Research Fellow (105145-1123)

Plant Molecular Biologist; Plant Immunity

A fixed term contract BBSRC funded Research Fellow position is available in the Grant laboratory, a well-funded group working on a range of challenges in the plant immune field, including; systemic signalling, metabolic immunity, inter-organellular communication and the molecular basis of immune suppression. 

We seek a highly motivated and enthusiastic molecular biologist, ideally with some cell biology expertise and experience in plant immunity to work on understanding the role nucleoside derivatives generated by plant disease resistance proteins in dictating the outcomes of plant-pathogen interactions using the model pathosystem, Arabidopsis thaliana -Pseudomonas syringae.

This project focusses on the Toll-Interlukin 1 (TIR) class of plant disease resistance proteins (TNLs) which have NADase activity leading to the production of variant cADP-ribose (vcADPR). Remarkably, pathogens deploy TIR domains to produce different v-cADPRs that interfere with plant immune signalling. This project will dissect how these contrasting TIR domain products impact the immune outcome. It involves collaborators in the USA, Hong Kong and Australia and deploys a range of pre-existing tools and techniques including real time imaging, RNAseq, CRISPR, genetically encoded reporters and targeted mass spectrometry to achieve this objective. Warwick has excellent facilities for this research including state-of-the-art imaging suite and one of the UKs leading Mass Spectrometry facilities.

Any requests for further information can be directed to Murray Grant,  m.grant@warwick.ac.uk.

You will have experience in the field of plant biology, be motivated, inquisitive, an independent worker but also a team player with excellent time management skills. You will have a demonstrable knowledge of plant molecular biology and new developments in the field of immunity and possess a suite of fundamental plant molecular biology skills.

For further information regarding the skills required for this role please see the personal specification section of the attached job description.

If you are near submission or have recently submitted your PhD but have not yet had it conferred, any offers of employment will be made as Research Assistant at the top of level 5 of the University grade structure. Upon receipt of evidence of the successful award of your PhD, you will be promoted to Research Fellow on the first point of level 6 of the University grade structure. 

For further information about the School of Life Sciences please see our website at: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/lifesci

We believe that collegiality, openness, inclusivity and diversity are essential for an excellent environment; this ethic has enabled us to gain an Athena SWAN Silver award.  We are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace, so if you are excited by this role, we encourage you to apply, even if your past experience does not match exactly.  We also encourage applications from all groups with protected characteristics (traditionally under-represented in STEM fields.)

In your application, you can also include any career breaks you may have taken (e.g., parental/caring/long-term sick leave, part-time work, secondments) or any periods where you were unable or restricted to work because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

For those eligible, the University of Warwick offers relocation and Immigration Support Scheme packages to assist with costs of relocating and any associated visa applications and HIS (health) surcharge fees.

Born in the 60s with a mindset of boldness, imagination and collaboration, the University of Warwick is a world-leading research-intensive university with the highest academic and research standards. We’re one of the world’s top universities, ranked 67th in the world and 10th in the UK*, with 92% of our research assessed to be ‘world leading or internationally excellent’**. 

You'll be joining a diverse, innovative and globally connected community committed to igniting real world progress. Here at Warwick, we offer you opportunities to follow your ambitions as long as you bring the energy and determination to succeed.

*QS World University Rankings 2024

** Research Excellence Framework 2021

To find out more about us visit our website.

Applications should include a CV with a list of publications and a covering letter expressing the reasons for your interest in this post. Please state whether you have a valid clean driving licence. Within this information you should demonstrate how you meet the requirements of this role by specific reference to each of the essential, and where applicable, desirable criteria detailed in the person specification. 

Please note that if you do not evidence the essential requirements, we may not be able to shortlist your application.

For informal enquiries, please contact Murray Grant (m.grant@warwick.ac.uk). To apply please complete your essential personal details and attach a CV and cover letter by the closing date of 2 January 2024. Please ensure your CV includes your most recent employment experience along with any additional relevant experience and education history. Your cover letter should detail how you meet the essential and desirable criteria for this post.   

The interviews will be held on a date to be confirmed. 

We will provide you with a great range of benefits, which include an attractive pension scheme, 30 days holiday plus Christmas closure, excellent learning and development opportunities, and savings on a wide range of products and services. We offer a generous maternity/paternity/adoption/parental leave policy, and onsite childcare facilities. 

We recognise the importance of a healthy work/life balance and offer you access to flexible working, for more information click here. 

We are proud to say that we are a Living Wage employer.

Warwick is committed to building an organisation of mutual respect and dignity, promoting a welcoming, diverse, and inclusive working and learning environment.  We recognise that everyone is different in a variety of visible and non-visible ways, and that those differences are to be recognised, respected, and valued.  Where possible, we go beyond legislation to provide a place where everyone can thrive, supporting all staff to achieve their full potential. We aspire to remove economic, social, and cultural barriers that may otherwise prevent people from succeeding. 

We therefore welcome and encourage applications from all communities regardless of culture, background, age, disability, sex/gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, religion/belief, or sexual or romantic orientation. To find out more about our social inclusion work at Warwick visit our webpages here. 

The University currently holds a Race Equality Charter Bronze Award, Athena Swan Sliver Award and a Disability Smart Bronze Award. The University of Warwick is also one of the six founder institutions of the EUTOPIA European University Alliance. 

Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS)

The University of Warwick complies with the DBS Code of Practice and undertakes not to discriminate unfairly against anyone who makes a Disclosure relating to a conviction or other information revealed.  More information is available on the University’s Vacancy pages and applicants may request a copy of the DBS Code of Practice.