At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the development of high-throughput plant transformation pipelines for innovative agricultural solutions.
- Company: Join the Ellison Institute of Technology, a leader in transformative scientific research.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, enhanced holiday, private medical insurance, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with state-of-the-art facilities and opportunities for career growth.
- Why this job: Make a real-world impact on global food production and climate change through cutting-edge plant science.
- Qualifications: Master's or PhD in Plant Biology with hands-on experience in crop transformation.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Join us at EIT: At the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT), we're on a mission to translate scientific discovery into real world impact. We bring together visionary scientists, technologists, engineers, researchers, educators and innovators to tackle humanity's greatest challenges in four transformative areas:
- Health, Medical Science & Generative Biology
- Food Security & Sustainable Agriculture
- Climate Change & Managing CO₂
- Artificial Intelligence & Robotics
This is ambitious work - work that demands curiosity, courage, and a relentless drive to make a difference. At EIT, you'll join a community built on excellence, innovation, tenacity, trust, and collaboration, where bold ideas become real-world breakthroughs. Together, we push boundaries, embrace complexity, and create solutions to scale ideas from lab to society.
Welcome to the Plant Biology Institute: The Plant Biology Institute, headed by Professor Steve Kelly, is a key part of the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT) Oxford. The institute aims to develop impactful and commercially sustainable solutions for improving global food production and planetary health through pioneering plant science research.
The Plant Biology Institute will unite world-class researchers who are focused on expanding the frontiers of plant science. Our research is focused on enhancing our ability to feed the planet while simultaneously improving the climate and ecosystem outcomes of food production. By embedding cutting-edge plant science research within an organisation that is focused on solving global challenges at scale, we aim to accelerate the timeline from discovery to global impact.
Areas of exploration include:
- Improved plant productivity, both indoors and outside.
- Reduced reliance on inputs including water, fertilisers, pesticides, and herbicides.
- Novel decarbonised plant-based production platforms for food and medicines.
- Advanced technologies that speed up discovery and deployment in plants.
Researchers will have access to state-of-the-art laboratory and plant growth facilities and have opportunities to collaborate with experts at the forefront of research on AI, automation, and generative biology across the EIT ecosystem. They will also work with global leaders in market development, commercialisation, and impact creation. The Plant Biology Institute has long-term substantial funding to support the unique scale and ambition of its vision.
Your Role: At EIT we are seeking a highly motivated and skilled Crop Transformation Pipeline Manager at the pioneering Plant Biology Institute. The candidate will build and scale a high-throughput Plant Transformation Pipeline focused on reliable, genotype-flexible, and industrially scalable delivery of transgenic and gene-edited plants. This role will establish and optimise transformation workflows, drive throughput improvements, and ensure reproducibility across multiple crop systems. The successful candidate will lead a technical team and develop robust, data-driven platforms that enable rapid construct-to-plant turnaround and downstream trait validation.
Your Responsibilities: You will play a pivotal role in advancing the institute's research program. Successful candidates will focus on developing high throughput transient assays & stable transformation systems for different crops and explants using visual and fluorescent reporters, different selection markers, validate test & trait constructs from various programs at the institute. The key responsibilities include:
- Establish high-throughput transformation pipelines with defined KPIs (efficiency, regeneration rate, cycle time, no. of quality events).
- Design, implement, and optimise end-to-end plant transformation workflows (Agrobacterium-mediated, biolistic, CRISPR delivery, etc.).
- Lead and mentor Research Associates and Senior Research Associates.
- Standardise tissue culture, regeneration, and selection protocols across genotypes.
- Integrate automation, digital tracking, and quality control systems in the pipeline.
- Collaborate closely with other research groups to implement technologies to boost pipeline efficiency.
- Drive continuous improvement, process optimisation, and scalability.
- Contribute to strategic planning for the pipeline initiatives.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to incorporate cutting edge research techniques into experiments.
- Present scientific work at seminars within the lab and at external meetings, including contributing to laboratory-wide discussions on developments within the field.
- Assist in mentoring graduate students and other members of the research group where appropriate.
- Collaborate with experts at the forefront of research on AI, automation, and generative biology across the EIT ecosystem.
- Assist in the translation of scientific results into commercial opportunities consistent with the EIT humane endeavors.
- Recognise the acting on opportunities for the creation of IP and cooperating in patent protection and in impact delivery.
The successful candidate will have a strong background in large-scale crop transformation in an industrial or academic setting. This role offers a unique opportunity to run a high-throughput pipeline while collaborating across multidisciplinary teams to drive innovation from lab to global impact. The candidate will be expected to play an active role in translating research into commercially applicable tools to advance trait programs and delivering commercial solutions aligned with EIT's mission of humane technological advancement. This is an exciting opportunity to develop as a leader in a dynamic, well-supported, and purpose-driven environment.
Requirements Essential Skills, Qualifications & Experience:
- Master's or PhD in Plant Biology, Plant Biotechnology, or related field.
- Extensive hands-on experience developing high-throughput plant transformation and tissue-culture systems across multiple crop species.
- Demonstrated experience improving transformation efficiency and regeneration outcomes in elite lines.
- Experience leading technical teams or managing complex workflows.
- Strong understanding of genome editing platforms (CRISPR/Cas systems).
- Experience in planning and management tools like spreadsheets, Microsoft planner, LIMS, ELN, or confluence.
- Ability to build both internal and external relationships. Working collaboratively with others outside of their discipline.
- Clear and demonstratable problem-solving skills.
- Excellent problem-solving, communication, and collaboration skills.
- Excellent written communication and report writing skills.
Desirable Knowledge, Skills and Experience:
- Experience working in industrial or high-throughput R&D settings.
- Experience across multiple crop species.
- Familiarity with phenotyping, digital data capture, or automation integration.
Benefits Our Benefits: Salary dependent on experience + travel allowance + bonus Enhanced holiday + options to buy additional days Pension Life Assurance Income Protection Private Medical Insurance Hospital Cash Plan Therapy Services Perk Box Electric Car Scheme Childcare benefit.
What we offer: Newly constructed, state-of-the-art laboratories and growth facilities. A collaborative research environment with highly skilled team working at the cutting edge of plant science to create commercially sustainable solutions that tackle humanity's biggest challenges, including enabling sustainable agriculture and improving the climate and ecosystem outcomes of food production. Opportunities for professional development include publication, conferences, spin-out generation, and leadership development.
High-Throughput Plant Transformation Pipeline Lead in Oxford employer: AgHires
At the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT), we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and collaborative work environment that fosters innovation and excellence in plant science research. Our state-of-the-art facilities in Oxford provide employees with access to cutting-edge technology and resources, while our commitment to professional development ensures that team members can grow their skills and advance their careers. Join us to be part of a mission-driven community dedicated to making a meaningful impact on global food production and planetary health.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land High-Throughput Plant Transformation Pipeline Lead in Oxford
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the plant science field. Attend conferences, workshops, or even local meetups. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio showcasing your past projects and achievements in plant transformation. This will give potential employers a tangible sense of what you can bring to the table, especially at a cutting-edge place like EIT.
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t just apply – engage! When you find a role that excites you, reach out to current employees on LinkedIn. Ask them about their experiences and the company culture. This not only shows your interest but can also give you valuable insights for your application.
✨Tip Number 4
Keep it real during interviews! Be prepared to discuss how your background aligns with EIT's mission. Show your passion for tackling global challenges through innovative plant science. And remember, we encourage you to apply through our website for the best chance at landing that dream job!
We think you need these skills to ace High-Throughput Plant Transformation Pipeline Lead in Oxford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the role. Highlight your relevant experience in high-throughput plant transformation and any specific projects that align with our mission at EIT.
Showcase Your Skills:Don’t just list your qualifications; demonstrate how your skills in genome editing and managing complex workflows can contribute to our ambitious goals. Use examples to illustrate your problem-solving abilities.
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so make sure your writing is easy to follow and free of jargon unless necessary. This helps us see your communication skills right away!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way to ensure it reaches the right people and gives you a chance to explore more about what we do at EIT.
How to prepare for a job interview at AgHires
✨Know Your Science
Make sure you brush up on the latest advancements in plant transformation and biotechnology. Be ready to discuss your hands-on experience with high-throughput systems and genome editing platforms like CRISPR. This shows you're not just familiar with the theory but can apply it practically.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Since this role involves leading a technical team, be prepared to share examples of how you've successfully managed complex workflows or mentored others. Highlight your ability to foster collaboration and drive continuous improvement within a team setting.
✨Understand the Bigger Picture
EIT is all about translating research into real-world impact. Familiarise yourself with their mission and think about how your work can contribute to global challenges like food security and climate change. This will help you align your answers with their goals during the interview.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Expect to dive deep into specifics about transformation workflows and efficiency metrics. Prepare to discuss your approach to standardising protocols and integrating automation. Being able to articulate your thought process will demonstrate your expertise and problem-solving skills.
