Postdoctoral Researcher - Plant Molecular Biologist in Nitrogen Fixation - PBI in Oxford

About EIT

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

Plant Biology Institute

Headed by Professor Steve Kelly, the Plant Biology Institute is a key part of the Ellison Institute of Technology 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 institute will unite world‑class researchers focused on expanding the frontiers of plant science. Our research is aimed at enhancing our ability to feed the planet while simultaneously improving the climate ecosystem outcomes of food production.

Research Focus

• 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

Your Role

As a Postdoctoral Researcher in Plant Molecular Biology, you will contribute to the ‘Biological Nitrogen Fixation’ program, engineering 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, 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.
• Insights generated from this work will directly inform and accelerate our synthetic biology strategy to enable the introduction of novel metabolic capabilities into high‑performance crop varieties.
• The ideal candidate will have expertise in molecular biology and advanced microscopy techniques applied to plant tissues.
• This role offers a unique opportunity to conduct high‑impact research at the forefront of plant science while collaborating across multidisciplinary teams to drive innovation from lab to global impact.
• The postdoctoral researcher will be expected to contribute to publications and IP generation and play an active role in translating research into real‑world and commercial solutions aligned with EIT’s mission of humane technological advancement.

This is an exciting opportunity to develop as a scientific leader in a dynamic, well‑supported, and purpose‑driven environment.

Additional Responsibilities

• 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, 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 on AI, automation, and generative biology across the EIT ecosystem.
• Draft scientific papers and contribute to preparation of publications.
• Assist in translating scientific results into commercial opportunities consistent with EIT humane endeavours.
• Recognise and act on opportunities for the creation of IP and cooperate in patent protection and impact delivery.

Essential Skills, Qualifications & Experience

• Completed PhD in a relevant discipline.
• Strong research background and competency in relevant research skills or areas for the post, including:

• Advanced microscopy analysis and imaging of plant cells or tissues (light, fluorescence, confocal).
• Plant histology (sample fixation, embedding, sectioning, staining).
• Transient plant expression systems (cell cultures, protoplasts, Agrobacterium‑infiltrated tissues).
• Fluorescent reporters for subcellular protein localisation and cellular dynamics.
• β‑glucuronidase (GUS) reporter assays for promoter activity and gene expression patterns.
• Genetic engineering (stable transgenic approaches and CRISPR/Cas‑mediated genome editing).
• Proficiency in molecular biology techniques (PCR, qt‑PCR, construct design, cloning, extraction, purification, gel electrophoresis, Western blot, co‑immunoprecipitation, enzyme assays, organelle fractionation).
• Understanding of high‑throughput and automated/semi‑automated laboratory workflows.
• Excellent experimental design, data analysis, statistical evaluation and visualisation.
• Understanding of the path to impact and ability to consider user feedback and market research in designing experiments.
• Independent research skills and a record of publishing in peer‑reviewed journals.
• Relationship‑building skills, both internal and external, across disciplines.
• Problem‑solving, communication, collaboration and written communication skills.

Desirable Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Computational prediction, mapping and functional characterisation of promoter sequences.
• Measurement of plant photosynthesis and plant growth assays under optimal and abiotic stress conditions.
• Expertise in plant developmental biology.

Benefits

• Salary dependent on experience, travel allowance and bonus.
• Enhanced holiday and 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.

Other benefits include newly constructed, state‑of‑the‑art laboratories and growth facilities; a collaborative research environment with highly skilled team members; and opportunities for professional development, including publication, conferences, spin‑out generation and leadership development.

Required Application Materials

• Two letters of reference.