Postdoctoral Researcher, RS Plant-fungal interactions

Natural History Museum; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent research institution in Greater London is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Researcher to join their team. The role includes investigating plant-fungal interactions using advanced imaging techniques and molecular biology. Suitable candidates should hold a PhD in plant science or related fields and possess expertise in microscopy and experimental design. This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research in a collaborative environment, while also providing a range of employee benefits and a hybrid working model.

Benefits

27.5 days holiday plus 8 bank holidays

Natural History Museum Pension Scheme

Life insurance

Free admission to exhibitions

Staff discount at shops and cafes

Training initiatives and opportunities

Civil Service Sports Council membership

Access to in-house gym and social clubs

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent postdoctoral work experience in relevant fields.
• Expertise in advanced microscopy techniques and molecular approaches.
• Ability to work independently and manage time effectively.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to research on plant-fungal interactions.
• Conduct in vitro laboratory experiments and advanced imaging.
• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team of scientists.

Skills

Advanced microscopy techniques

Molecular biology approaches

Experimental design

In vitro approaches

Education

PhD in plant science or related discipline

Tools

Confocal microscopy

Electron microscopy

Job description

About Us

We are a world‑class visitor attraction and leading science research centre. We use the Museum's unique collections and our unrivalled expertise to tackle the biggest challenges facing the world today. We care for more than 80 million objects spanning billions of years and welcome more than five million visitors annually and 16 million visits to our website.

Today the Museum is more relevant and influential than ever. By attracting people from a range of backgrounds to work for us, we can continue to look at the world with fresh eyes and find new ways of doing things.

We employ 1100 staff in a variety of roles, all united by our vision of a future where people and planet thrive. We need everyone to have the passion and drive to help us with our mission to create advocates for our planet and inspire millions to care about the natural world.

Diversity and inclusion matter to us.

Our vision is of a future where both people and the planet thrive. Diversity is one of our core values and we strive to build a workplace where everyone feels a sense of belonging. All new staff who join us learn about the importance of diversity and inclusion to the Museum and how to contribute to creating an inclusive environment.

We know we have more to do, but we are committed to ensuring that everyone who works at the Museum feels they can thrive and feel valued and respected.

About the role

We are seeking a highly motivated and enthusiastic Postdoctoral Researcher to join the research group of Dr Silvia Pressel in the Science Department, Natural History Museum, London.

You will be an essential member of a multidisciplinary team of scientists led by Prof. Katie Field at the University of Sheffield and Professor David Johnson at Lancaster University. The project aims to uncover the mechanisms by which diverse mycorrhizal fungi interact with plants, and how these interactions influence plant physiology, development, and resource exchange across wider plant‑fungal networks, with applications for both natural and agricultural systems.

Your research will combine in vitro laboratory experiments with advanced imaging techniques and molecular biology approaches to obtained and characterised new fungal isolates. Through detailed cytological analyses of field collected and experimental mycorrhizal plants, you will gain new insights into the form and function of critical symbiotic interfaces and other intracellular fungal structures within host plants, providing new knowledge on how structure is linked to symbiotic function and how this varies across plants and fungi.

This Royal Society‑funded position provides an excellent opportunity to develop a high‑profile and novel research portfolio, refining your expertise in experimental design of plant‑fungal interactions, including in vitro isolation and resynthesis of the symbiosis, cytological and molecular analyses, contributing to high‑impact research in a collaborative and supportive environment.

About you

You will hold a PhD (or equivalent postdoctoral level work experience) in plant science, plant‑microbe interactions, microbiology, or a related discipline, with expertise in advanced microscopy techniques (confocal, electron microscopy), molecular approaches and experimental design. Experience in in vitro approaches is essential. You will be able to work independently, manage your time effectively, and communicate clearly within a multidisciplinary team. Enthusiasm, curiosity, and a collaborative mindset are also essential.

Thriving at the Museum : the way we work

We are proud to work at the Museum and have identified the qualities we all need to embody to reach our shared ambition. This sits alongside the Museum’s values and forms the framework for the way we work.

Find out more here

What we offer

• 27.5 days holiday plus 8 bank holidays (full time equivalent)
• Generous defined contribution Natural History Museum Pension Scheme (employer contribution 4 - 10%)
• Season ticket, bicycle and rental loan
• Life insurance
• Free admission to our exhibitions and many other paid exhibitions at museums, galleries and institutions across London and the UK.
• Staff discount at our Museum shops and cafes
• We offer a wide variety of training initiatives and opportunities to build skills. Investing in staff development is important to us, and we are ambitious about helping staff to grow and fulfil their potential.
• Affordable membership to the Civil Service Sports Council which offers a range of benefits including an extensive list of special offers and reduced entry fees at a selection of cinema chains, theme parks, theatres, retailers and supermarkets. It also provides entry to up to 300 English Heritage sites and other national treasures. For more details, visit https : / / www.cssc.co.uk
• Membership to our Sports and Social Association (for a small fee), which includes access to our in‑house gym and clubs such as football, softball, table tennis and tennis and classes in Middle Eastern dance, yoga and Tai Chi

Hybrid working

We are working towards a vision where both people and planet thrive, and nothing gives a greater connection with this, than seeing first‑hand, the visitors, scientific research and collections that all of our work is inspired by and working side by side with the teams delivering the visitor experience and events. We also recognise the benefits and flexibility that hybrid working brings. We operate a hybrid working model that requires regular, weekly attendance for this role, with the precise pattern of days on site and worked from home to be agreed with your manager.

How to apply

If this sounds like you, please apply below by clicking on Apply for job .

Please note that as part of our commitment to anonymised shortlisting, panels do not view CVs during the recruitment process. If you choose to upload your CV, our system will automatically pull information from your CV into our application form. We advise you to double‑check your application form data before submitting as the tool may interpret CVs differently.

Closing date : 23:59 on 12 January 2026

Interviews expected : w / c 26 January 2026

Please note that this role qualifies for Museum sponsorship. Whilst we would still expect the successful postholder to have valid right to work in the UK at the point of starting the role, the Museum can support in obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship for this role to apply for future or continued right to work in the UK. Please contact our Recruitment Team at [e-mail] if you have any further queries regarding this.