Research Associate in Plant Synthetic Biology and Immune Receptor Engineering

Location: South Kensington Campus

About the role:

Do you want to bioengineer plant immune receptors to enhance disease resistance in crops? Join the Kourelis laboratory in the Department of Life Sciences at Imperial College London on a European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant-funded project that integrates protein biochemistry, synthetic biology, and bioinformatics.

The Kourelis lab studies fundamental questions in plant–microbe interactions, focusing on the function and evolution of plant immune receptors. The goal of the lab is to use this knowledge to bioengineer disease resistance genes tailored to diverse challenges (Kourelis et al., Science 2023; Marchal et al., Curr. Opin. Plant Biol. 2022).

What you would be doing:

You will join a multidisciplinary research environment working on the bioengineering of plant immune receptors. You will:

• Engineer plant NLR immune receptors using techniques including Gibson Assembly and Golden Gate cloning.
• Perform high-throughput functional characterisation of bioengineered immune receptors.
• Use CRISPR genome editing.
• Develop bioinformatics expertise alongside the wet-lab work. Training in computational methods will be provided.
• Publish first-author papers and present at international conferences.
• Contribute to lab teaching and supervision of project students.

What we are looking for:

• A PhD (or equivalent) in plant sciences, molecular biology, biochemistry, or a closely related discipline.
• Experience in molecular biology and biochemistry techniques.
• Willingness to develop bioinformatics expertise alongside the wet-lab work.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• The ability to work both independently and as part of a team. You will be expected to provide training and assistance to more junior researchers.
• Knowledge of plant immunity, NLR biology, or effector biology is desirable, not essential.

What we can offer you:

• Comprehensive training in synthetic biology, biochemistry, plant–pathogen interactions, and bioinformatics, preparing you for a future career in academia or industry.
• Access to state-of-the-art facilities and a network of international collaborators.
• 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

This is a full-time, fixed-term position for up to 3 years.

The anticipated start date is 01 August 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter.

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

Interested candidates are encouraged to contact Dr Jiorgos Kourelis directly (j.kourelis@imperial.ac.uk) to discuss the project and the lab before applying.

Further information on Dr Kourelis and his publications is available at:

https://profiles.imperial.ac.uk/j.kourelis.                                                            

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