Research Fellow in Synthetic Genomics

Job reference: SAE-028453

Salary: £46,735 to £57,422 per annum, depending on relevant experience

Faculty/Organisational Unit: Science and Engineering

Location: Manchester Institute of Biotechnology

Employment type: Fixed Term

Division/Team: Department of Chemistry

Hours Per Week: 35 hours per week

Closing date (DD/MM/YYYY): 30/06/2025

Contract Duration: 36 months

School/Directorate: School of Natural Sciences

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We are looking for an ambitious and talented research fellow to work on an exciting new synthetic genomics project engineering synthetic plant artificial chromosomes (synPACs). The long-term ambition of this project is to develop critically needed synthetic chromosome technologies to program and engineer plants at scale, with a view to transforming plant science, breeding and agriculture. Several bottlenecks currently prevent these advances, notably genome-scale design, big DNA assembly, high-capacity DNA delivery to plant cells, and artificial chromosome formation. To achieve our ambitious targets, we will not only need to address bottlenecks from a proof-of-concept point of view, but rather develop a robust, flexible and reproducible engineering ecosystem to allow programming plants at will and at scale. We will establish these technologies directly in potato (Solanum tuberosum), yielding tangible improvements to the world’s most important non-grain food crop that is central to global food security, but with a future view to deploy the engineering pipeline to other plant species.

The research fellow will be encouraged to develop independent research lines complementary to the main project, as well as apply for external, independent funding.

As an equal opportunities employer we welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of age, sex, gender (or gender identity), ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation and transgender status. All appointments are made on merit.

Our University is positive about flexible working – you can find out more here

Blended working arrangements may be considered.

Please note that we are unable to respond to enquiries, accept CVs or applications from recruitment agencies.

Enquiries about the vacancy, shortlisting and interviews:

Name: Patrick Cai

Email: yizhi.cai@manchester.ac.uk

General enquiries:

Email: People.Recruitment@manchester.ac.uk

Technical support:

Jobtrain: 0161 850 2004

https://jobseekersupport.jobtrain.co.uk/support/home

This vacancy will close for applications at midnight on the closing date.