About EIT
At the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT), we’re on a mission to translate scientific discovery into real‑world impact. We bring together visionary scientists, technologists, engineers, researchers, educators and innovators to tackle humanity’s greatest challenges in four transformative areas:
* Health, Medical Science & Generative Biology
* Food Security & Sustainable Agriculture
* Artificial Intelligence & Robotics
Plant Biology Institute
The Plant Biology Institute, headed by Professor Steve Kelly, is a key part of EIT in Oxford. Its aim is to develop impactful and commercially sustainable solutions for improving global food production and planetary health through pioneering plant science research.
Areas of exploration include:
* Improved plant productivity, both indoors and outside
* Reduced reliance on inputs including water, fertilisers, pesticides, and herbicides.
* Novel decarbonised plant‑based production platforms for food and medicines
* Advanced technologies that speed up discovery and deployment in plants.
Your Role
We are seeking a visionary and accomplished Group Leader in Plant and Cell‑Based Production to contribute to a transformative research programme at the forefront of plant biotechnology. The role is integral to shaping a newly established, rapidly scaling Plant Biology Institute that aspires to become a global leader in delivering scientific breakthroughs with real‑world impact.
Responsibilities
Leadership
* Contribute to the development and expansion of a newly established plant science institute which will scale rapidly over the next 5 years to become a global leader.
* Establish and lead a research group focused on plant specialised metabolism discovery and engineering, plant cell culture optimisation, and/or the genetic regulation of plant cells in culture, designing and executing projects that advance both foundational understanding and applied innovation.
* Work with internal teams to define the path to impact for the research program and to ensure that all research programs are value‑driven.
* Recruit and lead a top‑talent team of research scientists, including post‑docs and PhD candidates. Manage hiring, set clear performance targets, and maintain a positive, engaged culture in line with EIT Oxford values.
Research Excellence
* Plan and communicate the scientific direction of the advanced genome technology program aimed at changing the art of the possible in plant cell‑based production.
* Supervise projects personally and oversee those delegated to group members; provide intellectual leadership and shape the overall aims and success of the group.
* Drive rigorous experimental design, execution and data interpretation, ensuring robust and reproducible scientific outcomes.
* Manage the research programme through stage‑gated milestones with active, no‑go decisions based on validated data; design programmes that enable delivery requirements to be considered through development and implementation.
* Manage project resources – personnel, equipment and budgets – in coordination with senior leadership.
* Ensure research is conducted ethically and in compliance with EIT policy, regulatory guidance and best scientific practice.
* Generate, maintain and manage collaborations with key teams across EIT Oxford and the wider scientific and commercial ecosystem to accelerate discovery and impact; maintain key stakeholder relationships.
* Work with the commercial team within EIT to translate research results into commercial opportunities; recognise and act on opportunities for IP protection and creation.
Plant Specialised Metabolism Discovery and Engineering
* Design and lead research projects focused on understanding and engineering plant specialised metabolism in cell cultures for the production of high‑value plant natural products with applications in health and medicine.
* Develop and apply novel engineering and synthetic biology strategies to optimise biosynthetic pathway flux and product accumulation.
* Collaborate with EIT Oxford computational modelling and robotics teams to establish model‑driven engineering and rapid iteration cycles.
Requirements
Essential Skills, Qualifications & Experience
* Strong background in plant specialised metabolism.
* Experience in specialised metabolite analysis including mass spectrometry.
* Experience in plant metabolic engineering and synthetic biology to modify or enhance metabolic outputs.
* Proficiency in applying advanced plant biotechnology approaches to interrogate and reprogram metabolic networks.
* Expertise in utilising plant cell culture systems as platforms for metabolic studies and compound production.
* Experience with laboratory automation and robotics.
* Experience with cross‑disciplinary collaboration, especially with computational modellers.
* Leadership of research groups within academia or industry.
* Recognised thought leader in the field.
* Proven ability to manage scientific output for a team of PhDs/Post‑doctoral researchers.
* Demonstration of commercial awareness and versatility of research for a wide range of applications (e.g., oils, pharmaceuticals, foods); development of partnerships with engineering, technical partners and licensees/channel partners.
* Project management, communication and resource allocation experience.
* Ability to build internal and external relationships and collaborate with others outside the discipline.
Benefits
Our Benefits
* Competitive salary + travel allowance + bonus
* Enhanced holiday + options to buy additional days
* Pension
* Life Assurance
* Income Protection
* Private Medical Insurance
* Hospital Cash Plan
* Therapy Services
* Perk Box
* Electric Car Scheme
* Childcare benefit
What We Offer
* Newly constructed, state‑of‑the‑art laboratories and growth facilities, core scientific and operational support, and substantial core funding to support a research group.
* A collaborative research environment with highly skilled team working at the cutting edge of plant science to create commercially sustainable solutions that tackle humanity’s biggest challenges.
* Opportunities for professional development including publication, conferences, IP portfolio creation, spin‑out generation and leadership development.
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