Research Coordinator; PAFTOL Project

Overview

This is an exciting time to join Kew Science and the Plants and Fungal Trees of Life (PAFTOL) project, one of Kew Science’s flagship initiatives. PAFTOL’s current phase, "Enhancing the Plant Tree of Life", aims to extend its established global Tree of Life agenda and develop new research focused on transforming taxonomy through genomic sequencing of botanical collections.

As Research Coordinator, you will be an active member of the project’s multi‑disciplinary team led by the Head of Tree of Life Team, playing a critical role in the successful delivery of this phase of PAFTOL. You will coordinate project data production, including securing samples (e.g., hands‑on sampling of Kew collections and sourcing samples from other institutions and researchers), managing collaborative networks both within and outside Kew, overseeing all laboratory work and day‑to‑day curation of the project database.

You will also provide support to the project PIs in overall project management and administrative tasks as required, and coordinate incoming project visitors and students.

You will have at least a MSc in a relevant field such as plant biology, evolutionary biology, genetics or genomics, and demonstrable skills and experience in relevant laboratory work, especially in next‑generation sequencing (NGS) and target sequence capture. You will have experience of coordinating research projects and building and maintaining collaboration networks. You will be a proven team player, with a great attention to detail and the ability to work independently, and the appetite to help deliver project outcomes.

The salary for this position is £39,243 - £42,154 per annum [Band D].

Benefits include opportunities for continuous learning, a generous annual leave entitlement, flexible working to support work‑life balance, an Employee Assistance Programme, a cycle‑to‑work scheme, discounted gym membership, a competitive pension, an employee discount scheme, and free entry to national museums and galleries. You also have access to Kew and Wakehurst gardens.

At Kew, our strength lies in the diversity of our people and the insights they bring. When you join us, you will find an organisation that values your perspective and lived experience. We provide support for achieving your full potential and access to development opportunities. Our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion is ongoing, shaped by the people who work here and the communities we serve.

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