Research Assistant in Plant Biology (Fixed Term)

Applications are invited for a Research Assistant position in the research group of Dr Katharina Schiessl at the Sainsbury Laboratory Cambridge University.  The Schiessl Group investigates plant organs of diverse forms and functions in the context of plant microbe-interactions.

We are looking for an applicant that shares our interest and fascination for the question of how plant organs of diverse form and function can be generated in response to parasitic and beneficial colonisers, and who is absolutely passionate about caring for plants. 

The successful applicant will be joining a recently established small team and support Dr Schiessl and 3-5 undergraduate students in their short-term projects. This requires a willingness to support the students in their development of good research and lab practice (data reproducibility, record keeping, health and safety, biosafety) and to contribute to an inclusive, respectful, encouraging and caring team environment.

Joining such a new team, the successful applicant is expected to have the willingness and the skills to cover a great variety of tasks. These tasks range from basic lab support and maintenance core tasks (pouring plates, maintaining lab stocks and resource databases) and establishing new methodologies, while also performing experiments independently to generate research outputs for publications.

Applicants must have a Bachelor's degree in Plant Biology or a related field.  A Master's degree would be desirable.  A major part of the job will be to generate, maintain and organise plant lines and colonizing organisms for colonization assays. This involves day to day horticultural work (potting, watering and harvesting plants) as well as sterile tissue culture work. Basic skills in molecular biology techniques (e.g. genotyping PCR, cloning, and bacterial and plant transformation techniques) are essential. Experience in working with nitrogen-fixing bacteria and/or parasitic root nematodes would be desirable, as well as basic skills in microscopy.

The successful applicant will be an excellent team player, highly solution orientated and self-motivated. Excellent interpersonal skills are essential, alongside the ability to work independently and with others, with a high degree of accuracy including outstanding record keeping.  As many plant- and microbe-related tasks are time-sensitive, excellent time-keeping, time management and priority setting skills are essential.

SLCU is an exciting interdisciplinary research institute focused on understanding the regulatory systems underlying plant growth and development. It brings together specialists in biological, physical, and mathematical sciences integrating a range of wet-lab experimental research with computational modelling.

The Laboratory provides a welcoming and collaborative environment with a wide-range of family-friendly benefits and development opportunities. More about the Sainsbury Laboratory and details of what the University offers to employees, can be found at: http://www.slcu.cam.ac.uk/.

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 2 years in the first instance.

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

Scientific enquiries about the position should be directed to Katharina Schiessl - katharina.schiessl@slcu.cam.ac.uk

For questions regarding the application process, please email HR@slcu.cam.ac.uk.

Please quote reference PT43190 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

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