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Postdoctoral Research Assistant in Molecular Seed Biology
Department of Biological Science
Location
Egham
Salary
£40,133 to £47,297
per annum - including London Allowance
Post Type
Full Time
Closing Date
23.59 hours GMT on Sunday 26 January 2025
Reference
1224-368
Right to work: Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.
Full time, Fixed Term (32 months)
The Seed Biology and Technology Team at Royal Holloway invites applications for the post of a Postdoctoral Research Assistant (PDRA) in Molecular Seed Biology at the Department of Biological Sciences.
We are seeking a PDRA, starting in March 2025 (or as soon as possible thereafter), to join a research project funded by UKRI-BBSRC*. The research project "MimicWeed - Morphological, hormonal and genomic mechanisms of seed dormancy, germination and seedling vigour in weedy crop grass mimics" is an Industrial Partnership Award (BBSRC-IPA project APP33678) in collaboration with Rothamsted Research as academic and Syngenta as industrial collaboration partner. The aim of the MimicWeed project is to investigate if weedy rice, a weedy crop relative originated from cultivated rice by de-domestication, and three weedy non-crop relative grass weeds employ the same or different mechanisms for their seed dormancy/germination, as well as for their seedling growth in response to ambient temperature and climatic change.
The postholder will be based within the research team of Professor Gerhard Leubner and Dr Tina Steinbrecher in the Seed Biology and Technology Laboratory at Royal Holloway. The main task for this post is to conduct physiological, biophysical, and molecular experiments to deliver the project objectives, especially the transcriptome experiments into secondary dormancy (bench work and in silico analysis) and the seed screening assays for ABA and temperature responses. Team work and willingness to interact across disciplines are essential to deliver the project. See our website (www.seedbiology.eu) and publications for further information about our team and research approaches into seed germination and dormancy.
We are looking for a highly motivated person with interest in our research topic, a broad knowledge in plant molecular physiology, expertise with transcriptome (RNAseq) analyses and experience with research in the field of dormancy, germination and seedling growth. The successful candidate will have a PhD in a relevant subject area, ideally several years of research experience with seed biology with molecular methods and experience with seed/plant stress physiology. Good interaction, communication, and collaboration skills are essential, and experience in collaborating with industry would be an advantage. A good knowledge of English is of course mandatory.
In return we offer a highly competitive rewards and benefits package including:
• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Training and Development opportunities
• Pension Scheme with generous employer contribution
• Various schemes including Cycle to Work, Season Ticket Loans and help with the cost of Eyesight testing
• Free parking
This is position is available from 1st March 2025 to 31st January 2028. This post is based in Egham, Surrey where the College is situated in a beautiful, leafy campus near to Windsor Great Park and within commuting distance from London.
For an informal discussion about the post, please contact Professor Gerhard Leubner, Chair of Plant Biochemistry, School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway.
Web "The Seed Biology Place" - www.seedbiology.eu and www.rhul.ac.uk
Email Gerhard.Leubner@rhul.ac.uk
Phone +44(0)1784-44-3553
For queries on the application process the Human Resources Department can be contacted by email at: recruitment@rhul.ac.uk
Please quote the reference: 1224-368
Closing Date: 23:59, 26 January 2025
Interview Date: To Be Confirmed
When applying, please upload copies of your title, short summaries of your MSc and PhD works, and a short CV including your publication list. Your supporting 1-page statement should include your motivation to conduct research in the Seed Biology and Technology Team at Royal Holloway.
This position is not eligible for hybrid working.
Royal Holloway is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI), and encourages applications from all people regardless of age, disability, gender, marital status, parental status, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or trans status or history. More information on our structures and initiatives around EDI, including information on staff diversity networks, can be found on our Equality and Diversity Intranet page.