Head of Plant Metabolic Modelling & Analytics in Oxford

Head of Plant Metabolic Modelling & Analytics in Oxford

Oxford Full-Time 75600 - 92400 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead metabolic analysis and modelling to drive impactful plant science research.
  • Company: Join EIT, a pioneering institute focused on solving global challenges through innovative science.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, enhanced holidays, private medical insurance, and professional development opportunities.
  • Other info: Collaborative environment with state-of-the-art facilities and strong funding for ambitious projects.
  • Why this job: Make a real-world impact in sustainable agriculture and climate solutions with cutting-edge research.
  • Qualifications: PhD in relevant field and substantial experience in metabolic analysis or modelling.

The predicted salary is between 75600 - 92400 £ 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 CO
  • 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.

Explore more at www. eit. org.

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 an accomplished leader to serve as Head of Metabolic Analysis and Modelling for the Plant Biology Institute.

This pivotal role will shape a newly established and rapidly scaling Plant Biology Institute that aspires to become a global leader in delivering scientific breakthroughs with real-world impact.

The successful candidate will establish and lead PBI's metabolic analysis, delivering analytical capabilities and workflows to support PBI's trait and technology research groups.

This role requires close collaboration with research scientists working across a broad range of projects including plant and microbial metabolic engineering, plant breeding, plant phenotyping.

The role will require working with other institutional stakeholders to scope, design, equip, and operate a new function within the research institute.

  • Your Responsibilities
  • Lead and develop the Institute's metabolic analysis, delivering robust, scalable analytical frameworks to provide metabolite and metabolic modelling analysis to support plant biology research programmes
  • Define and implement a strategic vision for integrative metabolic analysis that aligns with the Institute's scientific priorities and long-term goals
  • Drive the development and application of predictive models of plant metabolism, resource use, and productivity to inform experimental design and technology development
  • Design, implement, and maintain advanced analysis workflows and pipelines for the integration and analysis of multi-omics and high-throughput biological datasets
  • Develop reproducible, well-documented, and version-controlled analysis frameworks, supporting transparency, open science, and collaborative research
  • Ensure analytical platforms are robust, scalable, and interoperable, supporting both exploratory research and translational applications
  • Remain at the forefront of emerging methods in metabolic analysis, metabolic modelling, machine learning, and data-driven biology, identifying opportunities to apply new tools to accelerate discovery
  • Work closely with experimental scientists, Group Leaders, and technology teams across all of EIT to co-develop analytical approaches that directly support experimental programmes and strategic research questions in PBI
  • Translate complex computational outputs into clear biological insights, enabling informed decision-making across research and translational activities
  • Build sustainable capability in metabolic analysis, metabolic modelling and integrative analysis, fostering a culture of scientific excellence, collaboration, and continuous innovation
  • Manage resources - including personnel, equipment, and budgets - in coordination with the senior leadership team

Essential Skills, Qualifications & Experience

  • Advanced degree (Ph D or equivalent experience) in metabolic analysis, systems biology, computational biology, bioinformatics, data science, applied mathematics, or a related field
  • Substantial experience leading metabolic analysis or modelling functions within a research-intensive or scientific environment
  • Proven expertise in metabolic modelling, constraint-based modelling, systems biology, or integrative multi-omics analysis
  • Strong technical background in programming and data engineering (e. g. Python, Linux environments, workflow management systems, databases, APIs)
  • Experience designing and delivering scalable, end-to-end analytical solutions for complex biological datasets
  • Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively across disciplines, translating computational outputs into actionable biological and strategic insight
  • Track record of building, mentoring, and leading high-performing teams
  • Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to articulate the strategic value of modelling and analytics to diverse audiences

Benefits

  • Competitive salary + 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, core scientific and operational support, and substantial core funding
  • 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 including publication, conferences, IP portfolio creation, spin-out generation, and leadership development
    Advanced degree (Ph D or equivalent experience) in metabolic analysis, systems biology, computational biology, bioinformatics, data science, applied mathematics, or a related field
  • Substantial experience leading metabolic analysis or modelling functions within a research-intensive or scientific environment
  • Proven expertise in metabolic modelling, constraint-based modelling, systems biology, or integrative multi-omics analysis
  • Strong technical background in programming and data engineering (e. g. Python, Linux environments, workflow management systems, databases, APIs)
  • Experience designing and delivering scalable, end-to-end analytical solutions for complex biological datasets
  • Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively across disciplines, translating computational outputs into actionable biological and strategic insight
  • Track record of building, mentoring, and leading high-performing teams
  • Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to articulate the strategic value of modelling and analytics to diverse audiences
  • Competitive salary + 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, Newly constructed, state-of-the-art laboratories and growth facilities, core scientific and operational support, and substantial core funding
  • 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 including publication, conferences, IP portfolio creation, spin-out generation, and leadership development
  • #J-18808-Ljbffr

Head of Plant Metabolic Modelling & Analytics in Oxford employer: Ellison Institute of Technology Oxford

At EIT, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and collaborative work culture that fosters innovation and excellence. Our state-of-the-art facilities in Oxford provide researchers with the resources they need to make a real-world impact in plant science, while our commitment to professional development ensures that employees have ample opportunities for growth and advancement. Join us to be part of a mission-driven team dedicated to tackling global challenges in health, food security, and climate change.

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Contact Details:

Ellison Institute of Technology Oxford Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Head of Plant Metabolic Modelling & Analytics in Oxford

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We think you need these skills to ace Head of Plant Metabolic Modelling & Analytics in Oxford

Metabolic Analysis
Systems Biology
Computational Biology
Bioinformatics
Data Science
Applied Mathematics
Metabolic Modelling

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Off Your Relevant Experience:In agricultural engineering, it's all about practical experience. Highlight any projects or internships you've been involved in that showcase your skills in machinery, crop management, or sustainability practices. Use specifics to give us a clear picture of what you've accomplished and how it relates to the role at Ellison Institute of Technology Oxford.

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Tailor Your Cover Letter to Our Values:When writing your cover letter, take the time to reflect on how your personal values align with those of Ellison Institute of Technology Oxford. We want to see your passion for sustainable agriculture and how your engineering background can help us achieve our goals. Share what motivates you in this field, and let your personality shine through!

Don't Forget About Your Portfolio:If you've worked on design or engineering projects, consider including a portfolio to back up your application. This could be anything from photos of completed projects to detailed reports or analyses you've done. It’s an excellent way to visually demonstrate your skills and help us see your potential fit for the full-time Head of Plant Metabolic Modelling & Analytics role.

How to prepare for a job interview at Ellison Institute of Technology Oxford

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As an agricultural engineering candidate, you need to showcase your understanding of key concepts like irrigation systems, soil mechanics, and machinery design. Brush up on technical questions that could come your way, especially those related to recent advancements in agricultural technology, and be prepared to discuss how you've applied these in real-world situations.

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