Senior​/Lead Mycologist

Rhizocore is an innovative biotechnology company based at Roslin Innovation Centre, developing pioneering mycorrhizal fungal technologies that improve tree establishment, reduce reliance on synthetic fertilisers, and increase soil carbon sequestration. Following recent investment and expansion into the UK and US markets, we are now seeking an exceptional Senior / Lead Mycologist to take ownership of one of the company’s most strategically important scientific assets — our fungal strain library.

This is a rare opportunity for an experienced mycologist to combine field taxonomy, molecular biology, fungal culturing, and operational leadership in a role with real environmental impact.

You will lead the strategic and operational expansion of Rhizocore’s fungal collection — sourcing, identifying, preserving, and scaling native ectomycorrhizal fungi for commercial deployment into forestry and reforestation projects.

This is not a purely lab-based role. You will move between:

• Field expeditions across the UK and internationally to collect fungal specimens
• Laboratory leadership
  , developing novel culturing and preservation methods
• Operational management
  , overseeing strain library growth, team activity, and scientific priorities
• Commercial application
  , helping bring cutting-edge mycology into large-scale forestry deployment

If you are excited by the idea of building one of the most important applied fungal libraries in Europe, this role offers a platform to do exactly that.

You will:

• Lead fungal collection programmes in the UK and internationally
• Expand and curate Rhizocore’s living fungal strain library
• Develop innovative culturing methodologies to broaden species diversity
• Apply DNA barcoding, PCR, and molecular identification techniques
• Manage field and laboratory teams, workflows, and H&S protocols
• Maintain robust scientific records, sample traceability, and data systems
• Support media optimisation, fungal growth studies, and strain deployment strategy
• Contribute to the wider scientific and commercial direction of the business

We’d love to hear from candidates with:

• MSc / PhD (or equivalent experience) in Mycology, Microbiology, Environmental Science, or related discipline
• Strong fungal taxonomy and identification expertise
• Hands‑on experience in fungal isolation, aseptic culturing, and microscopy
• Molecular biology capability including DNA extraction, PCR, and barcoding
• Leadership experience managing teams, projects, or scientific operations
• Excellent organisational and expedition‑planning skills
• Full UK driving licence
• Willingness to travel nationally and internationally

• Media formulation and optimisation expertise
• Budget and project management experience
• Existing links to mycological networks or fungal recording groups
• Outdoor leadership / remote fieldwork experience

• Work on genuinely novel applied mycology
• Build solutions for climate resilience, forestry health, and biodiversity recovery
• Join a high-growth biotech at a pivotal scale-up stage
• Flexible working arrangements
• Strong wellbeing and development focus
• Opportunity to influence both scientific direction and operational strategy