Overview
Post title: Senior Research Assistant
Post/Department: School of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Department of Clinical, Pharmacological and Biological Sciences
Location: College Lane Campus, Hatfield
FTE: 0.6 FTE (working 22.5 hours per week)
Duration of Contract: Fixed term for 12 months
Salary: UH6 £33,002pa pro rata to £38,784pa pro rata by annual increments on achieving designated skills and experience
Contractual hours: 22.5
Basis: Part Time
Job category/type: Academic/Research
Job reference: REQ000162
Annual Leave: 35 days pro rata plus standard public holidays and an additional 4 days including the closure of our office between Christmas and New Year
Closing date: 07 September 2025
Project Description
We are seeking a talented and motivated researcher to join Dr Cristina Barrero-Sicilia’s team to explore novel strategies for enhancing photosynthesis in rice using biocompatible Quantum Dots (QDs) derived from agricultural waste.
The successful candidate will contribute to the investigation of plant molecular and physiological responses to environmental stimuli and innovations in sustainable agriculture. This project focuses on understanding the mechanisms by which QDs improve photosynthetic performance and influence biochemical and molecular pathways in rice, contributing to climate-resilient, yield-optimised rice varieties using nanobiotechnological approaches.
This multidisciplinary project sits at the interface of plant physiology, nanomaterials, and molecular biology, in collaboration with colleagues at University of Putra Malaysia. The successful candidate will address knowledge gaps around QD–plant interactions and optimise their application for enhanced photosynthesis in paddy fields. More information about the team, research interests, and publications can be found here: https://researchprofiles.herts.ac.uk/en/persons/cristina-barrero-sicilia
Main duties and responsibilities
* Support the research team in achieving project milestones including attending meetings, data collection and analysis, and contributing to the design and organisation of the project.
* Contribute to academic research papers and presentations.
* Supervise undergraduate and postgraduate student projects related to the research area.
* Assist with collating and writing final project reports and working papers; take part in project administration.
* Engage in the academic life of the school through seminars and events.
Skills and experience
Essential: experience working in a research team in a Higher Education Institution or in the public, voluntary or community sectors; demonstrable research experience at undergraduate level; good IT skills including MS Office; ability to conduct literature searches and use discipline databases; numerical and literacy proficiency; ability to collect, process and present data; excellent interpersonal and presentation skills in English; ability to handle sensitive material with confidentiality; team-oriented, flexible, and proactive problem solving.
Qualifications
Minimum of a degree or equivalent level 6 qualification, or proven experience in a relevant field.
Other information
We regret that we are unable to offer UKVI sponsorship for this post; applicants will hold UK Right to Work or demonstrate access to UK Right to Work before an offer is made.
Contact Details/Informal Enquiries: Dr. Cristina Barrero Sicilia, Senior Lecturer. Email: c.barrero-sicilia@herts.ac.uk
Application details
Please view the job description and person specification for the full duties and essential criteria. Attach a personal statement showing how your skills and experience match the Person Specification.
Additional information
Our vision is to transform lives: UH is committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and building a diverse community. We offer a range of employee benefits including generous annual leave, flexible location opportunities, discounted Sports Village memberships, free Active Staff sessions, personal and professional development and family-friendly policies. #GoHerts
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