Senior Group Leader, Advanced Genome Technologies - Plant Biology Institute

About EIT

At the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT), we're on a mission to translate scientific discovery into real‑world impact. We bring together visionary scientists, technologists, engineers, researchers, educators and innovators to tackle humanity's greatest challenges in four transformative areas:

• Health, Medical Science & Generative Biology
• Food Security & Sustainable Agriculture
• Climate Change & Managing CO₂
• Artificial Intelligence & Robotics

The Plant Biology Institute, headed by Professor Steve Kelly, is a key part of EIT Oxford. It aims to develop impactful and commercially sustainable solutions for improving global food production and planetary health through pioneering plant science research.

The Institute will unite world‑class researchers focused on expanding the frontiers of plant science. Our research seeks to improve the climate and ecosystem outcomes of food production by embedding cutting‑edge plant science within an organisation that solves global challenges at scale.

Areas of exploration include:

• Improved plant productivity, both indoors and outside
• Reduced reliance on inputs including water, fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides
• Novel decarbonised plant‑based production platforms for food and medicines
• Advanced technologies that speed up discovery and deployment in plants

We are seeking a visionary and accomplished Group Leader/Senior Group Leader in Advanced Genome Technologies to lead a transformative research programme at the forefront of plant biotechnology. This senior leadership role is integral to shaping a newly established and rapidly scaling Plant Biology Institute that aspires to become a global leader in delivering scientific breakthroughs with real‑world impact.

• Contribute to the development and expansion of a newly established plant sciences research institute aiming to scale rapidly over the next 5 years to become a global leader in plant science research.
• Establish, lead, and continuously evolve a flagship research programme in advanced genome technologies, with a particular emphasis on novel plant transformation, plant regeneration, and/or novel DNA/RNA delivery systems.
• Work with internal teams to define the path to impact for the research program. Design and execute research programmes to ensure that all research programmes are value and purpose driven.
• Recruit and lead a top‑talent team of research scientists including group leaders, post‑docs and PhD candidates. Hire based on competency, experience and values. Manage based on clear performance targets and accountability. Maintain a positive, engaged culture in line with EIT Oxford values.

• Contribute to planning and communicating the scientific direction of the advanced genome technology program, aimed at changing the art of the possible in plant engineering through advances in plant transformation technologies (large‑scale DNA delivery, targeted insertions, engineering Agrobacterium, high‑throughput approaches and/or automation).
• Direct the activities of the research group by supervising projects personally and overseeing projects delegated to group members, providing intellectual energy and independent thinking necessary to lead a programme of cutting‑edge research and shape the overall aims and success of the group.
• Drive rigorous experimental design, execution and data interpretation, ensuring robust and reproducible scientific outcomes.
• Manage research program through stage‑gated milestones, making active, no‑/no‑go decisions based on validated research data. Design research programmes to enable delivery requirements to be considered through development and implementation. Identify pre‑emptive decisions to enable future scale‑up.
• Manage project resources – including personnel, equipment and budgets – in coordination with the senior leadership team.
• Ensure research is conducted ethically and in compliance with EIT policy, regulatory guidance and best scientific practice.
• Generate, maintain and manage collaborations with key teams across EIT Oxford and in the wider scientific and commercial ecosystem to…