Main Purpose of the Job

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

Key Relationships

Internal: Line manager, GR-NBRI group members, and, as necessary, other researchers, research support staff, and students across the Institute.
External: Collaborators and academic Pisum germplasm users and pea breeders around the world.   

Main Activities & Responsibilities

Percentage

Overseeing and executing the GR-NBRI Pisum collection conservation, including deposition of new material, germplasm regeneration, seed stock duplication, monitoring seed quality, and such activities as detailed in the related Defra grant and according to the Crop Trust international strategy for Pisum conservation. This includes constant enrichment of SeedStor database with key physiological and agronomic pea plant characteristics.

40

Phenotyping prioritised Pisum grain set for nutritional qualities using high-throughput X-ray and Near-Infrared spectrometry.

15

Continually strive for excellence, seeking out and acting on feedback and relevant learning and development opportunities

5

Enhance the output of a research group by executing and refining existing experimental protocols and/or administrative procedures

5

Contribute to the smooth running of the group, including through the effective use of resources, supervision of visitors to the laboratory and assisting with training others, encouraging scientific excellence

5

Undertake routine administrative tasks, such as maintenance of laboratory supplies and stocks

5

Plan, perform and trouble-shoot experiments as and when necessary under the supervision of the Project Leader

5

Contribute to the writing of research proposals and manuscripts, providing preliminary data

5

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

5

Support group members with the dissemination of the research findings and relevant engagement activities, eg, through preparation of materials for conferences or school visits/activities

5

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

5

Education & Qualifications

Requirement

Importance

MSc or equivalent in crop science or closely related field

Essential

PhD in biology or related field

Desirable

Specialist Knowledge & Skills

Requirement

Importance

Knowledge in plant genetics and experience in use of molecular markers

Essential

Knowledge and experience in grain phenotyping technics

Desirable

Relevant Experience

Requirement

Importance

Experience of oral research presentations

Essential

Experience in the field of conservation, gene banking or seed production.

Essential

Working on Pisum (e.g. Pisum genetics or agronomy or pathology)

Essential

Proven record in scientific writing

Essential

Experience in germination test and assessment of seed longevity

Desirable

Supervision of students and visiting workers

Desirable

Demonstrated ability to perform research and to prepare data for grant proposals and for scientific publications.

Desirable

Interpersonal & Communication Skills

Requirement

Importance

Ability to collaborate with internal and external stakeholders

Essential

Ability to follow instructions/Standard Operating Procedures

Essential

Demonstrated ability to work independently, using initiative and applying problem solving 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

Excellent time management and organisational skills

Essential

Good interpersonal skills, with the ability to work as part of a team

Essential

Promotes and strives for continuous improvement

Essential

Additional Requirements

Requirement

Importance

Attention to detail

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

Promotes equality and values diversity

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

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 Germplasm Resources National Bioscience Research Infrastructure (GR-NBRI, also known as Germplasm Resources Unit, GRU) at the John Innes Centre houses biological collections of seeds. The GR-NBRI aims to capture the broadest possible gene-pool diversity of the UK’s major strategic crops and crop wild relatives, to support plant science and crop improvement through breeding. We focus on wheat, pea, barley and oat germplasm. The collections include crop wild relatives, traditional landrace, adapted and elite cultivars as well as derived lines, mapping populations and induced (mutagenized) diversity panels. The seeds are kept in a specialised cool-dry chamber to prolong their longevity and are regenerated according to a 20–30-year cycle plan. The germplasm-associated data is catalogued in an in-house-tailored management system and public database (SeedStor).https://www.jic.ac.uk/research-impact/germplasm-resource-unit/ More about the team: https://www.jic.ac.uk/research-impact/germplasm-resource-unit/ More about the team's research interests: https://www.jic.ac.uk/people/noam-chayut/

Living in Norfolk

• Visit Norfolk
• Schools in Norfolk
• Childcare in Norfolk

Research Assistant (Maternity Cover)
Salary:            £28,890 - £35,670 per annum depending on qualifications and experience.
Contract:        10 months, maternity cover contract, full-time
Location:        John Innes Centre, Norwich, UK.
Closing date: 16 November 2025
Reference:     1004981

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Research Assistant to join the Germplasm Resources Unit at the John Innes Centre.

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 GRU is looking for a new member to serve as a maternity cover for the Pisum germplasm custodian.

The JIC Pisum collection includes diverse sets of cultivated, landraces, wild, mutagenised and mapping populations of peas and is one of the most diverse and highly utilised pea germplasm collections worldwide. You will be responsible for the GR-NBRI pea germplasm conservation, regeneration, seed and plant characterisation, and international seed distribution.

As a Research Assistant in the GR-NBRI team, you will be encouraged to carry out your own research under one of the following three themes: developing improved seed regeneration processes, Genebank Genomics, and high-throughput phenotyping for grain nutritional quality. 

The ideal candidate:

The post holder will have a MSc or equivalent in crop science or a closely related field, it is desirable if the candidate has a PhD in biology or a related discipline. They will have knowledge in plant genetics and experience in conservation, gene banking, or seed production. It is advantageous if the candidate has experience in managing crop germplasm resources.

The successful candidate will have excellent communication and service skills to lead global pea resource conservation and seed distribution for legume science and crop improvement through breeding.

Additional information:

This is a full-time maternity cover post expected to last for ten months, this could be shorter or longer depending on when the absent employee returns to work.

We welcome applications from candidates seeking job-share, part-time or other flexible working arrangements.

This role does not meet the full salary requirements set by UKVI to allow for visa sponsorship.  However, some individuals may still be eligible for visa sponsorship depending on their personal circumstances.  If you require visa sponsorship, please click here to find out if you qualify before applying. Please note, the occupation code for this role is 2112, which is on the immigration salary list.

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.