Postdoctoral Researcher
Salary: £32,255 - £39,345 depending on qualifications and experience.
Contract: Fulltime, 23 months
Location: John Innes Centre, Norwich, UK.
Closing date: 17th September 2020
Reference: 1003935
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Postdoctoral Researcher to join the Byers Group at the John Innes Centre.
About the John Innes Centre:
The John Innes Centre is an independent, international centre of excellence in plant science, genetics and microbiology. We nurture a creative, curiosity led approach to answering fundamental questions in bioscience, and translate that knowledge into societal benefits.
Our employees enjoy access to state-of-the-art technology and a diverse range of specialist training opportunities, including support for leadership and management.
About the Byers Group:
Dr. Byers started at the Centre in August 2020, so this is a chance to help build a lab from the ground up and contribute your expertise and passion to the group and its culture, as well as to experience first-hand what starting your own group might look like. The lab is a part of the Cell and Developmental Biology department and the Genes in the Environment ISP at the John Innes Centre.
The group studies the effect of floral scent on the evolution of flowering plants from a genetic, phenotypic, and ecological perspective, focusing particularly on how it drives interactions with animal pollinators. We use several different plant systems, including monkeyflowers (Mimulus), orchids (Gymnadenia), and bedstraws (Galium).
The role:
As a Postdoctoral Researcher, you'll take ownership of a specific project within the group. This project will be developed in consultation between you and Dr. Byers. One potential/ideal project is to investigate the evolution of floral traits, particularly floral scent, across the phylogeny of monkeyflowers (Mimulus s.l.), a group of about 150 species that are developing model systems in evolutionary biology and ecology. Prior work in a small group of species within the genus has shown that shared patterns of floral scent phenotype have evolved using quite distinct genetic mechanisms, thus sparking our interest in investigating these patterns at a genus-wide level.
The ideal candidate:
The ideal candidate will have a PhD degree in evolutionary biology or ecology. Especially desirable is experience with macroevolutionary/phylogenetic approaches to trait evolution; chemical ecology; and/or pollination biology. You will have experience with plant cultivation and plant science; in particular, experience cultivating difficult species (e.g. requiring seed pre-treatment or special growth conditions) would be valuable for this position. You will have demonstrable experience with molecular biology and genetics techniques and analysis, strong record-keeping skills (e.g. lab notebook, collections maintenance, data storage and organisation) and a strong command of written and spoken English. You'll be passionate about science!
You will be comfortable working both independently and as a member of a larger team, as well as having good time management, attention to detail, and prioritisation skills. You'll be comfortable collaborating with international and local colleagues from diverse cultures and backgrounds. You will be able to travel locally and internationally for e.g. collaborations, meetings, and fieldwork, and may be asked to work limited unsociable hours for crucial experiments.
Additional information:
Interviews are expected to be held on 15th October 2020.
For further information and details of how to apply, please visit our web site
http://jobs.jic.ac.uk or contact the Human Resources team on 01603 450462 or
[email protected] quoting reference 1003935.
We are an equal opportunities employer, actively supporting inclusivity and diversity, and particularly encourage applications from individuals often underrepresented in STEM, including racial and ethnic minorities, Indigenous, and BAME individuals; LGBTQIA+ individuals; individuals with disabilities, Deaf individuals, and those with chronic illness(es); and women and gender minorities. As a Disability Confident organisation, we guarantee to offer an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for this vacancy.
We are a member of Stonewall's Diversity Champions programme and are proud to hold a prestigious Gold Athena SWAN award in recognition of our inclusive culture, commitment and good practices towards advancing of gender equality. We offer an exciting, stimulating, diverse research environment and actively promote a family friendly workplace. Dr. Byers is committed to maintaining a respectful, inclusive, and friendly working environment for all staff and students, as well as promoting your personal and career development.
