Research Associate in Long-Wavelength, Low Energy Oxygenic Photosynthesis

Location: South Kensington Campus

About the role:

Biochemical/biophysical research in a field-leading team on one of the hottest areas of photosynthesis research: the recently discovered, low-energy chlorophyll-f variant of Photosystem II. Structure/function studies on this system have provided surprises and a new angle from which to view and understand oxygenic photosynthesis: the process that puts the energy into the biosphere.

What you would be doing:

You will use a combination of interdisciplinary methods to solve the current burning questions in the field. These methods currently include biochemistry, biophysics, spectroscopy, structural biology (particularly cryo-EM), molecular bioenergetics, molecular biology, molecular enzymology, evolutionary considerations, and comparative work with other photosystems and other reaction centres. You will have the opportunity not only to assimilate in-house expertise but also to gain further experience through collaborative work (on theory, computational chemistry, other spectroscopies, etc) elsewhere in Imperial, the UK, and abroad. The team’s energy accounting expertise has also allowed insights useful for energy policy; you are welcome to contribute to these activities.

What we are looking for:

Ideally, you would have specific experience of the subject, as described below and in the job description as being “desirable”.

• Practical experience in microbiology and molecular biology of cyanobacteria.
• Practical experience in isolation and characterisation of membrane protein complexes of bioenergetics.
• Practical experience of biophysical methods on the photosystems and or bioenergetic complexes (cryo-EM, spectroscopy, electrochemical approaches, etc).

However, excellent candidates with less direct experience of the specific field or with other relevant expertise will be considered (see job description).

What we can offer you:

• The opportunity to work in a world leading group on what is arguably the hottest subject in the field: long wavelength oxygenic photosynthesis.
• The opportunity to continue your career at a world-leading institution and be part of our mission to continue science for humanity.
• Grow your career: gain access to Imperial’s sector-leading dedicated career support for researchers as well as opportunities for promotion and progression.
• Sector-leading salary and remuneration package (including 41 days off a year and generous pension schemes).
• Be part of a diverse, inclusive and collaborative work culture with various staff networks and resources to support your personal and professional wellbeing.

Further Information

Start dates from October 2025 preferably before February 2026.

Candidates who have not yet been officially awarded their PhD will be appointed as a Research Assistant.

The team is currently 3 grad students, 2 post docs, 2 staff, 1 technician/lab manager, usually a few masters and UG students. We share lab facilities and office space with 3 other groups with related interests and other expertise. We work closely with a group in physics on theory and experiments and have several established collaborations with other spectroscopy and theory groups in the UK and abroad.

(Some recent relevant publications from the team

DOI: 10.1126/science.aar8313, https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.79890,

https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-08326-y,

https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.08.06.606606)

If you require any further details about the role, please contact:

A.W. Rutherford and Andrea Fantuzzi:

a.rutherford@imperial.ac.uk, a.fantuzzi@imperial.ac.uk.  

Be sure to put “Far-red PS2 Post doc position” as the subject.

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