Senior Research Associate in Control Engineering​/Engineering Biology

UK date and time: 11-September-2026 00:04

Department of Engineering Science, Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PJ

We are seeking a full-time senior researcher to work with the group of Prof Antonis Papachristodoulou at the Department of Engineering Science in central Oxford. The post is funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and is fixed-term for up to thirty six months.

This position is part of the recently funded EPSRC Programme Grant “EEBio:
Efficient engineering and control of predictable and reliable biotechnologies”, a collaboration between the universities of Oxford, Bristol, and Imperial College as well as several industry and academic partners. The research project will develop new technologies underpinning Synthetic/Engineering Biology, with the goal of transforming the field to add reliability, robustness, and predictability throughout the biological design process.

For this post, candidates with experience in the intersection of Control Engineering, mathematical modelling and Engineering Biology are being sought. The successful candidate will work in collaboration with our interdisciplinary team that includes experts in synthetic biology, mathematics, robotics, control, AI, and biotechnology more broadly, and also interface with EEBio team members at Imperial College and the University of Bristol.

You should hold a PhD/DPhil together with relevant experience at the intersection of control engineering, mathematical biology and Engineering/Synthetic Biology, and strong computational skills. You should have excellent written and oral communication skills and a strong ability to work as part of an interdisciplinary team.

At the University of Oxford your happiness and wellbeing at work is important to us. We have a number of generous benefits including 38 days' annual leave (inclusive of bank holidays and fixed closure days), generous pension schemes and free access to the Oxford colleges.

The other benefits include:

• Travel
  - We have several travel schemes available for staffwhich promote sustainable modes of transport.
• Family friendly benefits
  - We aim to be a family-friendly employer and offer a range of flexible working options. We have some of the most generous family leave provision in the Higher Education sector.
• Sports – We have several schemes to help you stay fit and healthy, including discounted membership of the university sports centre on the Iffley Road
• Personal and professional development
  - We actively encourage all staff to participate in planning their personal and professional development and provide a broad range of opportunities to enablethemto reach their full potential.
• University club
  - All staff are entitled to free membership of the University Club. It offers social and hospitality facilities, a small gym and exercise classes.
• Staff discounts
  - University staff can access shopping discounts in several ways; by purchasing a TOTUM card, by showing an employee pass in selected local stores, or online by using any of the listed discount codes
• Childcare services
  - We offer excellent childcare services including five University nurseries as well as University-supported places at other local private nurseries.

Applications are particularly welcome from women and black and minority ethnic candidates who are under‑representative in academic posts in Oxford. The Department is committed to equality and valuing diversity and holds an Athena Swan Bronze award, highlighting its commitment to promoting gender equality in academia. The University is a Living Wage Employer, holds an Athena Swan Silver Award, an HR Excellence in Research and a Race Equality Charter Bronze Award and is a Stonewall Diversity Champion.

Our staff and students come from all over the world, and we seek to create a friendly and inclusive culture. Diversity is positively encouraged, through our EDI Committee, working groups and networks, for example  , as well as a number of family friendly policies .