View Vacancy -- MRC Postdoctoral Research Scientist in Plant Bioengineering LMS 2647
Open Date
25/06/2025, 10:00
Close Date
21/07/2025, 23:55
Research Institute
MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences
Research Institute / Unit Information
The LMS is a world-class research laboratory where scientists and clinicians collaborate to advance the understanding of biology and its application to medicine. Funded by the MRC as part of UK Research and Innovation, the LMS has a collaborative working culture and new state-of-the-art building based in the heart of West London in the Hammersmith Hospital Campus (W12).
The LMS aims to deliver transdisciplinary team science, in synergistic interaction with Imperial College and the wider national research environment. Part of achieving this, is to recruit new talent and support postdoctoral scientists to become world leaders in their area of science.
UK Research and Innovation is a new entity that brings together nine partners to create an independent organisation with a strong voice for research and innovation, more information can be found at www.ukri.org
Band
MRC - 4
Location
London
Salary
£41,344 plus London allowances £5,385 per annum
Allowances
Additional allowances comprise a £1,000 lump sum Settlement Allowance plus a yearly Training Allowance of £850 in the first year, paid in monthly instalments. The Training Allowance increases to £1,300 in year two, and £1,800 in the third year.
Contract Type
Fixed Term
Job Type
Science
Full Time / Part Time
Full Time
Contract Length
3 years
Job Description
Overall purpose:
We are a team of six people based at the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences. We love seeing our work going all the way from basic science discoveries to real-life technology or a product. We are interested in understanding how to design plant responses and development, and in the next three years we aim to progress towards creating plants with various designer traits. The work will include plant transformation, and experiments in plant tissue culture, focusing on how to create complex traits with low burden.
In the last several years, we mainly worked on engineering bioluminescence in plants ( https://light.bio/ ), and understanding the structure-function relationship in proteins ( https://www.nature.com/articles/nature17995 ).
Our current focus is on applying synthetic biology to design plants with agricultural and aesthetic applications.
For more information about the lab, visit our website: https://www.designing.bio/
Key Responsibilities
* To take initiatives in the planning of research
* To identify and develop suitable techniques, and apparatus, for the collection and analysis of data
* To conduct data analysis
* To ensure the validity and reliability of data at all times
* To maintain accurate and complete records of all findings
* To write reports for submission to research sponsors
* To present findings to colleagues and at conferences
* To submit publications to refereed journals
* To provide guidance to staff and students
* To attend relevant workshops and conferences as necessary
* To develop contacts and research collaborations within the LMS and the wider community
* To promote the reputation of the Group, the Institute
* To provide guidance to PhD Students
* To conduct and plan own scientific work with appropriate supervision
* To maintain highly organised and accurate record of experimental work
* To actively participate in the research programme of the Group
* To publish in high quality journals and to present data at national and international meetings
* To participate in Group research meetings and internal seminars
* To collaborate with other allied scientists within UKRI, Imperial College and elsewhere in London and abroad, as appropriate
* To contribute to the smooth running of the Group's laboratories and, facilities with other scientists, clinicians, technicians and students within the laboratories
* Assist in the supervision of undergraduate and postgraduate research students and research assistants as required
* To comply with the Institute, College, Division, and Unit safety practices and to attend courses on safety when appropriate
* Any other duties as may be deemed reasonable by Head of group as well as Head of Institute/ /Department/Section
Person Specification
Education / Qualifications / Training required (will be assessed from application form):
Essential:
* PhD (or equivalent experience) in research, industrial or commercial experience
Knowledge and experience (will be assessed from application form and at interview):
Essential:
* Knowledge of plant biology
* Knowledge of research methods and statistical procedures
* Practical experience in molecular biology techniques
* Practical experience within a research environment and / or publication in relevant and refereed journals
* Experience in plant biology and plant transformation
* One first-author publication in a peer-reviewed journal
Personal Skills / Behaviours / Qualities (will be assessed at the interview):
Essential:
* Ability to conduct a detailed review of recent literature
* Ability to develop and apply new concepts
* Creative approach to problem-solving
* Excellent verbal communication skills and the ability to deal with a wide range of people
* Excellent written communication skills and the ability to write clearly and succinctly for publication
* Ability to organise own work with minimal supervision
* Ability to prioritise own work in response to deadlines
* Advanced computer skills, including word-processing, spreadsheets and the Internet
* Willingness to work as part of a team and to be open-minded and cooperative
* Flexible attitude towards work
* Discipline and regard for confidentiality and security at all times
* Willingness to undertake any necessary training for the role
* Willingness to travel both within the United Kingdom and abroad to conduct research and attend conferences
* Willingness to work out of normal working hours (including weekends) if the requirements of the project demand
Further Information
Applicants should submit a CV, names and contacts of two scientific references along with a cover letter stating why you are applying for this role (providing evidence against the requirements of the job as per the job description and person specification). Applications without a cover letter will not be accepted. Please quote reference number LMS 2647.
Please note that applications may be reviewed by both LMS and Imperial staff
This role qualifies for endorsement by UKRI for a UK Global Talent Visa, for which the successful applicant is likely to be eligible to apply. We will also reimburse the cost of visa application (terms and conditions apply).
The MRC is a unique working environment where scientific researchers and professional support staff can actively partake in world class innovation and collaboration opportunities and their skills and knowledge through accessing a wide catalogue of training & development, including professional registration with the Science Council.
In addition, MRC (part of UKRI) provides its community of employees access to a whole host of useful benefits, including a defined benefit pension scheme and excellent holiday entitlement (30 days plus 2.5 privilege days & 8 bank holidays), family friendly policies (6 months full pay maternity & adoption leave), a range of shopping/travel discounts, access to our Employee Assistant Programme Scheme, Health and Wellbeing Support and a salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. Please follow this link to find out more - Benefits
Our success is dependent upon our ability to embrace diversity and draw on the skills, understanding and experience of all our people. We warmly invite people from diverse backgrounds and heritage, including people who identify as having a disability, to apply for a role that excites them. As "Disability Confident" employers, we guarantee to interview all applicants who have disclosed they have a disability and who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy.
UKRI supports research in areas that include animal health, agriculture and food security, and bioscience for health which includes research on animals, genetic modification and stem cell research. Whilst you may not have direct involvement in this type of research, you should consider whether this conflicts with your personal values or beliefs.
We will conduct a full and comprehensive pre-employment check as an essential part of the recruitment process on all individuals that are offered a position with UKRI. This will include a security check and an extreme organisations affiliation check. The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.