Research Associate

We are looking for a post-doctoral researcher to join the Healthy Soil, Healthy Food, Healthy People (H3) project that seeks to deliver a step-change in UK food production, addressing questions concerning what we should eat and how can we produce food in a sustainable manner. In this post you will explore how synthetic growth substrates and microbial communities can be deployed in hydroponic systems to improve plant growth and nutrition, whilst providing resistance to pests and pathogens. This work will involve studying the fundamental biology of plant-microbe interactions (both beneficial interactions and disease) in controlled environments and small-scale urban farms.

You should have a PhD (or equivalent experience) in a relevant area of biology and expertise in working with plant-microbe and plant-pathogen systems. The project will use a wide range of techniques including analysis of plant growth, responses to disease, microbial community structure and nutritional content. You will be responsible for your own research programme but will need to work with other team members to translate your basic research into application. You will need to liaise with other academic staff and end-users preparing reports and scientific publications describing your research for different audiences.

We’re one of the best not-for-profit organisations to work for in the UK. The University’s Total Reward Package includes a competitive salary, a generous Pension Scheme and annual leave entitlement, as well as access to a range of learning and development courses to support your personal and professional development.

We build teams of people from different heritages and lifestyles from across the world, whose talent and contributions complement each other to greatest effect. We believe diversity in all its forms delivers greater impact through research, teaching and student experience.

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