Postdoctoral Research Associate

About the role

This is a 6-month postdoctoral post that will continue the development of metabolic engineering strategies to accumulation bioplastics in plants at commercially relevant yields. The project is targeting the accumulation of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) in plants, using Marchantia polymorpha and tobacco as testbeds to prototype and optimize the engineering interventions. A particular focus will be on controlling competition for the substrate of the pathway, acetyl CoA, which is also the substrate for important endogenous metabolic pathways including fatty acid biosynthesis and isoprenoid biosynthesis. Approaches using inducible control of transgene expression and localization of enzymes to biomolecular condensates formed using synthetic scaffolds will be explored.

About you

We seek an enthusiastic new colleague who holds a relevant PhD/DPhil or is near to completion, together with relevant experience. It is essential that you have previous experience and expertise of plant metabolic engineering, and optogenetic gene regulation in plants and the use of synthetic biomolecular condensates in plants.

How to apply

Applications for this vacancy are to be made online via our e-recruitment system, and should include the application letter, a CV, a list addressing the job criteria, and names of two academic references. Where Covid-19 has resulted in substantial disruption to your work or research outputs, please explain this by providing an additional paragraph in your supporting statement.

The University of Oxford is committed to equality and valuing diversity. All applicants will be judged on merit, according to the selection criteria.

This post is a 6-month fixed term, full time position and is available from 01 May 2024.

The closing date for applications is 12.00 noon on Friday 19 April 2024

For further inquiries, please contact Prof Lee Sweetlove: [email protected]