Post Doctoral Research Assistant in Oxford

Post Doctoral Research Assistant

£36,636 rising to £39,906

Full Time, Fixed Term - Researcher

This is a full time, fixed term position for 3 years.

The post holder will undertake research to develop and optimise genetically engineered plants capable of removing methane from the environment. Working within an interdisciplinary research programme, the PDRA will engineer plant systems to express functional methane monooxygenase (MMO) enzymes, including particulate and soluble MMO, and investigate strategies to improve enzyme expression, assembly, stability and activity in planta. The post will involve molecular and plant synthetic biology, plant transformation, protein expression and localisation, and quantitative assessment of methane oxidation.

The post holder will contribute to the development and validation of engineered model plants with the longer-term aim of establishing scalable plant-based approaches for agricultural methane mitigation. The role will involve collaboration with external partners in advanced methane detection and will contribute to publications, presentations and dissemination of the research.

The minimum requirements for this post are:

• PhD (or PhD to be obtained) in relevant subjects (plant biology, plant cell biology)
• Experience in required skills (protein engineering, plant cell biology analysis, bioimaging with advanced image analysis, plant transformation, AnalyzER software for analysis of cellular structures)
• Experience with statistical analysis
• Excellent team working, and the planning, organisational and communication skills this requires
• Ability to communicate effectively, including summarising experimental data and results concisely.

As an Oxford Brookes employee, you will enjoy a total of a minimum of 25 days holiday, rising with your service, plus 8 bank holidays and additional university concessionary days (normally 5 per year).

We encourage and support hybrid working where the role allows and ensure that you have the necessary equipment to allow you to work flexibly.

We have an extremely competitiveLocal Government Pension Schemewith generous employer contributions, as well as providing all staff with access to an occupational health service, financial education, and a comprehensive employee assistance helpline.

We prioritise the wellbeing of our employees - physically, mentally and financially - and we provide a diverse and comprehensive benefits package to support our team.

In addition, all employees have access to:

• Discounted rates for the university sports and gym facilities
• An on-site nursery (at Headington Campus; waiting lists for some ages).
• Discounted travel options
• Relocation scheme (for moves over 30 miles, subject to terms of the scheme)
• Training and development opportunities
• A connected community - Brookes have a wide variety of staff networks, which instil a sense of community and offer employees a space for support, guidance and friendship, making Brookes a vibrant and inclusive place to work.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

At Oxford Brookes, inclusivity is one of our five guiding principles: we take positive steps to create an environment in which we celebrate, value and provide equal opportunity to all.

We are committed to recruiting from the widest possible pool and welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates who embrace our values, regardless of their background. As a Disability Confident Employer we guarantee to interview any disabled applicant who meets the essential selection criteria.