We are looking for an excellent PDRA with a passion for plant development and genetics to join our inclusive team in the Plant Shape Lab. The PDRA will be working on a new project uncovering the rules defining the base-to-tip pattern in maize leaves.
The Opportunity: This 2-year post is part of a recently funded project, DynaLines, which aims to reveal the fundamental rules that define the grass leaf shape, and identify how these rules have changed over evolution. You will be responsible for investigating the spatial and temporal dynamics of gene expression, protein localisation and hormone distribution in the earliest stages of maize leaf development. To facilitate the research, you will use single-cell RNAseq analyses, develop cutting-edge tools, and generate transgenic lines to test hypotheses.
As part of the Plant Shape Lab you will join a team of people with a passion for plant development, maize genetics, and science communication. You will also have the opportunity to work with our diverse collaborators, and represent the lab at national and international conferences.
Your skills and attributes for success:
- A PhD in a relevant field of biological sciences
- Expertise in plant developmental biology and genetics
- Experience in scRNAseq analyses
- Extensive experience working independently to generate high-quality, well-documented data
- Excellent communication skills, and a good ability to work as part of a team
We particularly welcome applicants from under-represented groups.
For informal enquiries please contact the hiring manager – Dr Annis Richardson at annis.richardson@ed.ac.uk or the School of Biological Sciences Staffing / HR Team at SBS.Contracts@ed.ac.uk.
As a valued member of our team you can expect:
An exciting, positive, creative, challenging and rewarding place to work. We give you support, nurture your talent and reward success. You will benefit from a competitive reward package and a wide range of staff benefits, which includes a generous holiday entitlement, a defined benefits pension scheme, staff discounts, family friendly initiatives, flexible working and much more. Access our staff benefits page for further information and use our reward calculator to find out the total value of pay and benefits provided.
The University of Edinburgh holds a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance gender equality in higher education. We are members of the Race Equality Charter and we are also Stonewall Scotland Diversity Champions, actively promoting LGBT equality.
As part of the Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences, you will join a dynamic and supportive community. We have a formal PDRA mentorship program and we organise range of scientific and social events throughout the year for everyone in the institute. Interviews will be held in late June/ early July. If invited for interview you will be required to evidence your right to work in the UK. Further information is available on our right to work webpages.
The University is able to sponsor the employment of international workers in this role. If successful, an international applicant requiring sponsorship to work in the UK will need to satisfy the UK Home Office’s English Language requirements and apply for and secure a Skilled Worker Visa.
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About Us
As a world-leading research-intensive University, we are here to address tomorrow’s greatest challenges. Between now and 2030 we will do that with a values-led approach to teaching, research and innovation, and through the strength of our relationships, both locally and globally.
About the Team: The Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences provides a stimulating environment for studies on a broad range of plant-based topics. IMPS is one of few plant-based research and teaching Institutes within the UK. Our research uses genetics, biochemistry, cell biology and modelling to examine how plants develop, function and evolve. Main research themes include developmental biology, plant cell signalling, speciation and molecular plant pathology.
Research is funded by a diversity of organisations including BBSRC and commercial companies, and is supported by state-of the art facilities; an IMPS research forum facilitates inter-laboratory collaborations. IMPS has close links with SynthSys (the centre for Synthetic and Systems Biology at Edinburgh and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh (RBGE), providing further breadth to our research base. In addition, researchers within IMPS have strong links with the James Hutton Institute.
Salary: £36,333.00 – £43,155.00 Per Annum
College of Science and Engineering, School of Biological Sciences, Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences
Fixed Term Contract: Full Time – 35 Hours per Week
Fixed Term Duration: 04.09.2023 – 04.09.2025