Research Associate / Senior Research Associate

The role

Microalgae are superabundant unicellular photosynthetic organisms which shape the health of aquatic ecosystems by producing oxygen, capturing carbon dioxide, and forming the basis of marine food webs. Understanding how these microorganisms manage and cycle nutrients is crucial to many important ecological phenomena.

The group of Prof. Benjamin Palmer is seeking 2 ambitious and talented postdoctoral researchers to explore the role of nitrogen storage crystals in microalgae ecology and exploiting this understanding in the development of bio-inspired crystalline materials. The ERC funded (‘CRYST_ALGAE’) project is in collaboration with Profs. Richard Evershed and Ian Bull at the University of Bristol and the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH, Drs. Eleanor Mackay and Joe Taylor).

The Palmer lab is an internationally leading group in biomineralization and have published their work on optically functional biocrystals in top journals (e.g., Science, PNAS, Nat. Biotech., Nat. Photon). The group is now exploring an unexplored frontier in this field – the formation of molecular crystals by microorganisms.

The role holder(s) will lead a strongly multidisciplinary programme to: (i) monitor phytoplankton from field sites in the Lake District and perform chemical and biological analyses of specimens coupled with ecological modelling and/or (ii) culture microalgae and perform microscopy of cells and nitrogen storage crystals and/or (iii) perform in vitro crystallization experiments of bio-inspired crystalline materials. The role holder(s) will assist Professor Palmer in mentoring his research group, coordinating day-to-day activities and providing support for post-graduate and undergraduate researchers.

If you are interested in high-impact, multidisciplinary science in an environment which will offer multiple avenues for professional development, then please apply! 

What will you be doing?

• Performing monitoring of microalgae in collaboration with the UKCEH and carry out chemical, biological and OMICS analyses of cells and bio-crystals.
• Performing optical and electron microscopy investigations of environmentally sampled and cultured phytoplankton.
• Performing investigations of fundamental crystal formation pathways in microalgae.
• Conducting in vitro crystallization experiments for the development of bio-inspired materials.
• Preparing manuscripts in Prof. Palmer’s group.
• Supporting the development of related grant funding applications.

You should apply if

• You hold a PhD (or are in final stages of preparing to submit for a PhD) in biology, microbiology, ecology, aquatic/marine biology, chemistry, biochemistry and/or physical sciences.
• Have experience in microalgae ecology and biology and/or microalgae culturing.
• Have experience in bio-imaging techniques including optical microscopy, TEM and cryogenic electron microscopies.
• Have experience in Mass Spectrometry.
• You enjoy collaboration across experimental, computational and data science.

Additional information

Contract type: Open ended with fixed funding until October 2028

Work pattern: 1 FTE

Shift pattern: Monday - Friday 

This advert will close at 23:59 on 16/09/2026

For informal queries please contact: Ben Palmer - Benjamin.palmer@bristol.ac.uk  

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