AddressDirectorate: School of Engineering & Physical Sciences
Salary: Grade 6 (£29,605-£34,980)
Contract Type: Full Time (1FTE), Fixed Term (4 Months)
Rewards and Benefits: 33 days annual leave, plus 9 buildings closed days for all full time staff (Part time workers should pro rata this by their FTE). Use our total rewards calculator: https://www.hw.ac.uk/about/work/total-rewards-calculator.htm to see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University
Detailed Description
The ICBD along with Murphy & Son are seeking to recruit a researcher to work on a short 4-month project, based mainly at Heriot-Watt University's Edinburgh campus to lead on the research for the Innovate UK funded Accelerated Knowledge Transfer project on chitosan applications in low alcohol beer.
The successful appointee will apply research skills in microbiology and chemical analysis of chitosan and beer properties while also developing products suitable for commercial application. This project will identify how best the range of fungal chitosans can be applied to inhibit microbial contamination of beer. This will be designed to minimise negative impact on beer quality parameters while additional positive impacts will also be explored. The successful appointee will be a highly motivated researcher with a strong background in microbiology and chemical analysis and a prior knowledge of beverage quality would be welcomed. They will be required to work closely with the existing research team and industry partners.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
The post holder is required to;
- Manage the project with an ability to work to deadlines. This is a short, and very targeted project; a detailed project plan will be in place and will require the Assistant carry out experiments, analyse the data and plan subsequent experiments based on research outcomes.
- Make decisions based on prior reading and research to contribute to chitosan selection and product formulation
- Work in the ICBD labs to effectively deliver microbiology and analytical-based methodology including using skills in handling of bacteria and yeast cultures, cultivation and viability analysis.
- Communicate and effectively transfer knowledge from the University to Murphy & Son, be this in the form of presentations, written reports, training sessions or standard operating procedures.
- Collaborate in and/or lead in the preparation of scientific reports and journal articles
- Join regular online and face-to-face with project partners to discuss progress made within the project and provide regular updates on research progress to the team.
- Work well as part of a team
- Have good communication skills (oral and written)
Education, Qualifications and Experience
Essential Criteria
- Hold a PhD or be near completion of a PhD in beverage production, microbiology, biotechnology, molecular biology, biochemistry, chemistry, or a related subject.
- Experience of designing experiments, problem solving, performing data analysis and interpretation and conducting appropriate statistical analyses
- Possess excellent communication skills, including the ability to present data and research results to the industry partner.
- Show an ability to work supportively in a laboratory environment
- Ability to formulate and progress work on their own initiative and to work independently.
- Theoretical and experimental experience of microbiology and chemistry relevant to the project
Desirable Criteria
- Experience working with microorganisms relevant to beer production include Saccharomyces sp, wild yeast and bacteria.
- Experience of aseptic microbiology techniques and monitoring of viability
- Knowledge of chitosan and its properties
- Familiarity with analytical techniques for assessing beer quality
- Ability to make research decisions and design experiment based on prior reading and own experimental data.
About our Team
The successful candidate will take up the role of Assistant for an Accelerated Knowledge Transfer project between the International Centre for Brewing and Distilling (ICBD) at Heriot-Watt and the company partner, Murphy & Son. The Assistant will join the ICBD research team which is within the Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering in the School of Engineering and Physical Sciences.
About Heriot-Watt
Heriot-Watt University has established a reputation for world-class teaching and leading-edge, relevant research, which has made it one of the top UK universities for innovation, business and industry.
Heriot-Watt University has five campuses: three in the UK (Edinburgh, Scottish Borders and Orkney), one in Dubai and one in Malaysia. The University offers a highly distinctive range of degree programmes in the specialist areas of science, engineering, design, business and languages. Heriot-Watt University is also Scotland's most international university, boasting the largest international student cohort.
How To Apply
Applications can be submitted up until midnight on Sunday 10th March 2024.
Shortlisting and interviews will begin the week commencing 11th March.
Please submit your application via the Heriot-Watt on-line recruitment system including (1) A cover letter describing their interest and suitability for the post (2) A full CV
At Heriot-Watt University, we are passionate about our values and look to them to connect our people globally and to help us collaborate and celebrate our success through working together. Our research programmes can deliver real world impact, which is achieved through the diversity of our international community and the recognition of creative talent that connects our global team.
Our flourishing community will give you the freedom to challenge and to leverage your enterprising mind to help our partners with solutions that can be applied now and in the future. Join us, and Heriot-Watt will provide you with a platform to thrive and work in a way that also helps you live your life in balance with well-being and inclusiveness at the heart of our global community.
Heriot-Watt University is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to the creation of an environment in which individuals are selected, trained, promoted, appraised, and otherwise treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and abilities. Equality and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all.
Heriot-Watt University values diversity across our community and welcomes applications from all sectors of society, particularly from underrepresented groups. For more information, please see our website  https://www.hw.ac.uk/uk/services/equality-diversity.htm  and also our award-winning work in Disability Inclusive Science Careers  https://disc.hw.ac.uk/ .
Use our total rewards calculator:  https://www.hw.ac.uk/about/work/total-rewards-calculator.htm  to see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University.
