Postdoc
Producing improved potato varieties suitable for the changing climate of Europe
Stellenanangebot Postdoc in Durham | Vereinigtes Königreich
Stellenbeschreibung
Department of Biosciences
Grade 7: - £33,797 - £35,845
Fixed Term - Full Time
Contract Duration: Until 30 June 2023
Contracted Hours per Week: 35
Durham University
Durham University is one of the world's top universities with strengths across the Arts and Humanities, Sciences and Social Sciences. We are home to some of the most talented scholars and researchers from around the world who are tackling global issues and making a difference to people's lives.
The University sits in a beautiful historic city where it shares ownership of a UNESCO World Heritage Site with Durham Cathedral, the greatest Romanesque building in Western Europe. A collegiate University, Durham recruits outstanding students from across the world and offers an unmatched wider student experience.
Less than 3 hours north of London, and an hour and a half south of Edinburgh, County Durham is a region steeped in history and natural beauty. The Durham Dales, including the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, are home to breathtaking scenery and attractions. Durham offers an excellent choice of city, suburban and rural residential locations. The University provides a range of benefits including pension and childcare benefits and the University’s Relocation Manager can assist with potential schooling requirements.
Durham University seeks to promote and maintain an inclusive and supportive environment for work and study that assists all members of our University community to reach their full potential. Diversity brings strength and we welcome applications from across the international, national and regional communities that we work with and serve.
The Role
Post Doctoral Research Associate in plant molecular biology for 30 months (or until 30 June 2023) full time within the group of Professor Marc Knight in the Department of Biosciences. As well as being part of a vibrant research group in Durham, the successful applicant will work as part of, and collaborate with, a multidisciplinary team of 17 partners across Europe (ADAPT: Accelerated Development of multiple-stress tolerAnt PoTato), including academic institutes and companies. This consortium is focused on producing improved potato varieties suitable for the changing climate of Europe and there is opportunity to travel to obtain experience with these collaborators. The successful applicant will have expertise in plant molecular cell biology and will report directly to the project Principal Investigator, Professor Marc Knight. He/she will undertake research in the laboratory that will develop novel ways of measuring stress signalling in the crop potato. He/she will develop and use luminescent and fluorescent markers expressed in potato to measure the second messengers calcium and reactive oxygen species with state of the art imaging equipment, and will link this stress gene expression and stress resistance traits.
Responsibilities:
• 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.
This post is fixed term for 30 months, the funding is available from 01/01/21 for this fixed period only; the project is time limited and will end on 30/06/23.
The post-holder is employed to work on research/a research project which will be led by another colleague. Whilst this means that the post-holder will not be carrying out independent research in his/her own right, the expectation is that they will contribute to the advancement of the project, through the development of their own research ideas/adaptation and development of research protocols.
Successful applicants will, ideally, be in post by 1st January 2021
How to Apply
For informal enquiries please contact Professor Marc Knight;
We prefer to receive applications online via the Durham University Vacancies Site. https://www.dur.ac.uk/jobs/. As part of the application process, you should provide details of 3 (preferably academic/research) referees and the details of your current line manager so that we may seek an employment reference.
Applications are particularly welcome from women and black and minority ethnic candidates, who are under-represented in academic posts in the University .
What to Submit
All applicants are asked to submit:
• A CV and covering letter which details your experience, strengths and potential in the requirements set out below
Next Steps
The assessment for the post will include assessment of written application followed by a panel interview of shortlisted candidates.
The Requirements
Essential:
1. Qualifications
• A good first degree in Biology/Biochemistry/Molecular Biology.
• A PhD in plant molecular biology or a related subject.
2. 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 international conferences and communicate complex information to specialists and within the wider academic community.
• Experience in recombinant DNA techniques and plant transformation.
3. 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.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
Desirable:
4. 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 biological imaging.
• Experience in plant cell signalling, especially the role of second messengers.
5. Skills
• Demonstrable ability to plan and manage independent research
DBS Requirement: Not Applicable.