Postdoctoral Researcher

Organisation/Company John Innes Centre Research Field Biological sciences » Biology Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions Postdoc Positions Country United Kingdom Application Deadline 15 Dec 2025 – 23:59 (Europe/London) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Postdoctoral Researcher to join the newly appointed group of Dr Hassan Salem at the John Innes Centre, working on cutting‑edge science in the field of Crop Genetics.

About the John Innes Centre

The John Innes Centre is an independent, international centre of excellence in plant and microbial sciences. We nurture a creative, curiosity‑led approach to answering fundamental questions in bioscience, and translate that knowledge into societal benefits. Our strategic vision, Healthy Plants, Healthy People, Healthy Planet, sets out our ambitious long‑term goals for the game‑changing impact of our science globally. Our employees enjoy access to state‑of‑the‑art technology and a diverse range of specialist training opportunities, including support for leadership and management. Click here to find out more about working at the John Innes Centre.

About the Salem Group

The Research Group studies the evolution and mechanisms of mutualistic interactions between insects and microbes. Focusing on leaf beetles and their bacterial symbionts, the group explores how these partnerships shape host nutrition, development, and adaptation. Using genomic, chemical, and developmental approaches, they investigate how symbionts contribute to host physiology and ecological success. By integrating evolutionary biology and molecular tools, the group aims to uncover the processes that maintain beneficial host–microbe associations and illuminate the broader principles governing symbiosis in nature.

A postdoc skilled in genetic manipulations is essential to advance the group’s research on insect–microbe mutualisms. They will develop and apply molecular tools for functional studies in symbiotic systems, enabling gene editing, symbiont manipulation, and mechanistic insight into host‑symbiont interactions that drive evolutionary innovation and ecological adaptation.

The role

Working as part of a team led by Dr Hassan Salem, you will develop and apply genetic manipulation tools to dissect the molecular and functional mechanisms underlying insect–microbe mutualisms.

This diverse role will provide you with a broad range of stimulating activities, including:

• Designing and implementing innovative genetic tools to experimentally probe host‑symbiont interactions.
• Collaborating across disciplines, including genomics, microbiology, and evolutionary biology in order to integrate diverse datasets and approaches.
• Presenting discoveries at international conferences and mentoring students within a dynamic, interdisciplinary research environment.

The ideal candidate

You will have a PhD or equivalent in Evolutionary Genomics or a related discipline. The successful candidate will have good knowledge of molecular biology techniques and genomics as well as scripting (preferably in R or Python). The post holder will have demonstrated ability to perform research and develop novel ideas in the area of symbiosis research and the development of genetic tools for microorganisms. They will also have experience of supervising, training and mentoring visitors and students, excellent communication skills with the ability to present complex information with clarity and a demonstrated ability to work independently, using initiative and applying problem‑solving skills.

Additional information

For further information and details of how to apply, please visit our website http://jobs.jic.ac.uk or contact the Human Resources team on 01603 450814 or nbi.recruitment@nbi.ac.uk quoting reference 1004977.

We anticipate interviews for this role will take place in late January. Therefore, please be advised that shortlisted candidates may not be contacted until early January.

This role meets the criteria for a visa application, and we encourage all qualified candidates to apply. Where the successful applicant requires a visa, we will fund the costs for their visa and the Immigration Health Surcharge. Please contact the Human Resources Team if you have any questions regarding your application or visa options.

We are an equal opportunities employer, actively supporting inclusivity and diversity. As a Disability Confident organisation, we guarantee to offer an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for this vacancy. We are proud to hold a prestigious Gold Athena SWAN award in recognition of our inclusive culture, commitment and good practices towards advancing gender equality. We offer an exciting, stimulating, diverse research environment and actively promote a family‑friendly workplace. The Institute is also a member of Stonewall’s Diversity Champions programme.

The John Innes Centre is a registered charity (No. 223852) grant‑aided by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.