Lead Scientist, Plant Metabolic & Synthetic Biology

EIT - Ellison Institute of Technology; Oxford; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

The Ellison Institute of Technology in Oxford, UK invites applications for Scientist, Plant Cellular Engineering to lead metabolic engineering projects focused on respiration, energy status and redox balance. Initial work in plant cell cultures, with translation to whole plants for productivity gains.

You will collaborate across multidisciplinary teams, contribute to IP generation and mentor junior staff while advancing high-impact plant biology research toward real-world, commercial solutions.

Qualifications

• PhD in a relevant field required.
• Demonstrated experience in plant metabolic engineering and synthetic biology.
• Experience with transient and stable genetic engineering in plant systems.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement and characterize engineering strategies to manipulate respiration, energy status and redox balance in plant cells.
• Develop methods to quantify metabolic responses in plant cells and tissues.
• Lead experiments in plant cell cultures and whole plants with translational goals.
• Lead phenotyping using multi-omics approaches and imaging.
• Apply iterative design-build-test-learn cycles to refine strategies.
• Advance engineering strategies into whole plants for validation.
• Ensure robust experimental design and data interpretation.

Skills

Plant metabolic engineering

Synthetic biology

Genetic engineering in plants

Design-build-test-learn

Experiment design & data analysis

Collaboration across teams

Education

PhD in Plant Biology / Synthetic Biology / Metabolic Engineering or related

Job description

The Ellison Institute of Technology in Oxford, UK invites applications for Scientist, Plant Cellular Engineering to lead metabolic engineering projects focused on respiration, energy status and redox balance. Initial work in plant cell cultures, with translation to whole plants for productivity gains.

You will collaborate across multidisciplinary teams, contribute to IP generation and mentor junior staff while advancing high-impact plant biology research toward real-world, commercial solutions.