Research Associate; Plant Science

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Prof Julie Gray and Dr Stuart Casson in the School of Biosciences are looking to appoint a Research Associate to join a BBSRC funded project to investigate the molecular basis of heat and drought stress tolerance in rice crops. You will work alongside a technician employed on the project and collaborate with researchers at the Universities of Penn State in USA, and Wurzburg in Germany, and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the Philippines who are involved in the project.

Our objective is to understand abiotic stress tolerance in traditional rice cultivars through studying genetic variations associated with growth in hot or dry environments. Several of our target genes are involved in regulating the production of stomata and hence levels of water loss. To explore whether these genetic variations can confer climate resilience we will compare the physiology and yield of hundreds of cultivars that contain either functional or non‑functional copies of the target genes, in carefully controlled environments and in also in tropical field trials.

We will verify the function of our target genes by genetically manipulating their expression and by using gene editing to recreate stress resilience in an elite modern rice variety.

Applicants must hold a PhD (or be close to completion/have equivalent postdoctoral level work experience) in plant or crop science, with proven experience of crop abiotic stress analysis, plant physiology, molecular biology, transgenics, stomatal biology and water loss. You will be responsible for designing, developing and performing experiments and data analysis. You will help to supervise a technician and will coordinate your work with collaborators to progress the project.

You will also disseminate the findings of this research by writing papers and presenting work at conferences and seminars.

• Provide the interdisciplinary skills and intellectual input to characterize many different rice cultivars at the physiological, cellular and molecular level.
• To generate new hypotheses and design appropriate experiments to achieve the objectives of the research project.
• Interact with collaborators and other researchers on the project to ensure that the research objectives are met.
• Discuss the required experiments and work with the research team and agree on a strategy to complete the planned work.
• Keep appropriate records of all work carried out and ensure that all data is stored securely in both raw and processed forms.
• Analyse and record data to design future experiments and produce useful findings for others.
• Prepare papers for journals / presentation in-house or at national and international conferences or seminars to disseminate research findings.
• Write supporting documents (such as protocols, reports, etc.) to support the research group and carry our administrative roles as required.
• Interact with and help supervise junior members of the research team.
• Provide support to other members of the research team in the same laboratory in a related field of research.
• Read academic papers, journals and textbooks and attend conferences to keep abreast of developments.
• Help to prepare and deliver public outreach activities.
• As a member of staff, you will be encouraged to make ethical decisions in your role, embedding the University sustainability strategy into your working activities wherever possible.
• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.

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