Biodiversity Genomics Laboratory Scientist

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is a world leading botanical institute and international visitor attraction taking positive action for plants and people; from local communities across Scotland, to more than 40 countries around the world. Our priority is to tackle the biodiversity crisis and the climate emergency and support the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. Our work builds on over 350 years of history as a scientific botanic garden, a centre of education, the internationally important botanical collections in our care, and our extensive international partnerships.

Our four Scottish gardens – Benmore, Dawyck, Logan and ‘The Botanics’ in Edinburgh – attract over a million visitors every year. Together, these gardens comprise one of the richest plant collections on earth. As a registered Scottish charity, the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is funded principally by the Scottish Government – but as an organisation, we are very much global with a mission to explore, conserve and explain the world of plants for a better future. Our current work involves collaborative science and conservation projects in more than 35 countries around the world.

This role is within the Biodiversity Genomics and Analytics group that has the over-riding aim of accelerating and expanding the use of genomic science to enhance understanding of biodiversity, monitor biodiversity change and guide conservation interventions. This is a new post whose aim is to develop, optimize and deploy plant and fungal DNA identification and biomonitoring protocols.

This role will have responsibility for biodiversity genomic R&D focusing on method development for DNA barcoding, meta-barcoding and metagenomics. You will need to have expertise in both wet-lab science and bioinformatics, the ability to troubleshoot laboratory and informatic challenges, develop new methods and solutions, as well as having an awareness of the wider landscape of developments in this field. This role will also be key in developing and supporting consultancy and service provision for DNA-based identification work at RBGE and you will need a proven record of accomplishment in funding applications and project management.

There may be some travel within the UK and overseas.

Full application details including comprehensive job descriptions and person specifications can be found on the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Vacancies page: https://www.rbge.org.uk/about-us/working-with-us/vacancies/

Closing date: 10am BST Friday 21 June 2024

Interview date: w/c 1 July 2024

Recruitment information: Job description and person specification

If you haven’t heard from us within 2 weeks of the closing date, please assume your application hasn’t been successful on this occasion.

No recruitment agencies please.

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