Postdoctoral Research Fellow - Generative Biology Institute

Generative Biology Institute (GBI) is tackling the key challenges in making biology engineerable, unlocking its potential for humanity. GBI is part of the Ellison Institute of Technology, Oxford (EIT) and is led by founding Director Jason Chin. GBI’s vision is to lay the foundations for engineering biology, aiming to unlock transformative solutions across health, agriculture, clean energy and more. We have sustained funding, advanced technology hubs, and substantial computational resources to support ambitious, long‑term, collaborative research. Our new facility in the Oxford Science Park will house over 30 groups and up to 600 employees, focused on solving these critical challenges and aligning with EIT’s Humane Endeavors.

We are seeking ambitious, creative, and highly skilled Postdoctoral Researchers to join GBI. You will support an internationally competitive research programme, design and execute experiments, contribute to high‑impact publications, and mentor junior researchers and students. Working at the interface of biology, technology, and engineering, you will help shape GBI’s vision to reimagine what is possible in biology.

Applications

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis by the specific research groups you select. On the application page, you will be asked to select up to three (3) groups and in your cover letter identify each group, explain your fit, interest, and relevant experience. Applicants who select more than three groups, or omit groups, will not be considered. All applications must be submitted exclusively through the EIT job portal; direct outreach to Principal Investigators is not accepted. The review and decision process may take 3–6 months.

Principal Investigators currently recruiting for Postdoctoral Fellows:

• Leopold Parts – Investigating the engineering and modeling of mammalian chromosomes with aims to delete, randomise, and evolve chromosome‑scale DNA.
• Rongzhen Tian – Leveraging orthogonal replication systems for accelerated evolution of complex biological functions to advance science, develop biomolecules for health and industry, and generate large‑scale enzyme datasets.
• Jérôme Zürcher – Developing scalable methods to write whole genomes of microbes and phages for isolate organisms, study host‑pathogen interactions, and assemble large vectors for genome synthesis.
• Linda van Bijsterveldt – Building stable synthetic chromosomes transferable through mitosis and meiosis in mammals and plants, with projects on scalable genome construction, interspecies transfer, and trait inheritance control.
• Kiarash Jamali – Integrating large databases and inductive biases in generative biomolecule models to create new‑to‑nature enzymatic reactions, therapeutics, and molecular motors, focusing on machine‑learning force fields.
• Fabian Rehm – Developing continuous evolution of target genes and large microbial genome synthesis, evolving multi‑gene traits, building selective pressures, and borrowing evolution principles for richer pathways.
• Martin Spinck – Exploring biological evolution in artificial environments to uncover new‑to‑nature functions, focusing on self‑assembling biomaterials for sustainable chemistry and biotechnology.
• Jason Chin – Pioneering genome design and synthesis methods and integrating them with cellular engineering for cellular synthesis of new polymers and materials.

Key Responsibilities for all Postdoctoral Researchers:

• Design, execute, and troubleshoot experiments, including developing novel methodologies and adapting existing techniques.
• Analyse complex datasets with computational and statistical tools, interpreting results in a broader research context.
• Contribute intellectually to research direction by identifying innovation opportunities and refining research questions.
• Prepare and publish high‑quality scientific papers, reports, presentations, and protocols.
• Present research at national and international conferences, seminars, and internal meetings.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams within GBI, EIT, and external partners to advance complementary workstreams.
• Build and maintain research infrastructure, laboratory capabilities, and cutting‑edge technologies.
• Mentor and support junior researchers, including PhD students and research assistants.
• Translate research findings into commercial or translational opportunities aligned with EIT’s mission.
• Identify and pursue opportunities for intellectual property generation and protection.
• Ensure research activities comply with EIT’s policies, legal requirements, and best scientific practice.

This list is not exhaustive; additional tasks may be required.

Essential and Desirable Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

• Completed a PhD within the last 4 years in a relevant field (synthetic biology, computational biology & AI, microbial, plant or human cell biology, genomics, robotics and automation, nucleic‑acid chemistry).
• Track record of delivering ambitious research projects to a high standard.
• Strong track record in research, ideally in molecular biology, synthetic biology, or related fields.
• Skilled in data analysis and interpretation; experience with genomic analysis, automation, or computational tools desirable.
• Proven ability to work independently, think creatively, and solve complex experimental problems.
• Experience publishing in high‑impact journals and presenting at international conferences.
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent projects.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with experience collaborating in multidisciplinary teams.
• Capacity to build and sustain productive collaborations internally and externally.
• Resilience, adaptability, and enthusiasm for working in a fast‑paced, high‑growth research environment.

Benefits:

• Enhanced holiday pay
• Pension
• Life Assurance
• Income Protection
• Private Medical Insurance
• Hospital Cash Plan
• Therapy Services
• Perk Box
• Electrical Car Scheme

Why work for EIT:

At the Ellison Institute, we believe a collaborative, inclusive team is key to our success. We build a supportive environment where creative risks are encouraged and everyone feels heard. Valuing emotional intelligence, empathy, respect, and resilience, we encourage curiosity and shared commitment to excellence. Join us and make an impact!

Terms of Appointment:

You must be eligible to work in the UK with a willingness to travel as necessary. Sponsorship is available on a case‑by‑case basis but may not cover all visa types. You must be based in, or within easy commuting distance of, Oxford. During peak periods, some longer hours and working across multiple time zones may be required due to the global nature of the programme.