Research Associate; Sociology of Emerging Science

On the 1 August 2026, The University of Greenwich and the University of Kent will form a pioneering new multi-university group called London and South-East (LASE) University Group. Should you join us, you will be employed by LASE and within this, you will be closely connected to and work across one of our academic divisions (University of Greenwich or University of Kent), contributing to its distinct strengths, community and identity.

Combining these strengths, LASE brings scale, resilience and shared ambition to deliver outstanding education, impactful research, and meaningful regional and global impact.

How can the UK shape the future of synthetic plants in ways that foster innovation, sustainability, and meaningful public participation? Join the ARIA-funded project Futuring Biological Commons, which aims to advance the UK’s governing approach on synthetic plants, support a sustainable research and industrial ecosystem, and promote meaningful public deliberation.

In this fixed-term research post, you will work closely with Professor Joy Y. Zhang and a transdisciplinary research team comprising experts from the social sciences, synthetic biology, industrial biotechnology, and civil society. You will contribute to the development of an empirically grounded, future-oriented approach to relational plant ethics, exploring care for techno-lifeforms and ‘symbiodiversity’, while identifying practical strategies to address structural and cultural barriers to the responsible development and adoption of synthetic plant technologies.

• Ensure the successful and timely delivery of the Futuring Biological Commons project, fostering a collaborative, collegial, and interdisciplinary research environment.
• Actively contribute to the research culture and intellectual community of the Centre for Global Science and Epistemic Justice and the School of Social Sciences, engaging in knowledge exchange and academic development initiatives.

• Proven ability to independently design and conduct rigorous empirical social research, demonstrating methodological excellence.
• Strong research track record, evidenced by publications in internationally recognised peer-reviewed journals and presentations at academic conferences.
• Comprehensive knowledge of emerging applications in engineering biology and their socio-environmental implications, particularly in areas such as agriculture, food systems, and ecological sustainability.
• Experience in collaborative research and interdisciplinary teamwork, with a demonstrated ability to engage diverse stakeholders across academic, policy, industry and public sectors.

As a member of our team, you can expect a friendly, open and collaborative working environment and support in your development and wellbeing. You'll enjoy a range of great staff benefits including:

• 43 days leave per year (personal leave, bank holidays and additional days allocated for the Christmas period, pro-rata for part-time staff).
• Excellent pension scheme with generous employer contributions.
• Corporate employee-funded healthcare plan, in partnership with Benenden Health.

For more information about what you can look forward to if you join us, visit our dedicated webpage:
Working at Kent.

The role is based within the School of Social Sciences and the Centre for Global Science and Epistemic Justice (GSEJ), a university-wide research centre dedicated to advancing innovative and internationally connected research. The School was ranked 3rd in the UK for overall research quality in , with 100% of its research environment assessed as world-leading. GSEJ serves as a hub for transdisciplinary collaboration on major global challenges, having co-hosted the G20 India–UK Dialogue on Science Diplomacy and contributed recommendations on biodata governance to the Think 7 communiqué for the 2024 G7 presidency.

We are ambitious for our people, our communities and the region we serve – join us in making the world a better place. Visit our website for more on who we are:

Please see the links below to view the…