Research Assistant (Molecular Biology)

**THIS VACANCY MUST BE APPLIED FOR VIA THE NBI JOBS WEBSITE**

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Research Assistant to join the Saunders group at the John Innes Centre to lead further development and deployment of our award-winning Mobile And Real-time PLant disEase(MARPLE) diagnostics platform.

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 technologyand 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 Saunders Group:

The Saunders group focuses on studying (re-)emerging plant pathogens that pose a significant threat to agriculture. We use an array of different approaches, integrating molecular genetics, microbiology, plant pathology, population genetics, genomics and data mining to improve our understanding of how pathogens cause disease.

This is an exciting opportunity to join an international, multi-partner project and have a direct impact on enhancing disease diagnostic capacity for some of the most devastating diseases of wheat worldwide. The post holder will assist with further development of the MinION mobile sequencing platform for crop pathogen diagnostics, particularly its expansion to wheat stem rust.

The role:

The role will require extensive optimisation of all wet-lab components, working with the MinION portable sequencing device. The appointee will work closely with other members of the group to use the latest molecular techniques and sequencing technology to genotype pathogen strains in infected wheat leaf samples and further develop the MARPLE diagnostics platform. Furthermore, the Research Assistant will assist with the deployment of MARPLE diagnostics in Africa and Asia, including assisting with the organisation and execution of training workshops and logistical arrangements.

The successful applicant will join a large research group at the John Innes Centre and can be expected to interact with other members of the Saunders group, whilst also interacting with other researchers working on wheat rust diseases at the John Innes Centre.

They will work independently day-to-day with guidance and training in specific techniques provided by other lab members and the Group Leader. In addition to their own research project, they may be required to support other lab members as appropriate. This project is a collaboration between JIC and CIMMYT and other research organisations in Africa and Asia. The appointee will also regularly interact with these organisations and provide support for the development of MARPLE diagnostics hubs in several locations.

The ideal candidate:

You will have a BSc or equivalent in Biological Sciences. The post holder will have excellent experience and expertise in molecular biology and a demonstrated ability to perform research and develop novel ideas. It is advantageous if you have experience in supervising/training others.

Additional information:

For further information and details of how to apply, please visit our website http://jobs.jic.ac.ukor contact the Human Resources team on 01603 450814 or nbi.recruitment@nbi.ac.ukquoting reference 1004421.

**Please note CVs received directly from Indeed will not be considered. Only applications submitted on the above website will be accepted**

We are an equal opportunities employer, actively supporting inclusivity and diversity. 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 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. The Institute is also a member of Stonewall’s Diversity Champions programme.

The John Innes Centre is a registered charity (No. 223852) grant-aided by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.

Job Types: Full-time, Temporary contract
Contract length: 24 months

Salary: £26,600.00-£32,800.00 per year

Benefits:

• Company pension
• Cycle to work scheme
• On-site parking
• Sick pay
• Wellness programme

Schedule:

• Day shift

Work Location: One location

Application deadline: 12/04/2023
Reference ID: 1004421