Research Assistant/Associate in Phylogenomics

Salary: 

Research Assistant: £33,002 - £33,951 per annum

Research Associate: £35,608 - £46,049 per annum

Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Closing Date: 12 December 2025

The Role

Applications are invited for a Research Associate to work in the group of Dr Evelyn Jensen in the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences at Newcastle University on a project constructing a dated nuclear phylogeny for the radiation of Galapagos giant tortoises. . The position is available for 6 months. In-person working in Newcastle, hybrid or remote working could be arranged.

The Galapagos giant tortoises (Chelonoidis sp.) are iconic emblems of both evolutionary biology and the fight to save endangered species. This radiation of at least 15 lineages  can be considered a "natural experiment" and is an excellent study system for evolutionary biology, that has the benefit of also being of huge public and conservation interest. Research over the last 20 years using genetic markers such as microsatellites and mitochondrial gene sequencing has revealed much about the history of divergence among lineages and patterns of colonization across the archipelago. The overall goal of the project will be to use an existing whole genome dataset to further the current understanding of radiation by constructing for the first time a dated nuclear phylogeny that includes both extinct and extant Galapagos giant tortoise lineages. From this phylogeny, biogeographic reconstructions to understand the colonization of the Galapagos will be built.

You should have (or be about to obtain) a PhD in conservation / evolutionary genomics and be familiar with phylogenomic methods. You will be expected to present through oral presentations and contribute to publications, requiring strong communication skills. In addition to conducting your research, you will take on some responsibility for mentoring postgraduate and undergraduate research students within the lab group.

The School of Natural and Environmental Science at Newcastle University is a world-leading centre of research excellence, delivering impact to society from our local area to all corners of the planet. Our school provides a distinctive breadth of subjects and specialisms and our ground-breaking research has led to a wide range of exciting discoveries from new treatments for ovarian cancer to the development of pest-resistant crops.

As part of our commitment to career development for research colleagues, the University has developed 3 levels of research role profiles.  These profiles set out firstly the generic competences and responsibilities expected of role holders at each level and secondly the general qualifications and experiences needed for entry at a particular level.

For more information about research within the School of Natural and Environmental Science at Newcastle University, please see here.

We are looking for candidates who can commence on or before 1st February 2026.

To apply, please provide evidence of how you meet the essential criteria required for the role outlined in 'The Person' by uploading a letter of application along with your Curriculum Vitae (CV).

Informal enquiries can be made to Dr Evelyn Jensen at the following email address:

Key Accountabilities

Undertaking bioinformatic analyses using whole genome data to construct phylogenies and biogeographic models.Regular contact with the Principal Investigator to manage workload and provide support for the effective operation of research activities, facilities, and equipment.Working effectively as part of a team, both with internal colleagues and external partners.Providing guidance to students on genomic analysis methods and providing specialized training where required.Presenting results through a combination of oral communication, informal presentations, and written reports.Contribute to a positive and dynamic research culture within the School of Natural and Environmental Science and the wider University.

The Person

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Strong knowledge of population genetic, phylogenomic and evolutionary theoryPrevious experience building complex phylogeniesPrevious experience in handling and analysing whole genome dataProven ability to work with large datasetsExperience working on a high-performance computing cluster and developing code for genomic analysesExcellent communication skills (including written, verbal and oral communication) with the ability to present internally and externallyExcellent organizational skills and ability to plan effectivelyExperience performing divergence time estimation (e.g., using BEAST), and biogeographic modelling (Desirable)A track-record of publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals (Desirable)Experience of day-to-day supervision (e.g. Undergraduate students, or Master's students) (Desirable)Expertise in related areas of bioinformatics (e.g. programming in R and developing code to answer conservation questions) (Desirable)

Attributes and Behaviour

Able to work independently and as part of team.Enthusiastic, with a strong work ethic.A strong commitment to integrating our institutional Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) strategy into all research activities, while upholding the highest standards of dignity and respect in the workplace.

Qualifications

Have a PhD in population genomics, evolutionary genomics or conservation genomic for Research Associate levelOr be about to obtain a PhD in population genomics, evolutionary genomics or conservation genomic for Research Assistant levelA master's degree in biology.

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.  As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.

We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society.  We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent.  We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.

At Newcastle University we hold a Gold Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality.  We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC.  We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.

In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe. 

Requisition ID: 28892

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