Research Assistant

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Research Assistant to join the Bradley Group at the John Innes Centre, working on cutting-edge science in the field of Molecular Microbiology. About the John Innes Centre: The John Innes Centre is an independent, international centre of excellence in plant and microbial sciences. We nurture a creative, curiosity-led approach to answering fundamental questions in bioscience, and translate that knowledge into societal benefits. Our strategic vision, Healthy Plants, Healthy People, Healthy Planet, sets out our ambitious long-term goals for the game changing impact of our science globally. Our employees enjoy access to state-of-the-art technology and a diverse range of specialist training opportunities, including support for leadership and management. Click here to find out more about working at the John Innes Centre. About the Bradley Group: The Bradley group investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying chemical communication between plants and fungi, with a particular focus on how plant-derived small molecules influence fungal biology and plant-fungal interactions. Plant-associated fungi play diverse roles in plant health and nutrition. While some cause disease, others form beneficial symbioses that improve plant access to essential nutrients. Understanding how chemical signals regulate these interactions could help inform more sustainable approaches to crop protection and nutrient management. Despite considerable progress in understanding how plant-fungal associations develop, the mechanisms by which fungi perceive and respond to plant-derived chemical signals remain poorly understood. Addressing this gap is challenging because many ecologically important fungi are difficult to manipulate genetically and experimentally. The Bradley group combines molecular genetics, synthetic biology and tractable model systems to investigate fungal chemical perception. By integrating approaches from model yeasts and filamentous fungi, we aim to uncover conserved and specialised signalling mechanisms and develop new ways to investigate fungal biology. The role: Embedded within the collaborative and diverse Molecular Microbiology Department at the John Innes Centre, you will:

• Develop and apply molecular and genetic approaches to investigate microbial responses to biologically relevant chemical signals.
• Contribute to the development and management of experimental resources to support chemical biology research.
• Conduct microbiological screening experiments to identify and characterise novel biological responses to chemical cues.
• Investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying microbial signalling and environmental interactions.
  
  You will have a BSc in molecular biology, microbiology, genetics, chemical ecology or a related discipline. You will have a keen interest in experimental, laboratory-based research and a willingness to learn new techniques plus a demonstrable ability to plan and conduct hypothesis-driven experiments, critically evaluate results and develop follow-up investigations.
Other essential requirements are strong communication skills, including the ability to present scientific ideas and results clearly to different audiences and an ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a research team. Desirable skills include:
• Experience with high-throughput screening or other systematic approaches to experimental investigation.
• Experience in molecular biology workflows involving DNA, RNA or gene expression analysis.
• Experience with microscopy or other approaches to characterising cellular responses.
• Experience analysing complex biological datasets, including transcriptomic data.
• A track record of communicating research through peer-reviewed publications or other scientific outputs.