Postdoctoral Research Associate in Molecular Plant Science

at  Durham University

Postdoctoral Research Associate in Molecular Plant Science (Job Number: 24002349)
Department of Biosciences
Grade 7: - £37,999 - £45,163 per annum
Fixed Term - Full Time
Contract Duration: 24 Months
Contracted Hours per Week: 35
Closing Date: 07-Feb-2025, 5:59:00 PM
Disclosure and Barring Service Requirement: Not Applicable.

QUALIFICATIONS

• A good first degree in life sciences or
• A PhD (or be close to submission) in Molecular Plant Science or a related subject.

EXPERIENCE

• Experience in conducting high quality academic research.
• Demonstrable ability to write material of a quality commensurate with publication in highly-ranked journals.
• Demonstrable ability to present research papers at [national/international] conferences and communicate complex information to specialists and within the wider academic community.
• Experience in proteomic techniques.

SKILLS

• Demonstrable ability to work cooperatively as part of a team, including participating in research meetings.
• Ability to work independently on own initiative and to strict deadlines.

EXPERIENCE

• Strong publication record in peer-reviewed journals, commensurate with stage of career.
• A track record of presenting research at conferences, symposia, or meetings, commensurate with stage of career.
• Demonstrable ability to develop research proposals and designs in collaboration with other academics.
• Experience of overseeing students with respect to the development of their practical/research skills e.g. acting as a demonstrator; supervising student projects/practicals.
• Experience in molecular plant techniques, especially in transcriptomic analysis and / or advanced optical microscopy techniques.
• Experience of interdisciplinary working
• Experience of plant or algal cultivation

THE ROLE AND DEPARTMENT

The Department of Biosciences at Durham University has around 200 staff and is ambitious and expanding, with an outstanding reputation in research, teaching, and impact. Research is centred around four key themes: 1) ecology, evolution & environment, 2) animal cells & systems, 3) biomolecular interactions, and 4) molecular plant sciences (www.dur.ac.uk/biosciences/research/). There is a lively research culture with many visitors and events, and active and rewarding collaborations with other departments in Durham and with other scientists in the UK and internationally.
As part of this people-driven focus, the department welcomes applicants interested in hybrid working to give staff who can work flexibly and on and off campus.

THE ROLE

The Durham Bioscience Dept is seeking to appoint a motivated and skilled Postdoctoral Researcher in molecular plant science to investigate the biophysics of marine (macroalgal) cell wall polymers under physiological and stress conditions. This is a highly interdisciplinary project, funded under the UKRI Cross Council Responsive Mode Scheme, that aims to uncover the mechanical properties of cell walls in marine macroalgae. The bulk of our understanding of cell walls comes from studies in land plants, but macroalgal cell walls have evolved to deal with rapid and extreme cyclic changes in salinity and hydrostatic pressure and offer novel and under-explored insights into the fundamental architecture and evolution of cell walls and marine-adapted biopolymers. These insights require interdisciplinary expertise and the project will run across the cross-disciplinary LILACS consortium (‘Looking Inside Living Algal Cell Walls – A Soft Matter Approach’), in which Durham researchers work closely with synthetic chemists at Imperial College London and rheologists at Liverpool University.
The successful applicant will begin by using proteomic and transcriptomic approaches to characterize novel macroalgal cell wall proteins and polymers in the green macroalga, Ulva compressa, which is being developed as a model marine species by Durham’s project lead (John Bothwell), along with colleagues in Gent, Belgium. You will play a central role in leading, devising and conducting original experiments that bring together your molecular plant science expertise with researchers in biophysics, rheology and optical microscopy to design and construct innovative optical microscopy setups that probe how model hydrogels, constructed from the algal biopolymers and components that you have identified, respond to changing environments in real time. Experience with proteomic techniques is therefore essential, and expertise in cell wall polymer extraction, analytical chemistry techniques, or optical microscopy techniques would also be an advantage.
You will be working across traditional disciplines with biologists, chemists, optical and soft matter physicists, and your findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed manuscripts and conference presentations in several disciplines. We value and nurture mentorship, leadership development and collaboration, and you will have the opportunity to contribute to the guidance and supervision of postgraduate and undergraduate research projects. Additionally, there is potential for collaboration with industrial partners to further enhance the scope and impact of your research.
For more detail, please contact John Bothwell (j.h.bothwell@durham.ac.uk)

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

You will be primarily responsible for the extraction and characterization of green macroalgal cell wall proteins and polymers using proteomic and other analytical techniques. Using these, you will also design and construct model composite hydrogels, working with our collaborators at Liverpool and Imperial. You will be actively involved in project management, in developing research questions and in project decision making, and appropriate mentorship and support will be provided. Findings are expected to be both novel and transformative, so results will be presented at national and international conferences and published in leading journals. It is therefore essential that you collaborate effectively with colleagues across different scientific disciplines.

• To understand and convey material of a specialist or highly technical nature to the team or group of people through presentations and discussions that leads to the presentation of research papers in conferences and publications.
• To prepare and deliver presentations on research outputs/activities to audiences which may include: research sponsors, academic and non-academic audiences.
• To publish high quality outputs, including papers for submission to peer reviewed journals and papers for presentation at conferences and workshops under the direction of the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder.
• To assist with the development of research objectives and proposals.
• To conduct individual and collaborative research projects under the direction of the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder.
• To work with the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder and other colleagues in the research group, as appropriate, to identify areas for research, develop new research methods and extend the research portfolio.
• To deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines by discussing with the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder and offering creative or innovative solutions.
• To liaise with research colleagues and make internal and external contacts to develop knowledge and understanding to form relationships for future research collaboration.
• To plan and manage own research activity, research resources in collaboration with others and contribute to the planning of research projects.
• To deliver training in research techniques/approaches to peers, visitors and students as appropriate.
• To be involved in student supervision, as appropriate, and assist with the assessment of the knowledge of students.
• To contribute to fostering a collegial and respectful working environment which is inclusive and welcoming and where everyone is treated fairly with dignity and respect.
• To engage in wider citizenship to support the department and wider discipline.
• To engage in continuing professional development by participation in the undergraduate or postgraduate teaching programmes or by membership of departmental committees, etc. and by attending relevant training and development courses.
• You will advise PhD students working in the group, take part in discussions to agree targets for their work, and supervise their day-to-day activity.