Research Associate - Processes at the Phytophthora Haustorium (Fixed Term)

Applications are invited for a Post-doctoral Research Associate position in the group of Dr Sebastian Schornack (www.schornacklab.net, twitter: @dromius) at the Sainsbury Laboratory (SLCU), Cambridge University, to study biochemical and cellar processes at the Phytophthora-Nicotiana haustorium. 

Our lab studies how evolutionarily conserved plant cell & development processes shape interactions with beneficial and detrimental intracellular filamentous microbes and how microbes modulate such processes. For this advertised project position, we are looking for a highly motivated plant biologist with a proven protein biochemistry and cell biology expertise and a strong interest in plant processes that are targeted by effector proteins from the pathogen Phytophthora palmivora. 

Your research will build upon, and expand on, our unpublished research in Nicotiana benthamiana showing that effectors target trafficking and secretion processes in cells with haustoria. As the successful candidate you will use cell biology, protein biochemistry and reverse genetics to establish the underlying molecular mechanisms.

You will receive horticultural/technical assistance and will be part of a larger UK research team (https://www.slcu.cam.ac.uk/news/exchanges-haustorial-interface) which includes researchers from Imperial College and the University of Dundee. You will collaborate with postdocs from these teams studying other aspects of the haustorium. 

You must have a PhD in a relevant discipline (plant microbe interactions, plant protein biochemistry, or plant cell biology) and have recently published as first author in your field. Preprints are considered publications. An excellent and proven knowledge in plant protein expression, co-immunoprecipitation, and immunoblots is essential. Also essential is previous experience in confocal fluorescence microscopy. Proficiency in standard molecular cloning (Gateway/GoldenGate) is also required. Experience in effectors and filamentous microbe infections is of advantage. Also of advantage is an experience in stable tobacco transformation. 

You will be fully involved in the research whilst also writing up your research work for presentation and publication. You may be required to assist in the supervision of student projects and deliver seminars relating to your research area. Good communication skills are required because you will be working in a team and collaborating with other researchers in a larger research framework. 

The Laboratory provides a welcoming and collaborative environment with a wide-range of family-friendly benefits and development opportunities and is well connected to other plant research institutes such as the Department of Plant Sciences and the Crop Science Centre. More about the Sainsbury Laboratory, generic further information for the role and details of what the University offers to employees, can be found at: http://www.slcu.cam.ac.uk/. 

It is critical that you include a motivational letter with your application, stating your future research interests and past experience and how they may align with the advert. If you have any questions, please contact Sebastian Schornack (via email or Twitter DM @dromius). 

This position is available immediately. 

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 2.5 years in the first instance. 

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

Scientific enquiries should be directed to Dr Sebastian Schornack, sebastian.schornack@slcu.cam.ac.uk. 

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

Please quote reference PT45304 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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