Senior/Specialist Biochemistry Technician

Position Summary:

Applications are invited for two postdoctoral researchers in plant molecular physiology and one specialist biochemistry technician within the Lancaster Photosynthesis team under the supervision of Prof Elizabete Carmo-Silva.

The project RIPE, funded by Gates Agricultural Innovations (part of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation), aims to end hunger worldwide by improving the complex process of photosynthesis to increase crop production. At Lancaster, we focus on improving the regulation of Rubisco and the thermal tolerance of carbon assimilation in the legume crops cowpea and soybean.

These three new positions will join an existing RIPE team consisting of PIs, research technicians and postgraduate students. The team works collaboratively to deliver the project milestones, advance knowledge on Rubisco and its regulation, and contribute to making cowpea and soybean more productive and climate resilient.

The ideal candidate for this research technician position will have a background in biochemistry and an interest in applying this to Rubisco and other proteins involved in the regulation of carbon assimilation and plant heat stress responses. With training and support, you will produce, extract, purify and measure the activity of Rubisco and its regulatory proteins. You will work collaboratively with the team and carry out biochemical analyses, including determination of activity and abundance of photosynthetic enzymes, using plant derived and recombinant proteins. You will contribute to experimental design and conduct experimental work for biochemical characterisation of novel cowpea and soybean germplasm. Experience with Rubisco biochemistry and/or recombinant protein production would be an advantage but are not requirements for the post.

You will join the collaborative and supportive Lancaster Photosynthesis team and have access to state-of-the-art resources, including a well-equipped lab for plant molecular biology and biochemistry work using ionising radiation, high-specification plant growth chambers, and the Lancaster High End Computing (HEC) Cluster. Professional development opportunities and training courses to broaden your expertise and skills will be encouraged and are covered by the project.

Referees: Contact information for at least two referees.

For enquiries relating to this post, please contact:

Prof Elizabete Carmo-Silva e.carmosilva@lancaster.ac.uk or Dr Doug Orr d.j.orr@lancaster.ac.uk.

Further details on our research and team are available here:

http://wp.lancs.ac.uk/lancsphotosynthesis/

https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/lec/about-us/people/elizabete-carmo-silva

https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/lec/about-us/people/douglas-orr

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Further details:

• Job Description
• Person Specification

Please note: Unless specified otherwise in the advert wording, all advertised roles are UK based.

The University provides an environment that strongly supports the individual needs of each employee, whilst promoting the importance of wellbeing for all our colleagues. We have a range of support networks available for our employees, and more information on these can be found on the ‘Working at Lancaster’ information page.

We are committed to family-friendly and flexible working policies on an individual basis. The University recognises and celebrates good employment practice undertaken to address all inequality in higher education.

We warmly welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of their age, religion, gender identity or expression, race, disability or sexual orientation, and are committed to promoting diversity, and equality of opportunity.

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