Research Fellow/Associate

Key duties and responsibilities

The RLAlab is formed by over 30 motivated and talented researchers working at the interphase of synthetic biology and metabolic engineering, with an emphasis on Sustainability, particularly around foods and fermentation.

The research projects span from 1) the development of new tools based on cutting-edge synthetic biology, automation and modelling, and 2) the design and creation of new microbial strains engineered to improve the bioproduction of molecules of interest from renewable feedstocks (e.g. food ingredients) to 3) the investigation and building of synthetic microbial communities with the capacity to become the new frontier in biotechnology, making processes more affordable, robust and efficient.

You will be part of the newly created Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein. Funded by the Bezos Earth Fund, the $30m Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein will apply cutting-edge Engineering Biology to accelerate the alternative protein revolution and transform global food systems, to make them more sustainable, healthy, resilient and economically viable, by driving a step-change in consumption from conventional meat to alternative proteins.

You will also be involved in one of the six new mission hubs for Engineering Biology funded by UKRI. The first of its kind in the world, the Engineering Biology Hub for Microbial Foods will bring together world-leading academics, industrial partners, food organisations and diverse end-users in a wide-ranging and ambitious programme of work that provides a clear pipeline from fundamental research to commercialisation. The overarching vision of the Hub is to harness the joint potentials of engineering biology and the microbial food revolution to create and deliver a more sustainable, productive, resilient and healthy food system.

Essential requirements

Applicants must have a PhD in synthetic biology, molecular biology, metabolic engineering, microbial biotechnology (or equivalent) for appointment at Research Associate (Senior Postdoc) level and substantial postdoctoral experience for appointment at Research Fellow level. Please see the job description and person specification document associated with this advert for the full list of criteria.

Further Information

This is a fixed term position for 48 months (24 months + 24 months extension).

Informal queries relating to the position should be directed to Dr Ledesma-Amaro (r.ledesma-amaro@imperial.ac.uk).

For technical issues when applying online please email recruitment@imperial.ac.uk.

Committed to equality and valuing diversity, we are an Athena SWAN Silver Award winner, a Stonewall Diversity Champion, a Disability Confident Employer and work in partnership with GIRES to promote respect for trans people.

Closing date: 09/08/2024

To apply online for this vacancy and to view further information about the role, please click on the Apply button above.

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