Vertical farming brings significant benefits to fresh produce production including reductions in waste, carbon emissions, water and pesticide usage, and food miles. These are possible because vertical farming can precisely control all aspects of the cultivation environment (light, temperature, humidity, CO2 concentration etc.). However, the current generation of farms cannot deliver the productivity to compete with existing mass-market supply-chains at the scale required. This research project led by industrial partners Acer and the University of Essex will overcome the key limitation to current vertical farms' ability to compete effectively by using a state-of-the-art, high-fidelity machine learning simulation to develop and demonstrate outstanding cutting-edge technologies (Acer's Environmental Control System) that separate the air around the plant canopy, reducing the volume of air managed, and enabling precise control of the microclimate around all plants, in all locations within the farm. At the University of Essex expertise from Professor Tracy Lawson’s lab will be used to generate training data for simulations as well as use the experience already gain to develop novel low-energy cultivation recipes. We are seeking to appoint a Research Officer and Senior Research Officer.
Duties of the Role
The Research Officer post will undertake research in the laboratory of Prof. Tracy Lawson, on a Innovate UK funded project “Develop and demonstrate the environmental control technologies and cultivation processes that vertical farms need to achieve mass-market productivity” in the School of Life Sciences. This work is a collaboration lead by industrial partners Acer.
This Senior Research Officer post will undertake research in the laboratory of Prof. Tracy Lawson, on UK industry and Commerce funded project with Acer Resources Limited on “Optimisation of dynamic cultivation treatments for leafy greens” in the School of Life Sciences.
A full list of the duties can be found in the attached job packs.
Both posts are fixed term until 30 June 2025 and the working hours are 18 hours per week (0.5FTE).
Please clearly indicate on your application which post(s) you wish to be considered for.
Skills and qualifications required
The successful candidate for the Senior Research Officer post will possess a PhD in Plant Biology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, physiology or related discipline, or be close to completion of PhD.
The successful candidate for the Research Officer post will possess a Bsc (Hons) in Biology, Botany, Plant Sciences, Horticulture or related discipline.
As part of the process and to be successful you will be required to demonstrate how you your research has been impactful within and beyond the academic sphere, recognising the importance of this and the effect it will have on the University.
The University of Essex is a campus based University and all academic appointments are made with the expectation that you will be present on campus to fulfil the requirements of your position. At the time of a job offer, the possibility of hybrid working, will be discussed and considered on an individual basis, but you will be required to be based within the UK.