Research Fellow in Synthetic Biology

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Algal Biotechnology Group headed by Professor Saul Purton. The successful applicant will join a pioneering research effort focussed on developing the chloroplast of the model alga Chlamydomonas as an advance platform for engineering biology.

We are seeking a highly motivated researcher to take a lead role in testing strategies for improving photosynthesis through a novel high-throughput engineering strategy to modify the chloroplast genome (the plastome) in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. This is an Engineering Biology Mission Award project (BB/Y008162/1) funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and involves collaborations with the University of Manchester and University of Edinburgh. The role would suit someone with expertise in synthetic biology, genetic engineering of microorganisms, and genome editing technologies.

Interview date(s) are scheduled for the last week of June 2024.

This is role is until July 31st 2026 in the first instance.

Salary for Research Fellow is grade 7 (£42,099 - £45,521 per annum inclusive of London Allowance).

If a PhD has yet to be awarded, initial appointment will be at Research Assistant Grade 6B (salary £37,332 - £39,980 per annum) with payment at Grade 7 being backdated to the date of final submission of the PhD thesis (including corrections).

This appointment is subject to UCL Terms and Conditions - please visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/human-resources/conditions-service-research-teaching-and-professional-services-staff for more information.

If you have any queries about the role or you need reasonable adjustments or a more accessible format to apply for this job online or have any queries about the application process, please contact see contact details on the UCL advert page.

You must have a PhD in molecular biology, biotechnology, or a related subject area and proven knowledge of synthetic biology and its application to strain engineering and genome manipulation. Experience in recombinant DNA methods, transgene design, DNA assembly and microbial transgenics is also essential. You will be expected to work as part of a tightly integrated team of synthetic biologists to produce original contributions to the development of the chloroplast of the microalga, Chlamydomonas as a genetically programmable platform for basic and applied studies. Your studies will focus on developing an error-prone DNA replication technology for the chloroplast and using this in forward-genetic screens to evolve improved phenotypes for key photosynthesis enzymes. In addition to developing and conducting the research, you will contribute expertise to the overall research effort in the Purton group. You will also communicate results as scientific papers in leading journals, and as scientific presentations at national and international conferences.

As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer some great benefits. Visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/reward-and-benefits to find out more.

As London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world’s talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong.

You can read more about our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/equality-diversity-inclusion/

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