Postdoctoral Research Associate

With the human population estimated to reach 9.8 billion people by 2050, the looming nitrogen (N) crisis, stemming from the intensive use of fertilisers in agriculture, requires urgent global action. Massive synthesis and application of fertiliser N has a large energy cost, causes CO₂ release and results in large-scale loss of reduced N to the environment. Use of legumes, which in association with rhizobia can fix up to 200 kg N per ha, as crops and for forage are potential ways to improve both N efficiency and the sustainability of agriculture.

In this project you will be engineering nif clusters for their expression in plant colonizing bacteria and integrating them into the chromosomes of appropriate chassis. Control systems will be designed to restrict expression to target plants and ensure optimal expression of the nitrogenase complex. This will include managing your own academic research and administrative activities and contribute ideas for new research projects. You will collaborate in the preparation of scientific reports and journal articles and occasionally present papers and posters.

You will hold, or be close to completion of, a relevant PhD/DPhil, together with relevant experience. Experience in synthetic biology and assembly of 20-30 kb plus nif clusters for single copy integration into bacterial chromosomes is essential. You will have previous experience of contributing to publications/presentations and the ability to contribute ideas for new research projects and research income generation. Excellent communication skills, including the ability to write for publication, present research proposals and results, and represent the research group at meetings is necessary.

Where Covid-19 has resulted in substantial disruption to your work or research outputs, please explain this by providing an additional paragraph in your supporting statement.

The University of Oxford is committed to equality and valuing diversity. All applicants will be judged on merit, according to the selection criteria.

This post is full time and available immediately.

The closing date for applications is 12.00 noon on Friday 14 June 2024, interviews are likely to be scheduled for late June 2024.

Applications for this vacancy are to be made online via our e-Recruitment system, and you will be required to upload a supporting statement and CV as part of your online application.

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