Predoctoral Internship in Plant Synthetic Biology in Norwich

Main Purpose of the Job

Climate change is outpacing our ability to breed crops that can withstand rising temperatures, unpredictable rainfall, and other environmental stresses. Synthetic biology offers a powerful way to meet this challenge by engineering plants with climate-resilient traits. However, progress is limited by the small number of reliable promoters that allow scientists to control when, where, and how strongly genes are switched on in plants. Predictive AI models can now help design promoters with specific expression properties, but testing whether these designs work in living plants remains slow and difficult. This project will address that bottleneck by using a new system to test AI-designed promoters in whole plants at greater scale and in a more controlled and predictable way. By combining AI-guided design with hands-on plant synthetic biology, the project will help build a platform for creating reliable genetic tools and accelerating the engineering of climate-resilient crops.

Key Relationships

The post-holder will be embedded within the engineering biology faculty at the Earlham Institute, including the labs of Prof. Anthony Hall and Dr Sarah Guiziou, working with team members, as well as across other faculty groups as appropriate for the project and skills development. Career Development Fellow Dr Will Shaw will be the primary supervisor for the project, guiding the project and teaching experimental techniques across molecular biology and plant science. They will also interact with other engineering biology researchers, including the Earlham Institute Biofoundry, attend weekly plant engineering biology and plant genomics meetings, and a monthly journal club. The post-holder will work closely with the JIF PhD cohort.

Main Activities & Responsibilities

• Construct AI-guided synthetic promoter library driving luciferase reporter, introduce into plants and validate successful stable transformants, and characterise promoter behaviour using whole-plant luminescence imaging. (45%)
• Develop transferable synthetic biology and plant biology skills that will allow the post holder to start a career in plant and/or synthetic biology research. (45%)
• Attend talks and seminars, contribute to lab meetings and other activities as agreed with line manager. (5%)
• Contribute and engage with the student community at the Earlham Institute. (5%)
• As agreed with line manager, any other duties commensurate with the nature of the role.

Person Profile

• Education & Qualifications
• Completed or expect to complete undergraduate or Masters (Essential)
• Specialist Knowledge & Skills
• Evidence of significant academic achievement (Essential)
• Interest in plant sciences and engineering biology (Essential)
• Experience in molecular biology/synthetic biology (Desirable)
• Experience in plant science (Desirable)
• Interpersonal & Communication Skills
• Ability to work independently and prioritise own workload (Essential)
• Good communication skills, both written and verbal (Essential)
• Good interpersonal skills, with the ability to work well as part of a team (Essential)
• Additional Requirements
• Attention to detail (Essential)
• Willingness to embrace the expected values and behaviours of all staff at the Institute, ensuring it is a great place to work (Essential)
• Able to present a positive image of self and the Institute, promoting both the international reputation and public engagement aims of the Institute (Essential)
• Willingness to work outside standard working hours when required (Essential)
• Demonstrate how this internship contributes to start and develop the candidate’s future career in data-driven plant biology (Essential)
• Promotes equality and values diversity (Essential)

About the Earlham Institute

The Earlham Institute harnesses the power of data-driven biology to accelerate solutions for health, biodiversity, and food security. Based at Norwich Research Park, the Earlham Institute is one of eight institutes strategically funded by BBSRC. Our science combines world-class technology, interdisciplinary expertise, and training and development across genomics, engineering biology and data science, to decode the scale and complexity of living systems. We believe we can achieve more if we work together. That's why we collaborate with the global science community and industry partners, while also inspiring the next generation of scientists and technical specialists.

Our Science

Earlham Institute scientists specialise in developing and testing the latest tools and approaches needed to decode living systems and make biological predictions. We are home to state-of-the-art facilities and technology, creating a unique combination of expertise and infrastructure. We have dedicated laboratories for genome sequencing, single-cell analysis, engineering biology, and large-scale automation; as well as one of the largest supercomputing facilities for life science research in Europe. Our Advanced Training team also provides access to specialised scientific training to upskill the next generation of research and technical staff.

Our Culture

Our collegiate and innovative research environment comes with significant support, including a commitment to your professional development, research and administrative assistance, and opportunities to build collaborations with scientists and industry on the Norwich Research Park, across the UK, and internationally. The Institute is also home to talented technical and operational staff, whose invaluable contributions enable our science to have the maximum impact. We aim to recognise, reward, and develop all staff and students so that every individual feels able to achieve their best with us. We work hard to nurture an engaged and positive workplace, centred on core values that include openness, technical excellence, and collaboration. We attract staff from around the world who contribute to - and benefit from - an environment that enables them to deliver world-class science alongside a supportive and social community.

The Predoctoral Intern will join the Engineering Biology group at the Earlham Institute, with primary supervision from Career Development Fellow Dr Will Shaw and working closely with the groups of Prof. Anthony Hall and Dr Sarah Guiziou. The intern will contribute to Earlham Institute’s strengths in AI/ML and engineering biology by helping to develop new workflows that bring these approaches together for more predictable plant engineering.

Salary on appointment will be within the range £24,455 to £25,000 per annum depending on qualifications and experience. This is a full-time post for a contract of 12 months. A small travel grant will be provided for any non-UK interns (to the value of £1000) to enable them to travel to the UK. Any costs above this will need to be funded by the Intern, including any visa costs. Interviews will be held on the 19th August 2026. The preferred start date will be between September and October 2026. As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee to offer an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for this vacancy. The closing date for applications will be 10th August 2026.