- Job Title
- Postdoctoral Researcher
- Post Number
- 1004856
- Closing Date
- 6 Apr 2025
- Grade
- SC6
- Starting Salary
- Salary: £36,720 - £39,750
- Hours per week
- 37
- Project Title
- Apoplastic signalling in plant stress responses
- Months Duration
- 36
Job Description
Main Purpose of the Job
The Postdoctoral Researcher will undertake research to identify how stress signals move through tissues to execute multicellular responses.
For this, the Postdoctoral Researcher will use metabolomic, transcriptomic, cell biology and genetic analysis to both characterise the dynamics of different stress responses. They 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 PDRA will be an active member of the Faulkner group and interact with all members of that team. The PDRA will also interact with researchers across JIC and TSL as a member of the Cell and Developmental Biology Department and of the Advancing Plant Health Institute Strategic Programme, and with the relevant support teams such as Horticulture, Bioimaging, Proteomics and Metabolomics. The PDRA will also have responsibility for liaising with external collaborators to expand the research programme.
Main Activities & Responsibilities
- Identify, plan, carry out and modify experiments to meet the objectives of the project
- Disseminate research findings through publication in leading scientific journals and other relevant media, and in presentations to various audiences at internal, national and international meetings
- Collaborate with colleagues within the Institute and externally in the development of original and world-class research, including contributing to research proposals and grant applications
- Liaise with industry and other external stakeholders
- 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
- 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
- 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
- PhD (full award or expected within 6 months)
- Essential
- BSc or equivalent
- Essential
Specialist Knowledge & Skills
- Requirement
- Importance
- Evidence of laboratory skills in metabolomics and/or proteomics
- Essential
- Experience in data analysis and statistics
- Essential
- Gene expression analysis and RNA sequencing
- Essential
- Evidence of experience in plant molecular biology
- Essential
- Skills and experience in live cell imaging
- 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
- Experience of supervising, training and mentoring visitors and students
- Desirable
- Preparing data / information for grant proposals
- Desirable
Interpersonal & Communication Skills
- Requirement
- Importance
- Excellent communication skills, both written and oral, including the ability to present complex information with clarity
- Essential
- Good interpersonal skills, with the ability to work as part of a team
- Essential
- Demonstrated ability to work independently, using initiative and applying problem solving skills
- Essential
- Excellent time management and organisational skills
- Essential
- Ability to collaborate with internal and external stakeholders
- Essential
- Ability to follow instructions/Standard Operating Procedures
- Essential
- Promotes and strives for continuous improvement
- 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
- Able to present a positive image of self and the Institute, promoting both the international reputation and public engagement aims of the Institute
- 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
- 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
Group Details
The Faulkner laboratory focuses on the role of intercellular communication in plant immune and stress responses. Cell-to-cell communication is a fundamental biological process, necessary for coordination of development and environmental responses in multicellular organisms. The group studies different mechanisms of signal transmission and response, in immune and stress contexts, to determine how cellular processes integrate to produce multicellular and whole organism responses.
Living in Norfolk
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Postdoctoral Researcher
Salary: £36,720 - £39,750 per annum depending on qualifications and experience.
Contract: 36 months, full time
Location: John Innes Centre, Norwich, UK.
Closing date: 6 April 2025
Reference: 1004856
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 & 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 and stress responses. Cell-to-cell communication is a fundamental biological process, necessary for coordination of development and environmental responses in multicellular organisms. The group studies different mechanisms of signal transmission and response, in immune and stress contexts, to determine how cellular processes integrate to produce multicellular and whole organism responses.
The role:
The Postdoctoral Researcher will conduct research on how signals are transmitted through plant tissue to initiate responses. The researcher will conduct innovative research to identify and characterise apoplast-transmitted signals involved in stress responses.
They will use a variety of cell biological, gene expression, metabolomic and genetic analyses to generate data and formulate new hypotheses regarding how cell-to-cell communication defines the transmission of a signal and the response that is executed.
The ideal candidate:
The ideal candidate will possess a PhD in Biological Sciences and will have skills in plant molecular biology, metabolomics and/or proteomics and experience in live cell imaging.
They will also have demonstrated ability to perform research and develop novel ideas along with a proven record in statistical analysis, scientific writing and oral presentations. Skills in gene expression analysis and RNA sequencing would be advantageous.
The ideal candidate will be able to work both independently and be a collaborative team member. They will have excellent communication and organisational skills.
Additional information:
This role meets the criteria for a visa application, and we encourage all qualified candidates to apply. Where the successful applicant requires a visa, we will fund the costs for their visa and the Immigration Health Surcharge. 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.