Postdoctoral Research Associate - Bhatia Group (Fixed Term)

CamWebDir; Cambridge; Remote; GBP 34,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Family-friendly benefits

Development opportunities

Job summary

University of Cambridge is offering a fixed-term Postdoctoral Research Associate position in the Bhatia Group. The successful candidate will study the mechanistic basis of cytokinin in plant development, using Arabidopsis thaliana leaves and extensive confocal time-lapse imaging to map growth patterns during organogenesis.

You will join a dynamic lab environment, work collaboratively, and have opportunities to apply for fellowships with lab support.

Qualifications

• Recent Ph.D. in plant developmental biology, genetics or molecular biology.
• Extensive time-lapse imaging experience with confocal microscopy is essential.
• Experience with cloning and handling transgenic Arabidopsis plants is essential.
• Excellent English communication; ability to work collaboratively in a lab.

Responsibilities

• Investigate mechanistic cytokinin function in Arabidopsis leaves using imaging.
• Perform extensive time-lapse confocal imaging to study growth patterns.
• Analyze imaging data and quantify spatiotemporal cellular processes.
• Collaborate with lab members and contribute to fellowship applications.

Skills

Time-lapse imaging

Confocal microscopy

Plant developmental biology

Genetics

Molecular biology

Cloning

Transgenic Arabidopsis

Data analysis

English communication

Collaboration

Education

Ph.D. in plant biology (or related)

Tools

MorphoGraphX

ImageJ

Imaris

Job description

# Postdoctoral Research Associate - Bhatia Group (Fixed Term)UUniversity of CambridgeCB2 1TNvia University of CambridgePosted 15 Sep 2026Apply on cam.ac.uk →A post-doctoral Research Associate position is available in the Bhatia group at the Sainsbury Laboratory Cambridge University. Successful candidates will conduct fundamental research investigating the mechanistic basis of the function of the plant hormone cytokinin in plant development using Arabidopsis thaliana leaves as model. This will involve extensive time-lapse imaging of developing leaves using confocal microscopy to elucidate how cytokinin controls the spatiotemporal distribution of cellular growth patterns underlying plant organogenesis. They will join a young, growing lab and are expected to bring energy, enthusiasm, and a proactive commitment to both developing research and positive lab culture.The candidate will be working in a stimulating scientific environment with ample opportunities to learn new techniques. The successful candidate will be encouraged to apply for fellowships with the help of the lab.Qualifications:• Applicants must have a recent Ph.D degree (within one-two years is desirable but not essential) with strong foundations in plant developmental biology, genetics and molecular biology.• Extensive demonstrated experience in time-lapse imaging using confocal microscopy is essential. Expertise in imaging plant aerial organs, particularly leaves and the shoot apical meristem, is highly desirable.• Experience in quantitative imaging data analysis (using MorphoGraphX, Image J, Imaris etc.) is desirable and will be an advantage.• Experience in basic molecular biology techniques including cloning, and generation and handling of transgenic Arabidopsis plants is essential.• Excellent communication skills in both oral and written English are expected.• Successful candidates will be expected to work collaboratively in the lab.• Strong observation skills, critical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and organisational and record-keeping skills are essential.• The ability to work independently and take proactive measures when needed is essential.• The ability and enthusiasm to learn new techniques is required.If you are passionate about research in plant development and possess the necessary technical skills, we invite you to apply for this exciting opportunity.Please ensure that you upload a copy of your full CV, a motivation letter highlighting your suitability for the position, how your expertise and ambitions align with the Bhatia lab research and contact information of three referees.At the Sainsbury Laboratory, we foster a welcoming and collaborative environment. We offer a range of family-friendly benefits and development opportunities to our employees. More about the Sainsbury Laboratory and details of what the University offers to employees can be found at: https://www.slcu.cam.ac.ukMore information about research in the Bhatia group can be found here: https://www.slcu.cam.ac.uk/bhatia-groupFixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 2 years.Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.Scientific enquiries apart from the formal application should be directed to Dr Bhatia at [e-mail] questions regarding the application process, please email [e-mail] quote reference PT50296 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.