Research Associate in Structural Biology, United Kingdom

About the role

The Costa Laboratory ( ), in the Department of Life Sciences ( ), Imperial College London, invites applications for a highly motivated and enthusiastic Research Associate with strong expertise in protein biochemistry and structural biology.

This position is funded by Wellcome Trust Discovery Award and focuses on elucidating the molecular mechanisms of horizontal gene transfer (HGT), including bacterial conjugation and bacteriophage-mediated transduction. You will join an interdisciplinary and collaborative team of structural biologists, membrane biochemists, and microbiologists addressing fundamental and long-standing questions in HGT biology.

The project centres on cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) studies of the macromolecular nanomachines that drive conjugation, as well as bacteriophages and phage satellites responsible for transduction. The research builds on the laboratory's strong track record in structural characterisation of Type IV secretion systems (Amin et al. Nat Commun 2021; Patkowski et al. Nat Commun 2023; Wong et al. Nat Commun 2025) and in phage and satellite biology (He et al. Cell 2025; Penades et al. Cell 2025).

You will benefit from extensive collaboration with group members specialising in cryo-EM, biochemistry, and biophysical approaches, fostering a dynamic and highly productive research environment. The laboratory is exceptionally well equipped for structural EM, with in-house access to: Glacios 200 kV XFEG cryo-EM with Falcon 4 and Selectris energy filter; Vitrobot IV and Leica GP2; dedicated state-of-the-art GPU and data storage cluster; direct access to a Titan Krios to the LonCEN consortium and the UK national cryo-EM facility at eBIC.

What you would be doing

By joining the Costa laboratory, you will become part of a supportive, yet ambitious research environment dedicated to enabling impactful discoveries and the production of world-class publications. The laboratory is well funded and underpinned by state-of-the-art facilities, providing an exceptional platform for innovative and high-quality research. The postholder will contribute to high-profile projects at the forefront of molecular microbiology and structural biology, while receiving direct mentorship from Dr Costa in grant writing, scientific networking, and publication strategy. There will be opportunities to present research at national and international conferences, fostering visibility and the development of a strong academic network. Located within a world-leading institution, the position offers an outstanding environment in which to develop scientific leadership skills and build a competitive profile. The laboratory's scientific framework and structured support are specifically designed to facilitate career progression and a successful transition to research independence.

What we are looking for

You will have a PhD (or equivalent) in structural biology, with solid experience in cryo electron microscopy. You must have strong experience in the design and execution of end-to-end workflows for protein structure determination, encompassing molecular biology and biochemical approaches, through cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) workflows, including grid preparation, and single-particle analysis (SPA) data acquisition, processing, and atomic model building.

Strong research track record, evidenced by at least one first-author publication in an international peer-reviewed journal or as a preprint on bioRxiv.

You must have excellent verbal and written communication skills, and be able to write clearly and succinctly for publication. You must also be able to relate well with others, form positive relationships with a wide range of people and to work as part of a team, as well as independently. The ability to develop and apply new concepts and have a creative approach to problem-solving, to set and attain research objectives in a multidisciplinary team are also essential.

What we can offer you

• The opportunity to continue your career at a world-leading institution and be part of our mission to continue science for humanity.
• Grow your career: Gain access to Imperial's sector-leading dedicated career support for researchers as well as opportunities for promotion and progression
• Sector-leading salary and remuneration package (including 41 days off a year and generous pension schemes).

Further information

This is a full-time, fixed-term appointment available for up to 36 months.

Please note this is a re-advertisement; previous applicants need not apply.

Candidates who have not yet been officially awarded their PhD will be appointed as Research Assistant.

If you require any further details on the role please contact: Professor Tiago Dias da Costa - .