Research Assistant / Research Associate (Fixed Term)

The Department of Plant Sciences is seeking to appoint a post-doctoral Research Associate to join a project on reprogramming plants. The engineered plants will be used to provide unique insights into the biological programs that control root growth in response to nitrogen, and the role of root system architecture in nutrient use efficiency. The successful candidate will join the Patron Lab and will work in collaboration with researchers in the Brady Lab (University of California at Davis, USA) and the Zurbriggen lab (University of Dusseldorf, Germany).

The successful applicant will design and develop molecular tools to engineer nitrate signalling and root development. They will characterise engineered plants and conduct experiments to investigate the role of root systems on the uptake and use of externally applied nutrients. Further, they will collaborate on the application of novel, synthetic optogenetic systems for controlling plant gene expression and growth.

Key skills 

The successful candidate must have a PhD in plant molecular or synthetic biology and a thorough understanding of plant responses to nutrient availability. Applicants should be proficient in the design and assembly of constructs for engineering plants and experience in quantitative assays for gene expression. Ideally, they will be experienced in the production and analysis of transgenic plants and skilled in the use of microscopy for tracking the expression of fluorescent reporters in plants.

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 PD44594 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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