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.

The successful candidate will have two main roles. Firstly, they will contribute to research that aims to develop a full molecular understanding of the formation of specialised bundle sheath cells in C4 plants which underpins their remarkable photosynthetic efficiency. The post-holder will have their own project, and will be expected to plan, execute and interpret their experiments, with advice from the Group Leader where appropriate. They will also contribute to ongoing research projects being led by the postdocs and students of the Schreier lab.

The post-holder will work independently on a day-to-day basis, and will be expected to exercise creativity and problem-solving skills, and acquire new skills as required. Secondly, they will oversee the smooth running of the laboratory. Management tasks will include allocation of lab duties among group members, co-ordination of growth space and other shared resources, ordering and maintaining lab supplies, and keeping records of nucleic acid and seed stocks. They will participate in the mentoring of less-experienced lab members, providing training in techniques routinely performed in the lab and hosting mini-projects for visiting students.

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

Plan, perform, trouble-shoot and analyse experiments as and when necessary, providing preliminary data

40

Contribute experimental data to ongoing research projects 

15

Mentor/supervise less experienced researchers, encouraging scientific excellence and provide guidance and training on specialised items of equipment

10

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

Enhance the output of a research group by executing and refining existing experimental protocols and/or administrative procedures, assisting colleagues with trouble-shooting as necessary

5

Run key items of equipment providing services and/or techniques, taking responsibility for purchases, maintenance and repairs

5

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

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 through the effective use of resources, supervision of visitors to the laboratory and assisting with training others, encouraging scientific excellence

5

Disseminate research findings and establish reputation through participation in national conferences and exhibitions

Support the profile and reputation of the Institute by participating in relevant engagement activities (eg, school visits or open days)

Assist in the preparation of research proposals and manuscripts, collaborating internally and externally as appropriate

Design and supervise small research projects for students

Education & Qualifications

Requirement

Importance

BSc or equivalent in Biology, with plants as a major element

Essential

PhD in plant biology or related discipline - OR - equivalent experience in laboratory management

Desirable

Specialist Knowledge & Skills

Requirement

Importance

Understanding of methods and experimental approaches in molecular biology and genetics

Essential

Excellent understanding of the biology of plants

Essential

Excellent knowledge of plant molecular biology and/or plant genetics

Essential

Relevant Experience

Requirement

Importance

Experience of supervising, training and mentoring of students and visiting workers

Essential

Ability to generate high quality data in molecular plant biology, demonstrated through high quality publications

Essential

Preparing data / information for grant proposals

Essential

Provided technical training

Desirable

Experience in laboratory management

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

Willingness to work outside standard working hours when required

Essential

Attention to detail

Essential

Ability to undertake occasional travel (national and international) related to collaborations and/or seminars

Desirable

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

• Visit Norfolk
• Schools in Norfolk
• Childcare in Norfolk

Research Assistant

Salary:            £38,000 - £42,150 per annum depending on qualifications and experience
Contract:        36 months, fulltime
Location:        John Innes Centre, Norwich, UK
Closing date: 18 August 2026
Reference:     1006160

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Research Assistant/Lab manager to join the newly starting Schreier group at the John Innes Centre, working on cutting-edge science in the field of plant cell biology and C4 photosynthesis. 

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:

The Schreier group is a newly established research group (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 regularly host projects for undergraduate students. We collaborate with other research groups at JIC and other institutes in the UK and abroad.

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

You will contribute to research that aims to develop a full molecular understanding of the formation of specialised bundle sheath cells in C4 plants which underpins their remarkable photosynthetic efficiency. You will have your own project, and will be expected to plan, execute and interpret their experiments, with advice from the Group Leader where appropriate. They will contribute to ongoing research projects being led by the postdocs and students of the Schreier lab. You will work independently on a day-to-day basis, and will be expected to exercise creativity and problem-solving skills, and acquire new skills as required.

You will oversee the smooth running of the laboratory. Management tasks will include allocation of lab duties among group members, co-ordination of growth space and other shared resources, ordering and maintaining lab supplies, and keeping records of nucleic acid and seed stocks. You will participate in the mentoring of less-experienced lab members, providing training in techniques routinely performed in the lab and hosting mini-projects for visiting students.

The ideal candidate:
You will have a BSc or equivalent in biology, with plants as a major element. You will also have a PhD in plant biology or related discipline, or the equivalent length of experience in laboratory management. You will have in-depth knowledge of plant biology, and demonstrated ability to generate high quality data in plant molecular biology and/or plant genetics. It is essential that you value teamwork, previous experience in laboratory management is highly desirable. 

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