Research Associate/Fellow (Fixed term)

Reference: SCI401522

Closing Date: Wednesday, 5th October 2022

Job Type: Research

Department: Biosciences, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

Salary: £28762 to £32348 per annum (pro rata if applicable) depending on skills and experience (£32348 with relevant PhD).

Applications are invited for a Research Associate/Fellow to work on a Forestry Commission Tree Production Innovation Fund project to understand and improve root development on tree cuttings (focusing on Oak) to enable ambitious tree planting targets in England to be met. The research will be carried out in the laboratory of Dr Amanda Rasmussen (Sutton Bonington Campus, University of Nottingham, UK).

In this project we seek to understand the environmental and hormonal changes in cuttings that influence the success or failure of root initiation. This post is part of a wider collaboration with colleagues in the School of Pharmacy (UoN), the Future Trees Trust and with NIAB-EMR. Focusing on Oak and Ash – important UK trees which are proving challenging for propagation – the project will explore the rooting success of cuttings in response to hormone treatments and timings. The cuttings will be collected from the field (in collaboration with colleagues at the Future Trees Trust) in different seasons and from stockplants to be maintained in the glasshouses at UoN. Researchers at the School of Pharmacy will develop novel nano-delivery technologies that will be tested on plants by the successful applicant. This post will also provide training in Laser Ablation Tomography for cellular level and 3-dimensional imaging of root primordia development.    

Applicants must be highly motivated and self-driven, with a PhD (or close to completion of PhD) in a plant-related subject. The successful candidate will ideally have considerable experience working with trees or other woody species, and have a good grounding in root developmental biology, hormone signalling and physiology, microscopy and plant growth systems. A track record of publishing research is also desirable. Experience collaborating with different disciplines and sectors, along with strong communication skills are also highly desirable for the project. 

The post is available from 1st October 2022 or as soon as possible thereafter and will be offered on a fixed-term contract until 27th March 2025. Hours of work are full-time (36.25 hours). Arrangements for job share may be considered.

For more information on our lab activities please visit: https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/biosciences/people/amanda.rasmussen and https://www.arlab.co.uk/  

For informal enquiries please contact Amanda Rasmussen ([email protected] )

Please note that applications sent directly to this email address will not be accepted.

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