Working at Durham University A globally outstanding centre of teaching and research excellence, a warm and friendly workplace, and a unique and historic setting - Durham is a university like no other. As one of the UK's leading universities, Durham is an incredible place to define your career. The University is located within a beautiful historic city, home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and surrounded by stunning countryside. Our talented scholars and researchers from around the world are tackling global issues and making a difference in people's lives. We believe that inspiring our people to do outstanding things at Durham enables Durham people to do exceptional things in the world. Being a part of Durham is about more than just the success of the University. It's also about contributing to the success of the city, county and community. Our university strategy is built on three pillars of research, education, and wider student experience, as well as our keen sense of community and of inspiring others to achieve their potential. Our Purpose and Values We want our University to be a place where people can be free to be themselves, regardless of their identity or background. Together, we celebrate differences, value one another and are each responsible for creating an inclusive community that is respectful and fair for all. Find out more about the benefits of working at the University and what it is like to live and work in the Durham area on our Why Join Us? - Information Page The Department Biosciences is one of the very best departments in the UK, and it has an outstanding reputation for excellence in teaching, research, and the employability of our students. The department provides a dynamic and interdisciplinary research environment, with the Cann group located within bespoke laboratories for interdisciplinary work at the biology-chemistry interface. The Role Carbon dioxide and sustainability Carbon dioxide is essential for life. It is at the beginning of every life process as a substrate for photosynthesis or chemosynthesis. It is at the end of every life process as the product of aerobic respiration and post-mortem decay. As such, it is not a surprise that this gas regulates such diverse processes as cellular chemical reactions, transport, maintenance of the cellular environment, behaviour and immunity. Carbon dioxide is a strategically important research target for crop responses to environmental change, insect-borne disease and public health. However, we know very little of the direct interactions of carbon dioxide with the cell, despite the importance of the gas to biology. Carbon dioxide mediates the earliest known example of a protein post-translational modification (PTM), identified on haemoglobin in 1928. Carbon dioxide can directly combine with select protein groups to form carbamates. Influential research programmes from the 1920s-80s demonstrated that the carbamate PTM regulates oxygen-binding in haemoglobin and activates the carbon dioxide-fixing enzyme Rubisco. George Lorimer proposed carbamate PTMs to regulate biological responses to carbon dioxide in 1983. However, the carbamate PTM is unstable outside the cell, and its identification presents significant analytical challenges. Several stable carbamates have been identified in protein molecular structures. Still, the technical difficulties in their widespread identification have resulted in carbon dioxide-mediated carbamylation being significantly understudied as a PTM. Direct protein targets for carbon dioxide sensing are mainly unknown. We have developed technology to identify carbon dioxide-binding proteins systematically. We propose investigating a newly identified carbon dioxide binding site on Rubisco, the plant carbon dioxide-fixing enzyme. The project aims to understand how carbon dioxide regulates Rubisco function at a binding site distinct from the enzyme's active site and how this binding can be engineered to improve Rubisco's catalytic activity. The research programme will provide insight into direct molecular responses to carbon dioxide in prokaryotic and eukaryotic photosynthetic organisms. A significant outcome of this proposal will be photosynthetic organisms with enhanced yield in industrial and agricultural biotechnology. The work will be performed in collaboration with colleagues at Lancaster University. The position offers an exciting opportunity to develop interdisciplinary biosciences and physical sciences skills. Please see here (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=cannmj&sort=pubdate&size=200) for publications from the PI in this and related fields. The post is fixed term for 36 months, and the successful candidate will be working with Prof Martin Cann (PI; Dept of Biosciences) at Durham University. Responsibilities : To understand and convey material of a specialist or highly technical nature to the team or group of people through presentations and discussions that lead to the presentation of research papers in conferences and publications. To prepare and deliver presentations on research outputs/activities to audiences, which may include research sponsors and academic and non-academic audiences. To publish high-quality outputs, including papers for submission to peer-reviewed journals and papers for presentation at conferences and workshops under the direction of the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder. To assist with the development of research objectives and proposals. To conduct individual and collaborative research projects under the direction of the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder. To work with the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder and other colleagues in the research group, as appropriate, to identify areas for research, develop new research methods and extend the research portfolio. To deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines by discussing them with the principal investigator or grant-holder and offering creative or innovative solutions. Liaise with research colleagues and make internal and external contacts to develop knowledge and understanding and form relationships for future research collaboration. To plan and manage own research activity and research resources in collaboration with others and contribute to the planning of research projects. To deliver training in research techniques/approaches to peers, visitors and students as appropriate. To be involved in student supervision, as appropriate, and assist with assessing students' knowledge. To contribute to fostering a collegial and respectful working environment that is inclusive and welcoming and where everyone is treated fairly, with dignity and respect. To engage in wider citizenship to support the department and broader discipline. To engage in continuing professional development by participating in undergraduate or postgraduate teaching programmes, membership in departmental committees, etc., and attending relevant training and development courses. This post is fixed term for 36 months, for this period only, due to the constraints of the available funding. Successful applicants will be in post by September 1st. The post-holder is employed to work on research/a research project, which another colleague will lead. Whilst this means that the post-holder will not be carrying out independent research in his/her own right, the expectation is that they will contribute to the advancement of the project by developing their research ideas/adaptation and development of research protocols. Working at Durham A competitive salary is only one part of the many fantastic benefits you will receive if you join the University: you will also receive access to the following fantastic benefits: • 30 Days annual leave per year in addition to 8 public holidays and four customary days per year - a total of 42 days per year. • The University closes between Christmas and New Year - please include or delete if not applicable. • We offer a generous pension scheme. As a new staff member, you will automatically be enrolled in the University Superannuation Scheme (USS). • No matter how you travel to work, we have you covered. We have parking across campus, a cycle-to-work scheme that helps you buy a bike, and discounts with local bus and train companies. • There is a genuine commitment to developing our colleagues professionally and personally. There is a comprehensive range of development courses, apprenticeships and access to qualifications and routes to build your career at the University. All staff have dedicated annual time to concentrate on their personal development opportunities. • Lots of support for health and wellbeing, including discounted membership for our state-of-the-art sport and gym facilities and access to a 24-7 Employee Assistance Programme. • On-site nursery and access to holiday camps for children aged 5-16 are available. • Family-friendly policies, including maternity and adoption leave, are among the most generous in the higher education sector (and likely above and beyond many employers). • The opportunity to take part in staff volunteering activities to make a difference in the local community • Discounts are available via our benefits portal, including money off at supermarkets, high street retailers, IT products such as Apple, the cinema and days out at various attractions. • A salary sacrifice scheme is also available to help you take advantage of tax savings on benefits. • If you are moving to Durham, you may be eligible for help with removal costs, and we have a dedicated team who can help you with the practicalities such as house hunting and schools. If you need a visa, we cover most visa costs and offer an interest-free loan scheme to pay for dependent visas. Discover more about our total rewards and benefits package here. Durham University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion Equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are key components of the university's strategy and are central to everything we do. We also live by our Purpose and Values and our Staff Code of Conduct. At Durham, we actively work towards providing an environment where our staff and students can study, work, and live in a supportive and inclusive community. It's important to us that all colleagues undertake activities that are aligned with both our values and commitment to EDI. We welcome and encourage applications from those who are currently under-represented in our workforce, including people with disabilities and from racially minoritised ethnic groups. If you have taken a career break or periods of leave that may have impacted the volume and recency of your research outputs and other activities, such as maternity, adoption or parental leave, you may wish to disclose this in your application. The selection committee will take this into account when evaluating your application. The University has been awarded the Disability Confident Leader status. If you are a candidate with a disability, we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process. We will make adjustments to support the interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so, and where successful, reasonable adjustments will be made to support people within their roles. How to Apply For informal enquiries, please contact Prof Martin Cann at [m.j.cann@durham.ac.uk]. All enquiries will be treated in the strictest confidence. Contact information for technical difficulties when submitting your application If you encounter technical difficulties when using the online application form, we prefer you send enquiries by email. Please send your name along with abrief description of the problem you're experiencing toe.recruitment@durham.ac.uk Alternatively, you may call 0191 334 6801 from the UK or 44 191 334 6801 outside the UK. This number operates during the hours of 09.00 and 17.00, Monday to Friday, UK time. We usually respond within one working day (Monday to Friday, excluding UK public holidays). University contact for general queries about the recruitment process For general queries, please contact e.recruitment@durham.ac.uk How to Apply To progress to the assessment stage, candidates must provide evidence of each of the essential criteria required for the role in the person specification below. It will be at the discretion of the recruiting panel as to whether they will also consider any desirable criteria. Still, we would urge candidates to provide evidence for all criteria. While some criteria will be considered at the shortlisting stage, other criteria may be considered later in the assessment process, such as questions at the interview. Submitting your application We prefer to receive applications online. We will update you about your application at various points throughout the selection process via automated emails from our e-recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to make sure you have not missed any of our updates. What to Submit All applicants are asked to submit: A CV and cover letter detailing your experience, skills, and achievements in meeting (or the potential to meet) the criteria below. Next Steps The assessment for the post will normally include an interview and we anticipate that the assessments and interviews will take place in or around late July. If you cannot attend on the date offered, it may not be possible to offer you an interview on an alternative date. Please note that in submitting your application, Durham University will be processing your data. We ask you to consider the relevant University Privacy Statement for Job Applicants/Potential Job Applicants - Durham University, which provides information on the collation, storage, and use of data. When appointing to this role, the University must ensure that it meets any applicable immigration requirements, including salary thresholds which apply to some visas. Person Specification Essential: Qualifications A good first degree in biological sciences or chemistry. A PhD in molecular bioscience or biochemistry OR be close to being awarded. Experience Experience in conducting high-quality academic research. Demonstrable ability to write material commensurate with publication in highly-ranked journals. Demonstrable ability to present research papers at international conferences and communicate complex information to specialists and within the wider academic community. Experience in proteomics or in vitro biochemistry. Experience in recombinant protein production. Experience in molecular biology. Experience in microbiology Skills Demonstrable ability to work cooperatively as part of a team, including participating in research meetings. Ability to work independently on own initiative and to strict deadlines. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Desirable: Experience Experience in carbon dioxide in biological systems Experience in cyanobacteria culture and genetics Strong publication record in peer-reviewed journals, commensurate with the stage of career. A track record of presenting research at conferences, symposia, or meetings commensurate with the career stage. Demonstrable ability to develop research proposals and designs in collaboration with other academics. Experience overseeing students in developing their practical/research skills, e.g., acting as a demonstrator supervising student projects/practicals. Skills Demonstrable ability to plan and manage independent research.