At a Glance
- Tasks: Engineer microbial strains to enhance nitrogen fixation in crops and improve agricultural sustainability.
- Company: Join the innovative Ellison Institute of Technology, tackling global challenges through cutting-edge research.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, access to state-of-the-art facilities, and opportunities for impactful collaboration.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with excellent support for career development and scientific leadership.
- Why this job: Make a real-world impact on food security and environmental health through pioneering plant science.
- Qualifications: Strong background in biological nitrogen fixation and microbial strain engineering required.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ 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 CO₂
- 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.
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: The Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT) is seeking a highly motivated and skilled Postdoctoral Researcher in Microbial Strain Engineer 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. The ultimate goal of this work will be to deliver transformative environmental, economic, and public health benefits by helping to support the transition to scalable and regenerative agricultural systems.
Your Responsibilities: The Postdoctoral Researcher will genetically engineer diazotrophic microbial organisms to generate novel modified strains. These novel strains will be generated using established molecular biology and genetic engineering/genome editing methodologies to enable functional investigation of genes involved in nitrogen fixation. The successful candidate will also perform both nitrogen fixation assays (e.g., using the acetylene reduction method) as well as high-throughput microbial growth assays under diazotrophic conditions to assess the nitrogen-fixation capacities of different strains. 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 a strong background in biological nitrogen fixation and microbial strain engineering of nitrogen-fixing model organisms. 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.
Postdoctoral Researcher - Microbial Strain Engineer in Nitrogen Fixation - PBI (Hiring Immediately) in Oxford employer: Ellison Institute of Technology
At the Ellison Institute of Technology, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a culture of innovation, collaboration, and excellence. As a Postdoctoral Researcher in Microbial Strain Engineering at our Plant Biology Institute in Oxford, you will have access to state-of-the-art facilities and the opportunity to work alongside world-class researchers dedicated to addressing global challenges in food security and sustainability. With substantial funding and a commitment to employee growth, we empower our team to translate groundbreaking research into impactful solutions, making this a truly rewarding place to advance your career.
Contact Details:
Ellison Institute of Technology Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Postdoctoral Researcher - Microbial Strain Engineer in Nitrogen Fixation - PBI (Hiring Immediately) in Oxford
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current and former employees at EIT on LinkedIn. Ask them about their experiences and any tips they might have for landing the Postdoctoral Researcher role. Personal connections can make a huge difference!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for your interview by diving deep into EIT's recent projects and publications. Show us that you’re not just familiar with the basics of microbial strain engineering, but that you’re genuinely excited about how your work can contribute to their mission.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain your research in a way that highlights its real-world impact. We want to see how your skills in nitrogen fixation can help tackle global challenges, so make it relatable and engaging.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows us you’re serious about joining the EIT community and making a difference.
We think you need these skills to ace Postdoctoral Researcher - Microbial Strain Engineer in Nitrogen Fixation - PBI (Hiring Immediately) in Oxford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion:When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for microbial strain engineering and nitrogen fixation shine through. We want to see your curiosity and drive to make a difference in the field!
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience and skills that align with our mission at EIT. We’re looking for candidates who can contribute to our ambitious goals, so don’t hold back on showcasing your achievements!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to tell us why you’re the perfect fit for this role. Be specific about how your background in biological nitrogen fixation can help us tackle global challenges. Let’s see your personality come through!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands and shows us you’re serious about joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Ellison Institute of Technology
✨Know Your Science
Make sure you brush up on the latest research in biological nitrogen fixation and microbial strain engineering. Be ready to discuss your previous work and how it relates to the role. This shows your passion and expertise, which is exactly what they’re looking for!
✨Showcase Collaboration Skills
Since this role involves working with multidisciplinary teams, be prepared to share examples of how you've successfully collaborated in the past. Highlight any experiences where you’ve pushed boundaries or embraced complexity to achieve a common goal.
✨Prepare Thoughtful Questions
Think of insightful questions to ask about the Plant Biology Institute’s current projects or future goals. This not only demonstrates your interest but also shows that you’re serious about contributing to their mission of impactful research.
✨Emphasise Real-World Impact
Be ready to discuss how your research can translate into real-world applications, especially in terms of improving food production and sustainability. They want to see that you understand the broader implications of your work and are committed to making a difference.
