Research Associate (Fixed Term)

Applications are invited for a Post-doctoral Research Associate position in the group of Dr Sebastian Schornack (www.schornacklab.net, twitter: @dromius) at the Sainsbury Laboratory (SLCU) Cambridge University, to study plant cell and developmental processes that are modulated by microbial effectors.

Our lab studies how evolutionarily conserved plant cell & development processes shape interactions with beneficial and detrimental intracellular filamentous microbes and how microbes modulate such processes. For this advertised project position, we are looking for a plant biologist with a strong interest in plant cell and development processes that are altered by effector proteins from filamentous microbes. The plant immune system or microbiological work within the microbe are not the focus of this study.

Your research will build upon, and expand on, our unpublished research in Arabidopsis and Nicotiana benthamiana showing that some effectors reprogram plant processes impacting plant development. As the successful candidate you will use genetics, cell biology, transcriptomics and protein biochemistry to establish the underlying molecular mechanisms.

You will receive horticultural/technical assistance and will be able to collaborate with postdocs studying other aspects of plant-microbe interactions, plant cell biology and plant development. You will also benefit from a significant body of unpublished resources, and data and are expected to bring existing projects to completion as well as starting your own.

You must have a PhD in a relevant discipline (plant microbe interactions or plant development or plant cell biology) and published as first author in your field. Preprints are considered publications. Previous experience with effectors is essential. Experience in effectors modulating plant development processes is of advantage. Also of advantage is an experience in stable plant transformation and cell culture. Proficiency in standard molecular cloning (Gateway), quantitative PCR, Yeast2Hybrid and confocal microscopy is also required.

You will be fully involved in the research whilst also writing up your research work for presentation and publication. You may be required to assist in the supervision of student projects and deliver seminars relating to your research area. Good communication skills are required because you will be working in a team and collaborating with other researchers at the institute as well as a larger, international team of researchers. You should have a track record of science communication (e.g., presentations, outreach activities, teaching).

The Laboratory provides a welcoming and collaborative environment with a wide-range of family-friendly benefits and development opportunities and is well connected to other plant research institutes such as the Department of Plant Sciences and the Crop Science Centre. More about the Sainsbury Laboratory, generic further information for the role and details of what the University offers to employees, can be found at: http://www.slcu.cam.ac.uk/.

It is critical that you include a motivational letter with your application, stating your future research interests and past experience and how they may align with the advert. If you have any questions, please contact Sebastian Schornack (via email or Twitter DM). 

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 2.5 years in the first instance.

Scientific enquiries should be directed to Dr Sebastian Schornack, sebastian.schornack@slcu.cam.ac.uk.

For questions regarding the application process, please email HR@slcu.cam.ac.uk.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

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