Research Fellow (106549)

Warwick; Coventry; À distance; GBP 36 000 - 46 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

The University of Warwick is seeking a researcher to join the Jose Gutierrez-Marcos group in the School of Life Sciences on a full-time, fixed-term contract ending 14 May 2027. The role will focus on elucidating a transcriptional pathway controlling axillary meristem formation in cereal crops, with potential extension up to seven months subject to budget.

We welcome applicants with expertise in plant biology, genetics and genomics, bioinformatics and molecular biology.

Qualifications

• Experience in plant biology, genetics and genomics, bioinformatics and molecular biology.
• Applications from people with general molecular biology skills in other organisms are welcomed.
• PhD near submission or recently submitted; offers may be as Research Assistant at top of Level 5.

Responsabilités

• Fully elucidate the new transcriptional pathway by identifying upstream components and regulatory factors.
• Understand activation in axils to direct changes in plant architecture using genomic and phenomics approaches.

Connaissances

Plant biology

Genetics

Genomics

Bioinformatics

Molecular biology

Formation

PhD (near submission or recently submitted)

Description du poste

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Full time Salary Range: £35,608.00- £46,049.00per annum

About the Role

Full time, fixed-term contract ending 14 May 2027.

An extension beyond this date, up to a maximum of 7 months, is subject to sufficient budget and approval from the funder.

Plant architecture is critical for reproductive success and thus has been subject to strong domestication selection in cereal crops over Millenia. Plant architecture is determined post-embryonically and underpinned by the activity of pluripotent stem cells present in meristems, such as the shoot apical and axillary meristems (AM). The production of tillers, or secondary shoots, by AM varies widely between the grasses, and impacts on yield; most domesticated species having significantly reduced or eliminated AM growth altogether compared to their wild relatives. To date, the mechanisms underlying AM initiation and regulation in grasses remain elusive despite being an important agronomical question; this knowledge could unlock greater yield potential in domesticated crops.

For details on the experience and skills required, please refer to the job description ( link here ).

About You

We have uncovered a new transcriptional pathway that is sufficient to induce axillary meristem formation in bread wheat, rice and likely other grasses. Based on these exciting findings, we propose to use wheat as our model system to:

• Fully elucidate this pathway by identifying upstream components and key regulatory factors, using a range of computational, transcriptomic, and molecular genetic approaches.
• Understand how this pathway is activated and regulated in axils to direct changes in the above-ground architecture of cereals using epigenetic and state-of-the-art phenomics approaches.

Collectively, this work will provide a fundamental understanding of how plant architecture is regulated and can be manipulated to create novel strategies and tools to protect and enhance yield in agronomically important cereals.

We are looking for someone with expertise in plant biology, genetics and genomics, bioinformatics and molecular biology, but we also welcome applications from people with general molecular biology skills in other organisms.

If you have not yet been awarded your PhD but are near submission or have recently submitted your PhD, any offers of employment will be made as Research Assistant at the top of level 5 within the University grade structure. Upon successful award of your PhD and evidence of this fact, you will be promoted to Research Fellow on the first point of the level 6 of the University grade structure, unless exceptional experience applies to warrant a higher salary.

We believe that collegiality, openness, inclusivity and diversity are essential for an excellent research and teaching environment. Our workplace ethic has enabled us to gain the Athena SWAN Silver award. We are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace and encourage applications from all groups with protected characteristics traditionally under-represented in STEM fields. As part of our ongoing commitment to addressing gender equality under the Athena Swan chartermark, we would particularly encourage and welcome applications from female academics. We and the wider University of Warwick environment offer substantial opportunities for professional development including regular opportunities to attend international conferences.

You will join the Jose Gutierrez-Marcos group in the School of Life Sciences at Warwick Universityhttps://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/lifesci/people/jgutierrez-marcos/
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=QYyX0v8AAAAJ&hl=enRequests for further information about the role can be directed to: [e-mail]

Hybrid Working: Please note this is an on-campus based role due to the nature of the work, therefore we cannot accommodate any work from home basis

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