Post-doctoral researcher: Plant Biodiversity Genomics

Fixed term: 17 month post, based in Edinburgh.

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is a world leading botanical institute and international visitor attraction taking positive action for plants and people; from local communities across Scotland, to more than 40 countries around the world. Our priority is to tackle the biodiversity crisis and the climate emergency, and support the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. Our work builds on our more than 350 year history as a scientific botanic garden, a centre of education, the internationally important botanical collections in our care, and our extensiven international partnerships. 

We have an exciting opportunity for a post-doctoral researcher to develop and utilise genome skimming for plant species identification in an applied conservation project. The specific focus of the project is to undertake genome skimming on plant species from Saudi Arabia to establish an extended DNA barcoding reference library. The work will involve both wet-lab and bioinformatic analyses across different plant groups using shallow pass shotgun sequencing to assemble plant plastid genomes and ribosomal DNA arrays, and then identifying regions of DNA of maximum discriminatory power for telling plant species apart. The post-holder will work alongside a second post-doc who will use the plant reference library for meta-barcode analyses of herbivore faecal samples, for diet analyses of wild and reintroduced herbivore species in the region such as Arabian Gazelle, Sand Gazelle, Nubian Ibex, Arabian Oryx and Hyrax. Overall, the project aims to gain a better understanding of the plant diversity of the region, to develop improved DNA methods for plant identification, and coupled with the associated diet analysis work, to use this information to guide restoration and revegetation plans. 

Applicants will need to have expertise in both wet-lab science and bioinformatics, and the ability to troubleshoot laboratory and informatic challenges, and develop solutions. You will also ideally be able to support the field element of the project and have experience of botanical field work, although this is not essential. The post is suited to someone with a PhD and established experience in the field of molecular ecology / molecular systematics / biodiversity genomics, and will be supported by a laboratory technician. 

The post is available immediately, with a preferred start in March or April. 

More information on the role, including a full job description and person specification can be found on our website https://www.rbge.org.uk/about-us/working-with-us/vacancies/. Although we see this as a full-time role (37 hours per week), applications will also be considered from exceptional candidates looking to work on a part-time basis. 

To apply please email recruitment@rbge.org.uk with:

• your CV
• a covering letter outlining the skills, knowledge and experience you’d bring to the post
• a completed equal opportunities questionnaire: EOQ form 

Closing date: 17.00 GMT Friday 10^th February 2023

If you haven’t heard from us within 2 weeks of the closing date, please assume your application hasn’t been successful on this occasion.

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