Main Purpose of the Job

Postdoctoral Researchers work with limited supervision to carry out individual and collaborative research projects relevant to the overall needs of the research programme.

Key Relationships

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

Main Activities & Responsibilities

Percentage

Identify, plan, carry out and modify experiments to meet the objectives of the project

60

Prepare results, reports and manuscripts for publication in leading scientific journals and other relevant media

10

Collaborate with colleagues (group members and collaborators) in the development of original and world-class research, including contributing to research proposals and grant applications

5

Participate in the supervision of the group's students, providing advice and demonstrating experimental techniques

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

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

5

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

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

Disseminate research findings through presentations to various audiences at internal, national and international meetings

Education & Qualifications

Requirement

Importance

PhD (full award or expected within 6 months) or equivalent in plant biology or a related discipline

Essential

BSc or equivalent in biology or biochemistry

Essential

Specialist Knowledge & Skills

Requirement

Importance

In-depth knowledge of plant biology (with focus of expertise in plant biochemistry OR plant cell biology)

Essential

Extensive knowledge of protein-protein interaction analysis, and experience demonstrated through prior research experience and publication track record

Essential

Experience and knowledge in molecular cloning techniques

Essential

Experience in proximity labelling techniques

Desirable

Knowledge and experience in plasmodesmata OR chloroplast research

Desirable

Experience in working with monocot crops (preferably maize or sorghum)

Desirable

Relevant Experience

Requirement

Importance

Experience of supervising, training and mentoring visitors and students

Essential

Demonstrated ability to perform research and develop novel ideas in the area of plant molecular biology

Essential

Experience in the isolation and characterisation of transgenic lines

Essential

Experience of oral research presentations

Desirable

Preparing data / information for grant proposals

Desirable

Proven record in scientific writing

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

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

Our research aims to develop a full molecular understanding of the formation of specialised bundle sheath cells in C4 plants, which underpins their remarkable photosynthetic efficiency. We are particularly interested in discovering the molecular mechanisms that control their intracellular polarity, specifically the polar organelle positioning and plasmodesmata placement in the bundle sheath cells. We use a combination of molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry and cell biology-based approaches to develop this understanding.



The overall goal of our research is to reveal gene targets that will inform the design strategy for engineering C4 photosynthesis into C3 crops to increase crop productivity.  You would be one of the first members of the Schreier lab, starting at the JIC in July 2026. Our team is building a vibrant and stimulating research environment, currently including one postgraduate student, and actively recruiting more postdoctoral researchers and research assistants over the coming months. We will also regularly host projects for undergraduate students. We collaborate with other research groups at JIC, as well those based at other institutes within the UK and abroad.
 

Living in Norfolk

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• Schools in Norfolk
• Childcare in Norfolk

Postdoctoral Researcher
Salary:            £37,500 - £45,350 per annum depending on qualifications and experience
Contract:        36 months, full time
Location:        John Innes Centre, Norwich, UK
Closing date: 15 June 2026
Reference:     1006112

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Postdoctoral Researcher to join the newly starting Schreier group at the John Innes Centre, working on cutting-edge science in the field of photosynthesis research and cell 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 biosciences, 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 Schreier Group:
This post holder will be based in Tina Schreier’s group, in the Crop Genetics department of the John Innes Centre.
The Schreier group is a newly establishing research group (starting July 2026) focused on the cell biology of C4 photosynthesis. The group’s current research has several sub-objectives:
• Unravelling the cellular and molecular mechanisms that establish C4 bundle sheath architecture
•  Assessing the contribution of individual cellular architectural features to building an effective carbon concentrating mechanism in C4 plants
• Understanding how bundle sheath cell architecture evolved across independent C4 evolutionary events

This knowledge will be essential for the developmental of leaf architecture in C4 plants that will inform design strategies for engineering C4 photosynthesis into C3 crops to increase yield.

Our team will be multidisciplinary and will maintain a vibrant, stimulating and supportive research atmosphere. We aim to recruit multiple postdoctoral scientists, postgraduate students and research assistants. We will also regularly host projects for undergraduate students. We collaborate with other research groups at JIC, as well those based at other institutes within the UK and abroad.

The role:
We are looking for a highly motivated Postdoctoral Researcher who will work as a part of the ERC-funded research grant CELL4 “Form for function: regulation of bundle sheath cell architecture for C4 photosynthesis” to identify novel molecular factors determining bundle sheath cell polarity in C4 grasses Sorghum and maize. The two main architectural traits of bundle sheath cells being explored is the polar placement of organelles towards one end of the cell, and the placement of plasmodesmata at the other.

Depending on interests and experience, the post holder can focus on either trait, or the links between both. However, the approaches will be similar, as the goal is to look for polarity determining mechanisms. For both traits, we have identified candidate proteins involved in the process.

The post holder will contribute to elucidating their roles, as well as using protein-protein interaction approaches to discover important molecular players that might establish polarity, which can be further characterised using genetics. The successful candidate will therefore develop and apply a range of methods such as molecular biology, genetics/genome editing techniques and protein-protein interaction studies. They must be collaborative and excited to work as part of an interdisciplinary and diverse team, have excellent oral and written communication skills, and strong organisational and time management 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.