Research Fellow (Postdoctoral) at University of Birmingham

Contract Type: Fixed Term contract up to September 2027

Background

A Postdoctoral Research Fellow position is available within the Seed Revolution Lab in the School of Biosciences at the University of Birmingham. The Research Fellow will work as part of the Royal Society-funded project “Fern seed found? Testing a new hypothesis for the origin of seed gene networks”. This project aims to use reverse genetics, cross-species complementation and single cell next-generation sequencing approaches to investigate how the gene networks that regulate seed development first evolved from a seedless vascular plant. Specifically, this project will test whether seed gene networks are conserved with those of the gametophyte egg-chamber (archegonium) the fern Ceratopteris richardii. 

This position will be based in the Plant Science & Food Security theme within the School of Biosciences on the University of Birmingham Edgbaston Campus. The School is part of the College of Life and Environmental Sciences.

Main Duties

• Develop research objectives and proposals for own or joint research, with assistance of a mentor if required. This will include contributing to the design of experiments to meet the research goals of the project, in collaboration with Dr Andrew Plackett.
• Collect research data through laboratory-based scientific experimentation and (where necessary) literature reviews.
• Analyse and interpret data.
• Apply knowledge in a way which develops new intellectual understanding.
• Contribute to developing new models, techniques and methods as required by their research project.
• Present research outputs, including drafting academic publications or parts thereof, for example at seminars and as posters, typically to audiences with a scientific or academic background.
• Disseminate research findings for publication, research seminars etc. This will involve taking a lead role in preparing research outputs of their project for publication in peer-reviewed journals.
• Contribute to Departmental/School research-related activities and research-related administration.
• Undertake management/administration arising from research.
• Supervise students on research related work and provide guidance to PhD students where appropriate to the discipline.
• Provide guidance, as required, to support staff and any students who may be assisting with the research.
• Deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines.
• Contribute to writing bids for research funding.
• Contribute to enterprise, business development and/or public engagement activities of manifest benefit to the College and the University, often under supervision of a project leader.
• Promote equality and values diversity acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• A Bachelors or Masters degree, ideally in a relevant STEM discipline (eg. Biological sciences).
• A PhD (or near to completion) in a field relevant to the project (e.g. plant genetics, plant reproductive biology, plant molecular biology).

Informal enquiries can be made to Dr Andy Plackett, email: A.R.G.Plackett@bham.ac.uk 

To download the full job description and details of this position and submit an electronic application online please click on the ‘Apply‘ button above.

Valuing excellence, sustaining investment
We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working