About the Role
Informal Queries
For informal queries about the role, please contact Professor Miriam Gifford (Head of School) at Miriam.Gifford@warwick.ac.uk or Professor Gary Bending (Incoming Head of School, from August 2026) at Gary.Bending@warwick.ac.uk.
About the Group/Team
The School of Life Sciences (SLS) wishes to appoint six excellent and ambitious early career principal investigators to our academic research and teaching staff. We are looking for individuals who develop innovative and original research programmes that address current and future challenges with strong potential for translation and impact, in or across the following specific areas of life science:
- Biomedical microbiology and infectious disease
- Biomedical cellular disease or immunity pathways
- Environmental biology or environmental microbiology
- Plant/crop science including phenomics, plant physiology, genetics/breeding or virology
We and the wider University of Warwick environment offer substantial opportunities for professional development including regular opportunities to attend international conferences.
About You
Individuals whose research has strong potential for industrial collaborations and who are developing work with translatable and societal impact are particularly encouraged. Those taking engineering biology, computational, mathematical, or artificial intelligence-based approaches (in any area listed above) would also be particularly encouraged. Candidates must explain how they will benefit from, and enhance, the existing research being carried out in the School via collaborations, student co-supervisions or interactions within our research clusters and with other departments.
Researchers who can bridge between disciplines and with other departments are particularly encouraged and will benefit from Warwick’s continuing investment in STEM as well as our strong interdisciplinary and international research community. All applicants must be able to demonstrate proven track records in publication and diverse sources of research income, and we particularly welcome applicants with independent fellowships.
You will benefit from the provision of high-quality research administrative support and research infrastructure within the School of Life Sciences and also via the University of Warwick’s flagship Research Technology Platforms, which includes advanced bioimaging, proteomics, genomics, mass spectrometry, bioinformatics, growth facilities for experimental plants and animals and CL2 and CL3 laboratories.
You will be positioned to attract PhD students from the large BBSRC (MIBTP)- MRC- and NERC (CENTA)-funded Doctoral Training Programs at Warwick. In addition to developing your independent research programme, you will be expected to contribute to and develop various undergraduate and postgraduate teaching programmes in areas that reflect your research expertise and interests. The teaching areas of our strategic interest include Biomedical Science, Engineering Biology and Computational Biology. Applicants must evidence a strong commitment to education and training as well as an interest in enhancing their own practice.
For details on the experience and skills required, please refer to the job description attached as a PDF below.
About the Department
The School of Life Sciences (SLS) is a cohesive, enthusiastic community producing world-class, high-impact bioscience research and teaching within an open, friendly, inclusive and highly collaborative environment.
Research spans the full range from fundamental to strategic and translational.
Funding sources include UKRI, charities, Defra, and Innovate UK as well as contracts direct with industry partners. Our Gibbet Hill Campus is shared with Warwick Medical School and includes the new IBRB which opened in 2022.
Our campus has containment level 2 and 3 facilities for microbiological work and equivalent quarantine facilities that support plant science, in addition to world-class research laboratories and support infrastructures. For further information about the School of Life Sciences please see our website at Warwick Lifesci page.
These research activities are supported through the provision of School-level facilities, but also through the Research Technology Platforms to ensure that its researchers may have access to the latest, high-quality instrumentation along with expert support staff. These include Bioinformatics and Digital Health for the interrogation and interpretation of sequencing, proteomics, and metabolomics data as well as statistical analysis, the Crop Centre which has fully supported field, glass and controlled environment and Agri-tech facilities, as well as specialised facilities for pest and pathogen work, such as areas to maintain pest populations, quarantine areas for plant pathology and long-term insect survey and weather records, plus a wealth of genetic resources including the UK Vegetable Gene Bank, the Biomedical Services Unit for the provision and maintenance of experimental animals, Advanced Bioimaging for EM, cryoEM and light sheet microscopy, and Proteomics for mass spectrometry of proteins and metabolites.
The School’s range of technologies is listed, our research clusters, and cross-disciplinary research centres. We believe that collegiality, openness, inclusivity and diversity are essential for an excellent research and teaching environment. Our workplace ethic has enabled us to gain the Athena SWAN Silver award. We are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace and encourage applications from all groups with protected characteristics traditionally under-represented in STEM fields. As part of our ongoing commitment to addressing gender equality, we would particularly encourage and welcome applications from female academics.
For those eligible, the University offers relocation and Immigration Support Scheme packages to assist with costs of relocating and any associated visa applications and health surcharge fees. You will also be provided with an agreed start-up package for your research.
About the University
We are a world-leading research-intensive university founded in 1965. We are ranked 74th in the world and 9th in the UK. Additionally, 92% of our research is rated world-leading or internationally excellent.
Find out more about us at Warwick Lifesci.
How to Apply
CLOSING DEADLINE: Sunday 31 May 2026 at 11:55pm (UK Time)
To apply, please click APPLY below and submit your application by the closing deadline.
You will be asked to include a CV, a cover letter, and the contact details of three expert referees.
Your cover letter should be no more than three pages. It should outline how you meet the essential and desirable criteria listed in the Job Description, and your future research objectives and aspirations.
Please (i) describe what makes your research distinctive, (ii) details on how you will attract funding to develop your research portfolio, and (iii) where you see the potential for collaborations at Warwick.
- Interview Date: 22nd and 23rd June 2026
- Start Date: TBC
Applications must be submitted by the closing deadline. You will not be able to submit an application form even if you opened it before the stated deadline. Only applications submitted through our Careers Portal will be considered.
You can also include here any career breaks you may have taken (parental or long-term sick leave, caring responsibilities, part-time work, secondments, volunteering or time spent in different sectors) or any periods where you were unable or restricted to work because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Please note that if you do not evidence the essential criteria, the hiring panel may not be able to shortlist your application. For guidance on how to format a cover letter, see here.
What we Offer
We provide a comprehensive range of benefits, including:
- An attractive pension scheme
- 30 days holiday plus University Christmas closure
- Generous parental/adoption leave policy
- Onsite childcare facilities
- Excellent learning and development opportunities
We recognise the importance of a healthy work/life balance and offer access to flexible working arrangements. For more information, see here.
We are proud to be a Living Wage employer.
Our Commitment to Inclusion
To find out more about our commitments to equality, diversity, and inclusion, please see: Our Commitments | University of Warwick
Job Description
JD Assistant Professor x6 (111522).pdf – opens in a new window
Right to Work in the UK
If you do not yet have the right to work in the UK and/or are seeking sponsorship for a Skilled Worker visa, please follow this link which contains further information about obtaining the right to work in the UK.
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