Postdoctoral Researcher
Post Details
Job Title
Postdoctoral Researcher
Post Number
1004766
Closing Date
31 Oct 2024
Grade
SC6
Starting Salary
£36,720 - £44,500
Hours per week
37
Project Title
Plasmodesmata as regulators of the growth-defence trade-off
Expected/Ideal Start Date
01 Dec 2024
Months Duration
18

Job Description

Main Purpose of the Job

The Postdoctoral Researcher will undertake research to identify how cell-to-cell connections and communication in plants regulate immune and stress responses.

For this, the Postdoctoral Researcher will use cell biology and genetic analysis to both identify and characterise the different mechanisms by which molecules spread between cells and the information and resources they carry. The Postdoctoral Researcher will work independently to produce data and critically analyse this data, and by keeping up to date with current developments in the field contribute insights and ideas that help develop the project. This research is part of a large-scale, multidisciplinary programme and therefore the Postdoctoral Researcher will be an active and collaborative member of a larger team.

Key Relationships

The postdoctoral researcher will be supervised by Dr Christine Faulkner and be a member of the Faulkner laboratory. They will also have the opportunity to be an active member of the scientific community at the John Innes Centre and the Sainsbury Laboratory.

Main Activities & Responsibilities

Identify, plan, carry out and modify experiments to meet the objectives of the project
Collaborate with colleagues within the Institute in the development of original and world-class research, including contributing to research proposals and grant applications
Prepare results, reports and manuscripts for publication in leading scientific journals and other relevant media
Disseminate research findings through presentations to various audiences at internal, national and international meetings
Contribute to the smooth running of the group, including the effective use of resources, supervision of visitors to the laboratory and assisting with training others, encouraging scientific excellence
Continually strive for excellence, seeking out and acting on feedback and relevant learning and development opportunities
Ensure research and record keeping is carried out in accordance with good practice, Scientific Integrity and in compliance with local policies and any legal requirements
As agreed with the line manager, any other duties commensurate with the nature of the post, for example, contributing to the work of Institute committees

Person Profile

Education & Qualifications

Requirement
Importance
BSc or equivalent in Biology
Essential
PhD (full award or expected within 6 months) or equivalent in Plant Biology or related discipline
Essential

Specialist Knowledge & Skills

Requirement
Importance
Laboratory skills in plant molecular biology
Essential
Evidence of skills and experience in live cell imaging
Essential
Knowledge and experience in handling plant pathogens
Essential
Knowledge and experience in cell-to-cell communication
Essential
Skills and experience in preparing and analysing transcriptional datasets
Desirable

Relevant Experience

Requirement
Importance
Demonstrated ability to perform research and develop novel ideas
Essential
Proven record in scientific writing
Essential
Experience of oral research presentations
Essential
Preparing data / information for grant proposals
Essential
Experience of supervising, training and mentoring visitors and students
Desirable

Interpersonal & Communication Skills

Requirement
Importance
Ability to observe and reason accurately
Essential
Demonstrated ability to work independently, using initiative and applying problem solving skills
Essential
Ability to collaborate with internal and external stakeholders
Essential
Excellent communication skills, both written and oral, including the ability to present complex information with clarity
Essential
Excellent time management and organisational skills, including record keeping
Essential
Good interpersonal skills, with the ability to work as part of a team
Essential
Highly motivated with the ability to learn quickly
Essential

Additional Requirements

Requirement
Importance
Promotes equality and values diversity
Essential
Willingness to embrace the expected values and behaviours of all staff at the Institute, ensuring it is a great place to work
Essential
Ability to maintain confidentiality and security of information where appropriate
Essential
Willingness to work outside standard working hours when required
Essential
Ability to undertake occasional travel (national and international) related to collaborations and/or seminars
Essential
Able to present a positive image of self and the Institute, promoting both the international reputation and public engagement aims of the Institute
Essential
Attention to detail
Essential

Who We Are

John Innes Centre

The John Innes Centre is an independent, international centre of excellence in plant and microbial genetics, carrying out fundamental and strategic research, to train scientists and making our findings available to society.

Our research makes use of a wide range of disciplines in the biological and chemical sciences including; cell biology, biochemistry, chemistry, genetics and molecular biology.

For more information about working at the John Innes Centre, please click here.

We pride ourselves on being a welcoming and inclusive working environment for all. We have a diverse and multicultural scientific community and thrive on our European and international links, appointing staff from across the world. Any candidate who would like further information on current or anticipated immigration requirements can contact the HR Team on +44 (0)1603 450888 or nbi.recruitment@nbi.ac.uk.

We are proud to hold a prestigious Athena SWAN Gold award, recognising the impact of our work in promoting gender equality in science. We are also a proud member of the Stonewall Diversity Champion’s programme, a founding signatory of the Tecnician Commitment and, as a Disability Confident employer, guarantee to offer an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post.

The John Innes Centre is a registered charity (No. 223852), limited by guarantee (registered in England No. 511709).

Department

Cell & Developmental Biology

Development continues throughout the life of the plant. While many linear pathways affecting development have been discovered and are illustrated by elegant genetic studies, the challenge of the future will be for us to understand how these developmental pathways are integrated, both with themselves as well as with environmental signals, to enable a mature plant to grow from a seed.  Guided by evolutionary principles, the Department uses its knowledge of biological processes obtained in laboratory organisms such as Arabidopsis to understand processes in crop plants such as Brassicas and cereals.  To study this interaction of the plant genome with internal developmental networks and the environment, the Department uses a combination of genetic, cell biological, molecular and evolutionary strategies. The insights we are gaining provide both an increasingly detailed knowledge of the proteins involved in diverse regulatory mechanisms and a conceptual framework in which this knowledge can be related and eventually integrated into a molecular description of plant cell function.   The knowledge the department is creating is relevant to agriculture. Genes that control plant stature, form, over-wintering responses and growth are potentially useful for improving crop performance.

Group Details

The Faulkner laboratory focuses on the role of intercellular communication in plant immune responses. Cell-to-cell communication is a fundamental biological process, necessary for co-ordination of development and environmental responses in multicellular organisms. Intercellular pores called plasmodesmata bridge plant cell walls to connect neighbouring cells, generating an interconnected symplast and regulating the flow of many different classes of molecules from cell-to-cell. The objective of our research is to identify what molecules and signals move simplistically during plant immune responses, with the aim of understanding the multicellular nature of plant immunity.

Living in Norfolk

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Postdoctoral Researcher
Salary:                £36,720 - £44,500 per annum depending on qualifications and experience.
Contract:           18 months, full time
Location:           John Innes Centre, Norwich, UK.
Closing date:     31 October 2024
Reference:        1004766

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Postdoctoral Researcher to join the Faulkner Group at the John Innes Centre, working on cutting-edge science in the field of Cell and Developmental Biology.

About the John Innes Centre:

The John Innes Centre is an independent, international centre of excellence in plant and microbial sciences. We nurture a creative, curiosity-led approach to answering fundamental questions in bioscience, and translate that knowledge into societal benefits. Our strategic vision, Healthy Plants, Healthy People, Healthy Planet, sets out our ambitious long-term goals for the game changing impact of our science globally. 

Our employees enjoy access to state-of-the-art technology and a diverse range of specialist training opportunities, including support for leadership and management. Click here to find out more about working at the John Innes Centre.

About the Faulkner Group:

The Faulkner laboratory focuses on the role of intercellular communication in plant immune responses. Cell-to-cell communication is a fundamental biological process, necessary for co-ordination of development and environmental responses in multicellular organisms. Research in the Faulkner lab addresses how cell-to-cell communication in plants contributes to the initiation and execution of plant immune responses.

The objective of our research is to identify what molecules and signals move simplistically during plant immune responses, with the aim of understanding the multicellular nature of plant immunity.

The role:

The Postdoctoral Researcher will conduct innovative research to identify and characterise the signals and immune responses that spread from cell-to-cell via the symplast following localised perception of a pathogen, and how this differs across different organs of different developmental stages. They will use a combination of cell biological, gene expression analysis, proteomic and genetic approaches to generate data and formulate new hypotheses regarding how cell-to-cell communication underpins plant immune responses.

The ideal candidate:

The post holder will have a PhD (full award or expected within 6 months) or equivalent in Plant Biology or a related discipline. The post holder will have knowledge and experience in both cell-to-cell communication and handling plant pathogens.

The successful candidate will have demonstrated ability to perform research and develop novel ideas along with a proven record in scientific writing and oral presentations.

Additional information:

This role meets the criteria for a visa application, and we encourage all qualified candidates to apply.  Please contact the Human Resources Team if you have any questions regarding your application or visa options.

We are an equal opportunities employer, actively supporting inclusivity and diversity.  As a Disability Confident organisation, we guarantee to offer an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for this vacancy. We are proud to hold a prestigious Gold Athena SWAN award in recognition of our inclusive culture, commitment and good practices towards advancing of gender equality. We offer an exciting, stimulating, diverse research environment and actively promote a family friendly workplace. The Institute is also a member of Stonewall’s Diversity Champions programme.

The John Innes Centre is a registered charity (No. 223852) grant-aided by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.