Plant Genome Editing Scientist; Lettuce Transformation and CRISPR

Company: Leafy Coll
Location: Cambridge, UK
Salary: £37,694 to £45,049 per annum + pension
Hours: Full time
Contract: 18-month fixed term, extendable
Start date: 1 January 2027
Closing date: 15 November 2026

Leafy Coll is a Cambridge-based plant biotechnology company. We use molecular biology, genome editing and synthetic biology to turn plants into high-value products.

We’re a small, collaborative and fast-moving team. Every scientist has real ownership of their work and a direct impact on our product pipeline.

We’re developing new lettuce varieties with improved commercial traits using CRISPR-Cas genome editing. This role covers the whole pipeline:

• Identifying candidate genes
• Developing editing constructs
• Lettuce transformation
• Tissue culture and regeneration
• Producing validated genome-edited plants

Our primary requirement is proven hands-on success in generating, regenerating and molecularly confirming genome-edited plants, ideally lettuce (Lactuca sativa).

Day to day, you will:

• Identify and prioritise candidate genes for commercial traits, using genomic, genetic and expression data.
• Design CRISPR-Cas editing constructs, including guide RNA selection, and oversee their assembly.
• Evaluate advanced CRISPR tools where there’s a scientific case for them. These include alternative Cas nucleases, PAM-flexible variants and precise editing systems.
• Carry out Agrobacterium-mediated lettuce transformation and optimise transformation efficiency.
• Perform lettuce tissue culture, shoot regeneration and rooting, and establish whole plants.
• Confirm editing events by genotyping and sequencing.
• Develop and characterise transgene‑free edited lines where feasible.
• Phenotype edited plants and report reproducible results against project milestones.
• Work with the Leafy Coll team and with external academic and industry partners.

You’ll need:

• A PhD (or be near completion) in plant molecular biology, plant biotechnology, plant genetics or a related field.
• Demonstrated personal success in generating, regenerating and sequence‑confirming CRISPR‑edited plants.
• Practical experience in Agrobacterium‑mediated plant transformation, tissue culture and whole‑plant regeneration, preferably in lettuce or related crops.
• The ability to run the full genome‑editing workflow independently. This means construct design and transformation through to regeneration, genotyping and molecular validation.
• Experience identifying candidate genes for plant traits and designing genome‑editing constructs.
• The ability to plan experiments independently, troubleshoot, document results and collaborate well.

It would also be great if you have:

• CRISPR editing, transformation and regeneration experience specifically in lettuce (Lactuca sativa).
• Experience transforming and regenerating commercially relevant vegetable cultivars.
• Experience with advanced CRISPR tools, such as Cas
  12a, multiplex editing, base editing and prime editing.
• Familiarity with engineered PAM‑flexible Cas variants (e.g. SpG or SpRY), guide optimisation and off‑target assessment.
• Experience with functional genomics and transient expression assays.
• Experience with miRNA, siRNA, RNAi or related gene‑silencing approaches.
• Plant phenotyping, metabolic engineering, or postdoctoral or industry experience.

You do not need every desirable skill to apply.

• £37,694 to £45,049 per annum, plus company pension.
• An 18‑month fixed‑term contract. It may be extended or become permanent, depending on business needs and performance.
• Scientific ownership of a high‑impact programme in a fast‑paced, collaborative startup.
• Professional development, and the chance to work with leading academic and industry partners.

This role could suit a recent PhD graduate, a postdoc, or an industry scientist ready to move into a startup and see their work go from bench to market.

Leafy Coll is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all backgrounds. Personal data submitted with applications will be used only for recruitment and handled in line with UK GDPR.

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK. Informal enquiries are welcome at the same email address.