Postdoctoral Researcher - Plant Molecular Biologist in Nitrogen Fixation - PBI Plant Biology In[...] in Oxford

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.

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.

Your Role: The Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT) is seeking a highly motivated and skilled Postdoctoral Researcher in Plant Molecular Biology to join its pioneering Plant Biology Institute to contribute to the ‘Biological Nitrogen Fixation’ program. This initiative seeks to engineer biological nitrogen fixation into widely grown crop plants to improve yields and reduce global reliance on synthetic fertilisers.

Your Responsibilities: The Postdoctoral Researcher will play a key role in designing and conducting experiments aligned with stage-gated milestones in our plant engineering program. The main responsibilities of the successful candidate will be to optimise the expression, subcellular targeting, and sub-assembly and higher-order-assembly of complex enzymatic systems in plant cells using transient and stable plant transformation approaches. Successful delivery of these research objectives will require expertise in advanced microscopy techniques and imaging, plant histology, and a strong foundation in molecular biology and plant genetic engineering.

• 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.
• Assist in mentoring graduate students and other members of the research group where appropriate.
• Draft scientific papers and contribute to preparation of publications.

Essential Skills, Qualifications & Experience:

• Completed PhD in a relevant discipline.
• Strong research background and competency in relevant research skills or areas for the post.
• Demonstrated experience in advanced microscopy analysis and imaging of plant cells or tissues.
• Demonstrated experience in plant histology including sample fixation, embedding, sectioning and histochemical staining.
• Strong proficiency in molecular biology, including PCR, qt-PCR, primer and construct design, molecular cloning, nucleic acid/metabolite/protein extraction.

Desirable Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

• Demonstrated expertise in computational prediction, mapping, and functional characterisation of promoter sequences.
• Demonstrated expertise in measuring plant photosynthesis and performing plant growth assays under both optimal and abiotic stress conditions.

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.

Required Application Materials: Two letters of reference.