. The programme brings together Durham University, Imperial College London, the University of Birmingham, the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, and Pondicherry University, with expertise spanning environmental engineering, microbiology, infection science, modelling, economics, genomics, clinical research, and practice.

Based in Durham’s Biosciences department, the post has a strong environmental engineering focus on water quality, water chemistry, and environmental measurement. The researcher will lead harmonised sampling across river sites in Northern England and collaborate with Indian partners conducting parallel sampling on the Ganges, Yamuna, and near Chennai. The aim is to ensure that field samples are collected and analysed consistently across all locations.

Working with Professor David Graham and Dr Marcos Quintela-Baluja, the post-holder will develop sampling plans, oversee river, sediment, water, and wastewater sampling, and coordinate sample labelling, chain of custody, storage, and shipment. Laboratory work will include culture-based microbiology, selective plating, multidrug-resistance screening, metal and water chemistry analyses, DNA extraction, and preparation of samples for genomic and metagenomic sequencing.

A major part of the role is to connect field and laboratory observations with the project’s bioinformatics, modelling, economics, and clinical teams. The researcher will create a structured archive and database of samples, metadata, and results, transforming field information into consistent, well-documented datasets for collaborators. The role also includes joint supervision of a research technician, support for students involved in fieldwork and sample processing, and coordination with research partners in the UK and India.

The post offers an interdisciplinary research environment within a globally recognized university, with opportunities to contribute to peer-reviewed publications, conferences, research methods, collaborative projects, and the wider CARMA programme. Hybrid working is possible, although laboratory and field responsibilities normally require attendance in Durham three to four days per week.