Research Assistant/Research Associate (Fixed Term)

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 2 years in the first instance.

Applications are invited for a post-doctoral research assistant/research associate position to study the beneficial microbial associations of plants. The successful candidate will work with Professor Giles Oldroyd at the Crop Science Centre, starting autumn 2024.

Most plants, including many important crops, live in beneficial associations with microorganisms such as the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. AM fungi mine the soil substrate for minerals and deliver these to the host plant at specialized structures within root cells. This project aims to understand the regulators which control a plant's decision to engage with AM fungi. The approach will be multi-disciplinary, combining molecular genetics, physiology, metabolomics, and bioinformatics.

The successful candidate will hold (or be close to obtaining) a PhD in plant molecular biology and genetics (or closely related discipline). Prior experience with AM symbiosis and plant metabolism is highly desirable, alongside experience with both transcriptomics and phylogenetics. Also desirable is experience working with a range of plant species, including both monocots and dicots, and experience with molecular cloning techniques.

The successful candidate will be able to lead their own research and work with collaborators to pursue multiple lines of enquiry.

To apply, please email a CV, publications list, a CHRIS/6 (parts I and III only) and the names and contact details (including email addresses) of 2 referees to Professor Giles Oldroyd at [email protected]

Salary Ranges: Research Associate: £36,024 - £44,263 (Grade 7). Appointment at Research Associate level is dependent on having a PhD. Those who have submitted but not yet received their PhD will initially be appointed as a Research Assistant, moving to Research Associate upon confirmation of your PhD award.

As a signatory of the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment, the University of Cambridge does not use journal level metrics when assessing the quality of research outputs. Applicants should not include journal level metrics, such as the Journal Impact Factor, anywhere in their application materials. Applicants should highlight a select subset of what they consider to be their most important research outputs and provide a brief narrative account of their significance.

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If you have not received any response 1 month after the closing date you should consider your application to be unsuccessful.

Please quote reference PD40770 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.

Further information
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