Assistant Professor in the Soil Microbiome

The Department of Biosciences at Durham University seeks to appoint a talented individual to the role of Assistant Professor with expertise in Plant-Soil microbiome interactions to join the SMART Soils team. The SMART Soils team in the Department of Biosciences is led by Dr Stephen Chivasa. The role will concentrate on research for the first three years, with a minimal amount of teaching on postgraduate courses. Thereafter, the role will include teaching at both undergraduate and postgraduate level.

SMART (Soil Microbiome Augmentation and Restoration Technologies) Soils research at Durham is a cross-faculty initiative, led by Professor Karen Johnson in the Engineering Department, that aims to reverse decades of soil degradation. Durham University is investing in SMART Soils in recognition of the need for a revolution in the way we work with soils in order to address the global challenges we now know our soils can help us deliver in a just transition to a more sustainable future.

SMART Soils will develop the new understanding that soil is living, with its microbiome key to its life-giving properties. Working with the soil microbiome, in both rural and urban environments instead of against it enables multiple co-benefits including carbon and water storage and better human and planetary health. Our vision requires not only a societal shift in our attitudes, behaviour and comprehension of soils but technological advances underpinned by digital innovation that will allow us to put soil at the heart of a circular economy.

Successful candidates must demonstrate a commitment to working in the transdisciplinary environment of the SMART Soils programme whilst meeting the person specifications required for Assistant Professor shown below.

This post offers an exciting opportunity to make a major contribution to the development of internationally excellent research and teaching while allowing you unrivalled opportunities to progress and embed your career in an exciting and progressive institution. For more information, visit our Department pages at https://www.durham.ac.uk/departments/academic/biosciences/ and the SMART Soils webpages here: www.durham.ac.uk/smart-soils

The Department of Biosciences is currently ranked in the top 5 UK Biology Departments in University league tables (4th in the Guardian University Guide, 5th in The Complete University Guide) and has a 100% internationally recognised research environment (REF2021). Our basic science underpins applications across each-and-every sector of the bioeconomy, including Biotechnology, Ecology and Agritechnology. Research programmes are grouped in the following areas: Molecular Plant Sciences; Biomolecular Interactions; Ecology, Evolution and Environment; and Animal Cells and Systems. These groups organise focused seminar series, Research Away Days, manage joint research facilities, oversee mentoring, internal peer review and serve to nucleate larger research projects.

The Dept. of Biosciences partners with other areas of research strength in Durham University including Computational Sciences and Chemistry and encourages multidisciplinary research for Health and Wellbeing.

The Department holds an Athena SWAN Silver award and embraces excellence in all of its forms and invites all qualified applicants to apply. We particularly welcome applications from women and black and minority ethnic candidates who are under-represented in the academic sector.

To apply, please click on the ‘Apply’ button above.

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