Postdoctoral Researcher; Charpentier Group

Salary: £37,500 – £45,350 per annum depending on qualifications and experience

Contract: 36 months, full-time

Location: John Innes Centre, Norwich, UK

Closing date: 27 th February 2026

Reference: 1006041

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Postdoctoral Researcher to join the Charpentier Group at the John Innes Centre, working on cutting‑edge science in the field of plant calcium signalling.

The Charpentier group focuses on understanding the calcium signalling network controlling endosymbiotic interactions between soil microbes and crops. The overall aim of the project is to characterize novel signalling processes that enable plant root endosymbiosis.

Working as part of a team led by Prof. Myriam Charpentier, you will explore the molecular mechanisms underlying nuclear calcium oscillation decoding and the enhancement of root legume endosymbiosis. The successful applicant will creatively investigate the dynamics of regulatory networks at the interface of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis and nitrogen‑fixing bacteria colonisation using genetics, molecular biology and cell biology approaches. They will benefit from a highly interdisciplinary and international environment with outstanding institutional support.

In this role, you will have the opportunity to work in a collaborative environment and develop your skills in areas of interest.

You will have or be close to finishing a PhD in plant genetics or plant molecular biology. The ideal candidate will have demonstrated experience in plant cell signalling and have a strong background in genetics and molecular biology. Experience in proteomics is not essential but would be advantageous.

The post holder will work in a collegial, multidisciplinary, and interactive team. The candidate will assist in the supervision of students, deliver seminars, and be involved in writing up the research, therefore good communication and writing skills are essential.

Interviews are planned for 17 th March 2026.

For further information and details of how to apply, please refer to the application portal or contact the Human Resources team on or  quoting reference 1006041.

This role meets the criteria for a visa application, and we encourage all qualified candidates to apply. Where the successful applicant requires a visa, we will fund the costs for their visa and the Immigration Health Surcharge. Please contact the Human Resources Team if you have any questions regarding your application or visa options.

We are an equal opportunities employer, actively supporting inclusivity and diversity. As a Disability Confident organisation, we guarantee to offer an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for this vacancy. We are proud to hold a prestigious Gold Athena SWAN award in recognition of our inclusive culture, commitment and good practices towards advancing of gender equality. We offer an exciting, stimulating, diverse research environment and actively promote a family friendly workplace.

The Institute is also a member of Stonewall’s Diversity Champions programme.

The John Innes Centre is a registered charity (No. 223852) grant-aided by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.

Applications are invited for a three‑year Postdoctoral Researcher position in the group of Professor Anne Osbourn OBE FRS NAS at the John Innes Centre to work on metabolic diversification of triterpenoid bioactives, inspired by the chemical diversity of the Plant Kingdom. The post is part of a larger programme in the Osbourn lab on harnessing plant metabolic diversity for medicinal, agricultural and other applications.