Main Purpose of the Job

Research Assistants enhance the output of a research group by providing technical and administrative support to the Group Leader and group members.

Key Relationships

Internal: Line manager, group members and, as necessary, other researchers, research support staff and students across the Institute. External: Collaborators

Main Activities & Responsibilities

Percentage

Sharing common lab duties

40

Analysing data from Cadenza starch mutant developed within DFW and DSW

30

Supporting the progression of DSW Breeders Toolkit starch mutants

15

Liaising with colleagues at Quadram, Imperial College and Rothamsted to conduct human intervention studies using starch mutants

15

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.

Education & Qualifications

Requirement

Importance

BSc or equivalent in biological science

Essential

PhD or equivalent in wheat starch

Essential

Specialist Knowledge & Skills

Requirement

Importance

Understanding of Cadenza starch mutant series

Essential

Relevant Experience

Requirement

Importance

Demonstrated ability to perform research

Essential

Supervision of students and visiting workers

Essential

Experience of oral research presentations

Essential

Experience in the genetics of starch synthesis in wheat

Essential

Proven record in scientific writing

Essential

Preparing data / information for grant proposals

Desirable

Provided technical training

Desirable

Interpersonal & Communication Skills

Requirement

Importance

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 prioritise to meet the demands of the group

Essential

Excellent communication skills, both written and oral, including the ability to present complex information with clarity

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

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

Crop Genetics

The Department of Crop Genetics undertakes fundamental research on the biology of cereals, brassicas and legumes to understand the genetic and molecular basis of phenotypic variation. A major goal is to develop the technologies and knowledge base to provide a predictive framework that will underpin conventional and novel plant breeding strategies. This will enable high-yielding, stress and disease resistant varieties, with a particular end-use quality, suitable for an efficient but benign agriculture.

Group Details

The Griffiths group discover new and useful genetic diversity from the AE Watkins collection of bread wheat landraces. They take these discoveries forward into pre-breeding with targets for marker assisted selection and gene editing prioritised by the DSW Breeders Toolkit Committee. Simon’s team use state of the art approaches in genetics and genomics to support these objectives and work closely with the wheat breeding community.
Simon’s team are interested in the dissection of traits controlling:
• Yield
• Nutritional Quality
• Abiotic and Biotic Stress Resistance
• Adaptation

Living in Norfolk

• Visit Norfolk
• Schools in Norfolk
• Childcare in Norfolk

Research Assistant
Salary:            £36,540 - £45,350 per annum depending on qualifications and experience.
Contract:        Part-time until 31 March 2029 (8.5 hours per week)
Location:        John Innes Centre, Norwich, UK.
Closing date: [Insert closing date]
Reference:     1004961

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Research Assistant to join the Griffiths Group at the John Innes Centre, working on cutting-edge science as part of a project called Delivering Sustainable Wheat WP3 Nutritional Traits.

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.

The role:

The Research Assistant will work of starch mutant collections in the wheat variety Cadenza with a focus on delivering impact from existing DSW research.

The ideal candidate:

You will have a PhD or equivalent in wheat starch and understanding of Cadenza starch mutant series. You should have experience in the genetics of starch synthesis in wheat as well as demonstrated ability to perform research.

Additional information:

For further information and details of how to apply, please visit our website http://jobs.jic.ac.uk or contact the Human Resources team on 01603 450814 or nbi.recruitment@nbi.ac.uk quoting reference 1004961.

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.