Research Assistant / Research Associate (Fixed Term)

The Department of Plant Sciences is seeking to appoint a post-doctoral Research Associate to investigate how DNA features contribute to gene expression and how these can be used for the predictable design of synthetic constructs for engineering plants. The successful candidate will join the Patron Lab and will work in collaboration with researchers in the Queitsch lab (University of Washington, USA) and the Jores lab (University of Dusseldorf, Germany). Together, we will investigate regulatory sequences and engineer programmable and tuneable gene expression in plants.

We will provide a supportive research environment with an emphasis on personal development, research excellence, integrity, and respect. 

Role overview

The candidate will conduct experiments using bioinformatic, molecular biology and synthetic biology approaches to investigate expression-limiting features of DNA shape, torsional stress, and nucleosome occupancy. They will use this knowledge to develop strategies to engineer expression in plants, seeking to optimise yields from metabolic pathways.

Key skills 

The successful candidate must have a PhD in molecular or synthetic biology and a thorough understanding of eukaryotic genomes and gene expression. Applicants should be proficient in the design and assembly of constructs for engineering plants and experience in quantitative assays. Ideally, they will be experienced in the use of mass spectrometry for the identification and quantification of metabolites.

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 3 years in the first instance. 

Please notice that if you have not received any news from us 1 month after the closing date you should consider that on this occasion your application has not been successful.

Please quote reference PD44591 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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