Research Assistant in Norwich

Funding End Date 30 Jun 2032 Hours per week 37 Project Title Understanding the cell biology underpinning C4 photosynthesis Expected/Ideal Start Date 01 Oct 2026 Months Duration 36

Job Description

Main Purpose of the Job

Research Assistants enhance the output of a research group by providing technical and administrative support to the Group Leader and group members.
The successful candidate will have two main roles. Firstly, they will contribute to research that aims to develop a full molecular understanding of the formation of specialised bundle sheath cells in C4 plants which underpins their remarkable photosynthetic efficiency. The post-holder will have their own project, and will be expected to plan, execute and interpret their experiments, with advice from the Group Leader where appropriate. They will also contribute to ongoing research projects being led by the postdocs and students of the Schreier lab.
The post-holder will work independently on a day-to-day basis, and will be expected to exercise creativity and problem-solving skills, and acquire new skills as required. Secondly, they will oversee the smooth running of the laboratory. Management tasks will include allocation of lab duties among group members, co-ordination of growth space and other shared resources, ordering and maintaining lab supplies, and keeping records of nucleic acid and seed stocks. They will participate in the mentoring of less-experienced lab members, providing training in techniques routinely performed in the lab and hosting mini-projects for visiting students.

Key Relationships

Internal: Line manager (Tina Schreier), group members and, as necessary, other researchers, research support staff and students across the Institute. External: Collaborators

Main Activities & Responsibilities

Percentage Plan, perform, trouble-shoot and analyse experiments as and when necessary, providing preliminary data 40 Contribute experimental data to ongoing research projects 15 Mentor/supervise less experienced researchers, encouraging scientific excellence and provide guidance and training on specialised items of equipment 10 Continually strive for excellence, seeking out and acting on feedback and relevant learning and development opportunities 5 As agreed with the line manager, any other duties commensurate with the nature of the post, for example, contributing to the work of Institute committees 5 Enhance the output of a research group by executing and refining existing experimental protocols and/or administrative procedures, assisting colleagues with trouble-shooting as necessary 5 Run key items of equipment providing services and/or techniques, taking responsibility for purchases, maintenance and repairs 5 Undertake routine administrative tasks, such as maintenance of laboratory supplies and stocks 5 Ensure research and record keeping is carried out in accordance with good practice, Scientific Integrity and in compliance with local policies and any legal requirements 5 Contribute to the smooth running of the group, including through the effective use of resources, supervision of visitors to the laboratory and assisting with training others, encouraging scientific excellence 5 Disseminate research findings and establish reputation through participation in national conferences and exhibitions Support the profile and reputation of the Institute by participating in relevant engagement activities (eg, school visits or open days) Assist in the preparation of research proposals and manuscripts, collaborating internally and externally as appropriate Design and supervise small research projects for students

Person Profile

Education & Qualifications

Requirement Importance BSc or equivalent in Biology, with plants as a major element Essential PhD in plant biology or related discipline - OR - equivalent experience in laboratory management Desirable

Specialist Knowledge & Skills

Requirement Importance Understanding of methods and experimental approaches in molecular biology and genetics Essential Excellent understanding of the biology of plants Essential Excellent knowledge of plant molecular biology and/or plant genetics Essential

Requirement Importance Experience of supervising, training and mentoring of students and visiting workers Essential Ability to generate high quality data in molecular plant biology, demonstrated through high quality publications Essential Preparing data / information for grant proposals Essential Provided technical training Desirable Experience in laboratory management Desirable

Interpersonal & Communication Skills

Requirement Importance Good interpersonal skills, with the ability to work as part of a team Essential Demonstrated ability to work independently, using initiative and applying problem solving skills Essential Excellent time management and organisational skills Essential Ability to prioritise to meet the demands of the group Essential Excellent communication skills, both written and oral, including the ability to present complex information with clarity Essential Ability to collaborate with internal and external stakeholders Essential Ability to follow instructions/Standard Operating Procedures Essential Promotes and strives for continuous improvement Essential

Additional Requirements

Requirement Importance Promotes equality and values diversity 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 Attention to detail Essential Ability to undertake occasional travel (national and international) related to collaborations and/or seminars Desirable

Who We Are

The John Innes Centre is an independent, international centre of excellence in plant and microbial genetics, carrying out fundamental and strategic research, to train scientists and making our findings available to society.

Our research makes use of a wide range of disciplines in the biological and chemical sciences including; cell biology, biochemistry, chemistry, genetics and molecular biology.

We pride ourselves on being a welcoming and inclusive working environment for all. We have a diverse and multicultural scientific community and thrive on our European and international links, appointing staff from across the world. Any candidate who would like further information on current or anticipated immigration requirements can contact the HR Team on +44 (0)1603 450888 or nbi.recruitment@nbi.ac.uk.

We are proud to hold a prestigious Athena SWAN Gold award , recognising the impact of our work in promoting gender equality in science. We are also a proud member of the Stonewall Diversity Champion’s programme , a founding signatory of the Tecnician Commitment and, as a Disability Confident employer, guarantee to offer an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post.

The John Innes Centre is a registered charity (No. 223852), limited by guarantee (registered in England No. 511709).

Department

Crop Genetics

The Department of Crop Genetics undertakes fundamental research on the biology of cereals, brassicas and legumes to understand the genetic and molecular basis of phenotypic variation. A major goal is to develop the technologies and knowledge base to provide a predictive framework that will underpin conventional and novel plant breeding strategies. This will enable high-yielding, stress and disease resistant varieties, with a particular end-use quality, suitable for an efficient but benign agriculture.

Our research aims to develop a full molecular understanding of the formation of specialised bundle sheath cells in C4 plants, which underpins their remarkable photosynthetic efficiency. We are particularly interested in discovering the molecular mechanisms that control their intracellular polarity, specifically the polar organelle positioning and plasmodesmata placement in the bundle sheath cells. We use a combination of molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry and cell biology-based approaches to develop this understanding. The overall goal of our research is to reveal gene targets that will inform the design strategy for engineering C4 photosynthesis into C3 crops to increase crop productivity. You would be one of the first members of the Schreier lab, starting at the JIC in July 2026. Our team is building a vibrant and stimulating research environment, currently including one postgraduate student, and actively recruiting more postdoctoral researchers and research assistants over the coming months. We will also regularly host projects for undergraduate students. We collaborate with other research groups at JIC, as well those based at other institutes within the UK and abroad

Research Assistant

Salary: £