Seed Science Junior Technician

Royal Holloway, University of London - Department of Biological Science

Location: Egham

Salary: £34,670 to £40,284 per annum pro rata - including London Allowance

Hours: Part Time

Contract Type: Fixed-Term/Contract

Placed On: 27th August 2025

Closes: 18th September 2025

Job Ref: 0825-185

Hours per Week: 28

Weeks per Year: 52

The Seed Biology and Technology Team at Royal Holloway invites applications for the post of a Seed Science Junior Technician at the Department of Biological Sciences.

We are seeking a Technician, starting in October 2025 (or as soon as possible thereafter), to join a research project funded by UKRI-BBSRC. The research project "MimicWeed - Morphological, hormonal and genomic mechanisms of seed dormancy, germination and seedling vigour in weedy crop grass mimics" is an Industrial Partnership Award (BBSRC-IPA project APP33678) in collaboration with Rothamsted Research as academic and Syngenta as partners.

The postholder will be based within the research team of Professor Gerhard Leubner and Dr Tina Steinbrecher in the Seed Biology and Technology Laboratory at Royal Holloway. The main task for this post is to provide technical support for the MimicWeed project (benchwork), especially with conducting seed dormancy and screening assay and preparing samples for analytics. The Seed Science Junior Technician is further expected to support the operational management of the Seed Biology and Technology Team (SBTT) including by conducting ordering, keeping COSSH forms and the chemical list updated, providing training in standard research techniques, and taking care of the Seed Technology Platform equipment. Teamwork and willingness to interact MimicWeed and SBTT researchers are essential.

We are looking for a highly motivated person with interest in our research topic, experience in benchwork for at least one year as technician or MSc level with plant/seed experimental research support. The successful candidate will have a research experience in a relevant subject area, good interaction, communication, and collaboration skills are essential, and experience in organisation and supporting laboratory operational management would be an advantage. A good knowledge of English is of course mandatory. This position is not eligible for hybrid working.

When applying, please upload copies of your title, short summaries of your experimental works, and a short CV including your publication list. Your supporting one-page statement should include your motivation to conduct research in the Seed Biology and Technology Team at Royal Holloway.

The post is based in Egham, Surrey where the University is situated in a beautiful, leafy campus near to Windsor Great Park and within commuting distance from London.

For queries on the application process the Human Resources Department can be contacted by email at: recruitment@rhul.ac.uk.

For an informal discussion about the post, please contact Professor Gerhard Leubner, Chair of Plant Biochemistry, Department of Biological Sciences at: Gerhard.Leubner@rhul.ac.uk.

Please quote the reference: 0825-185

Closing Date: 23:59, 18 September 2025