Research Fellow (110015-0125)

Location: University of Warwick Campus, Coventry

Duration: 7 months

About the Role  

For informal enquiries, please contact Murray Grant (Elizabeth Chair in Food Security) at m.grant@warwick.ac.uk.

Maternity Cover (Post 110015)

Gibbet Hill

1.0 FTE, 36.5hours per week Expected start date 20/01/2025

There is funding to recruit a fixed-term full-time Research Fellow on Grade 6 to cover maternity leave for 7 months.

KEYWORDS:– [gene editing, improving vegetable disease resistance]

What scientific question will you investigate?  / Outline of the project aims

We are recruiting an experienced Plant Molecular Biology/Plant Tissue Culture PDRA to support the Elizabeth Creak Horticulture Technology Centre, a facility supported by the Elizabeth Creak Trust to improve vegetable crops using gene editing approaches. The candidate will have a PhD and experience in both plant tissue culture and plant molecular biology, ideally with experience in gene editing and GoldenGate cloning. The candidate will work closely with the current Centre technician and will be motivated, conscientious and have excellent people and organisational skills. The capacity to initiate and manage a variety of projects associated with crop varietal improvement as well as the ability to trouble shoot/develop new protocols is essential. Experience in interacting proactively and professionally with both academics and industrial stakeholders is desirable, as is previous line management responsibility.

You will report directly to the Academic Lead of the Elizabeth Creak Horticultural Improvement Centre. Starting salary will be in the range of £34,866 to £45,163 per annum, dependent on skills, experience and qualifications. Further details and application forms are available on our website: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/lifesci or from Human Resources School of Life Sciences.

About the research group

You will join Prof. Grant’s Plant Disease Resistance Group, in the School of Life Sciences at Gibbet Hill Campus, Warwick University. We are a diverse group of interdisciplinary scientists who study the molecular basis of plant disease resistance, systemic immunity and how pathogens cauase disease. This post will be translating fundamental discoveries in the model plant, Arabidopsis thaliana, into important UK vegetables, including leafy brassicas, lettuce and tomato.

For more information about our lab visit

https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/lifesci/research/pdr

We and the wider University of Warwick environment offer substantial opportunities for professional development including regular opportunities to attend international conferences. 

About You  

We seek a motivated, independent individual with expertise in GoldenGate cloning, plant gene editing (ideally in vegetables) and demonstrable experience in vegetable regeneration. Applicants should be proficient in plant molecular biology, cloning, guide RNA design, plant transformation and genotyping.  

For further information regarding the skills required for this role please see the personal specification section of the attached job description.

If you are near submission or have recently submitted your PhD but have not yet had it conferred, any offers of employment will be made as Research Assistant at the top of level 5 of the University grade structure. Upon receipt of evidence of the successful award of your PhD, you will be promoted to Research Fellow on the first point of level 6 of the University grade structure. 

CLOSING DATE: Sunday 12 January 2025 at 11.55 pm

Full details of the duties and selection criteria for this role can be found in the vacancy advert on the University of Warwick's jobs pages. You will be routed to this when you click on the Apply button.

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