Plant Research Technician – Climate-Resilience Lab

The University of Sheffield; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave (38 days pro rata)

Generous pension scheme

Flexible working opportunities (hybrid

Discounts and other benefits

Staff development opportunities

Job summary

The University of Sheffield is seeking a skilled Technician: Research to join the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology cluster in the School of Biosciences. You will manage marram grass experiments, perform stress tests, and phenotype plants as part of an ARIA-funded project to enhance coastal dune resilience.

Applicants should have Level 3 biology or horticulture, experience with large plant cohorts, and strong organisational skills to work both independently and in a multidisciplinary team.

Qualifications

• Equivalent to Level 3 (BTEC/A Level) in Biology or horticulture with vocational plant biology skills.
• Experience growing large cohorts of plants.
• Ability to follow detailed experimental protocols.
• Strong organisational and time-management skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Responsibilities

• Germinate, grow and maintain marram grass for experimental work.
• Conduct stress response experiments and phenotype plants.
• Carry out controlled crosses between marram grass and relatives.
• Maintain comprehensive, accurate research records.
• Prioritise workload to meet project deadlines and deliver updates.
• Attend safety/training courses and assist with posters/reports as needed.
• Adapt and transfer skills to new experimental approaches.
• Support self-development and ethical, sustainable research practices.

Skills

Plant biology

Horticulture

Marram grass knowledge

Phenotype measurements

Record keeping

Team collaboration

Independent work

Experimental design

Education

Level 3 biology

Job description

The University of Sheffield is seeking a skilled Technician: Research to join the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology cluster in the School of Biosciences. You will manage marram grass experiments, perform stress tests, and phenotype plants as part of an ARIA-funded project to enhance coastal dune resilience.

Applicants should have Level 3 biology or horticulture, experience with large plant cohorts, and strong organisational skills to work both independently and in a multidisciplinary team.