Research Associate, Research Scientist

Job number ENG
03975 Faculties Faculty of Engineering Departments Department of Bioengineering Salary or Salary range £49,017 - £57,472 per annum Location/campus South Kensington and White City Campus
- On site only Contract type work pattern Full time
- Fixed term Posting End Date 29 Jul 2026

We are looking for a Postdoctoral Researcher to lead work in generating novel grown materials in the synthetic biology research group of Professor Tom Ellis in the Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London .

Thisrole will work onusing synthetic biologytools in microbes to build genetic systems that trigger polymerisation of materials that can be used as part of novel sustainable foods and their packaging.

The role is part ofthe

Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein

You willgeneticallyengineermicrobestopolymerise gels and carbohydrate polymers and co-produce and secrete material and functional proteins, including enzymes.

You will need to collaborate closely withother researchers at the Bezos Centrewho will test the materials and provide training in developing and taking novelfoods to market.

You will get to work on this high-profile,blue skiesproject and make usestate of the art techniques and technologies in a collaborative working environment within and across institutions.

You should have a PhD in synthetic biology(or equivalent) for appointment at Research Associate level. Applicants close to completion of their PhDs will also be considered where experience is directly relevant.

You willneedto be experienced with Golden Gate Assembly, Gibson Assembly, Genetic Logic Gate Design, CRISPRgenomeediting, Fluorescence Microscopy, Rheology, AFM,Mammalian Cell Cultureand Protein Engineering. Publicationsdemonstratingexperience in Living Materials are essential.

You will be expected to work within a collaborative team project across 5 institutions, to co-run technical workshops, to share data, tools and methods with relevant stakeholders and engage with those working on ethics and governance projects.

• The opportunity to continue your career at a world-leading institutionthat is regarded as the number one hub for synthetic biology research in Europe.
• A position in a group highly regarded for its research, for its positive nature and for the excellent outcomes of its alumni, many of whom are now group leaders of their own or founders of start-up companies.
• Sector-leading salary andremunerationpackage (including 39days off a yearand generous pension schemes)

This is a full-time fixed-term contract for 24 months.

Welcome to Imperial, a global top-ten university where scientific imagination leads to world-changing impact.

Join us and be part of something bigger. From global health to climate change, AI to business leadership, here at Imperial we navigate some of the world’s toughest challenges. Whatever your role, your contribution will have a lasting impact.

As a member of our vibrant community of 22,000 students and 8,000 staff, you’ll collaborate with passionate minds across nine London campuses and a global network.

This is your chance to help shape the future. We hope you’ll join us at Imperial College London.

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