Research Assistant

Contract: 6 months, full time

Location: John Innes Centre, Norwich, UK. 

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Research Assistant to join the Byers and Penfield Groups to support cutting-edge science 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. 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 Byers and Penfield Groups: 

The Byers Group studies the role of floral scent in attracting pollinators to flowering plants. The Penfield Group studies how environmental conditions affect plant reproduction and yield in crops. The two groups are collaborating on "The diverse smells of ‘fields of gold’: unlocking the diversity of oilseed rape volatiles and their role in pollinator attraction". 

The role: 

As a Research Assistant, your role will be to spearhead a project studying the diversity of floral scents produced by different varieties of oilseed rape. Work will consist of collection and analysis of floral volatile samples (training will be provided) and performing behavioural experiments with captive bumblebees. You will be an active part of the Byers group, where most of the work will take place. 

The ideal candidate: 

You will have a BSc degree in life sciences or chemistry with lab experience and you will be passionate about science! You will have strong record-keeping skills and a strong command of English. You'll also be comfortable being the lead on a project, with appropriate guidance and mentorship. You will be comfortable working both independently and as a member of a larger team, as well as having good time management, attention to detail, and prioritization skills and be comfortable collaborating with colleagues from diverse cultures and backgrounds. You may be asked to work limited odd hours for crucial experiments at some point. 

Additional information: 

Interviews will be held early March 2023. 

For further information and details of how to apply, please visit our website http://jobs.jic.ac.uk or contact the Human Resources team on 01603 450814 or nbi.recruitment@nbi.ac.uk quoting reference 1004400. 

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. 

We particularly encourage applications from individuals often underrepresented in STEM, including racial and ethnic minorities, Indigenous, and BAME individuals; LGBTQIA+ individuals; individuals with disabilities, Deaf individuals, and those with chronic illness(es); and women and gender minorities. 

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

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