Grade UE07: £41,064-£48,822 per annum pro-rata if part-time
College of Science and Engineering / School of Biological Sciences
Full-time: 35 hours per week
Fixed-term: for 36 months
The Opportunity:
We are looking to employ a postdoctoral researcher on a 36‑month contract to join the research group of Professor Susan Rosser, chair of synthetic biology at the University of Edinburgh Centre for Engineering Biology to work on development of gene switches for use in gene therapy. The selected researcher will join an internationally recognised, friendly, diverse, inclusive and enthusiastic team. You will become part of the Engineered Genetic Control Systems for Advanced Therapeutics Hub (https://biology.ed.ac.uk/advanced-therapeutics-hub). The hub, Directed by Prof Rosser, is a £14M 5‑year UKRI sponsored research program across 4 institutions (Edinburgh, Oxford, Imperial, CRUK SI) pioneering engineering biology for advanced therapeutics. It is developing novel genetic tools to render gene therapies safe and effective, with initial focus on oncology, cardiovascular diseases and rare diseases.
This specific role involves developing and experimentally validating engineered genetic switches at the transcriptional and post‑transcriptional levels, such as synthetic promoters and riboswitches, for gene therapy applications. The successful candidate will have experience in synthetic biology approaches and expertise in mammalian cell engineering and RNA biology.
The post holder will have many opportunities for multidisciplinary collaborative working with academic colleagues from the different institutional partners and industry. This includes training and professional development opportunities arising from being embedded and working with communities of translational scientists.
This post offers an excellent opportunity for academic career advancement in a world‑renowned centre of excellence for synthetic/engineering biology. The University of Edinburgh hosts a large diverse, dynamic and multidisciplinary engineering biology community of more than 50 research groups. The University of Edinburgh’s synthetic biology facilities are second‑to‑none, and include the Edinburgh Genome Foundry (https://biology.ed.ac.uk/research/facilities/edinburgh-genome-foundry) and Edinomics (https://biology.ed.ac.uk/research/facilities/edinomics).
Applicants must have a PhD in synthetic/engineering biology, molecular biology, RNA biology for appointment at Research Associate level. Applicants close to completion of their PhDs will also be considered where experience is directly relevant. Please see the job description and person specification document associated with this advert for the full list of criteria.
This post is advertised as full‑time (35 hours per week), however, we are open to considering part‑time or flexible working patterns.
Your skills and attributes for success:
* PhD (or completion within 3 months) in engineering biology or related subject with synthetic/engineering biology experience.
* Experience in engineering biology, RNA biology and molecular biology.
* Experience in mammalian cell engineering.
* Experience in the design and application of gene control systems, including synthetic promoters and/or riboswitches.
* Excellent written and verbal communication skills with ability to build rapport with colleagues and collaborators.
Click to view a copy of the full job description.
Enquiries:
Susan.Rosser@ed.ac.uk
Application Information
Please ensure you include BOTH documents in your application to be considered for the role:
* CV
* Cover letter outlining your fit and motivation for the role
As a valued member of our team, you can expect:
* A competitive salary.
* An exciting, positive, creative, challenging and rewarding place to work.
* To be part of a diverse and vibrant international community.
* Comprehensive Staff Benefits, including generous annual leave entitlement, a defined benefits pension scheme, a wide range of staff discounts, family‑friendly initiatives, and flexible work options. Check out the full list on our staff benefits page and use our reward calculator to discover the value of your pay and benefits.
Championing equality, diversity, and inclusion
The University of Edinburgh holds a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance gender equality in higher education. We are members of the Race Equality Charter, and we are also Stonewall Scotland Diversity Champions, actively promoting LGBT equality.
Prior to any employment commencing with the University, you will be required to evidence your right to work in the UK. Further information is available on our right to work webpages.
The University may be able to sponsor the employment of international workers in this role. This will depend on a number of factors specific to the successful applicant.
Key dates to note
The closing date for applications is 10th April 2026.
Unless stated otherwise the closing time for applications is 11:59pm GMT. If you are applying outside the UK the closing time on our adverts automatically adjusts to your browsers local time zone.
Interviews will be held at a date to be confirmed upon review of the applications.
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