Senior/ Research Associate in Plant Molecular Physiology (Thermal tolerance)

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 senior research associate position in Plant Molecular Physiology (Thermal tolerance) will have a genuine interest and the curiosity to pursue new research avenues in understanding, and improving, the thermal tolerance of Rubisco activase, photosynthesis and crop productivity. With training and support, you will be responsible for leading research on the thermal sensitivity of Rubisco activase and heat-induced inhibition of photosynthesis in cowpea and soybean. This will involve working with current varieties and novel germplasm to characterise photosynthetic productivity at ambient and elevated temperatures. You will lead the design and characterisation of novel Rubisco activase proteins targeting improved thermal tolerance, and contribute to the implementation of genetic engineering approaches to increase photosynthetic productivity under elevated temperatures. You will design and carry out experimental and computational work, analyse data, present results in oral and written form and lead the preparation of scientific manuscripts.

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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