Research Fellow (112354)

Warwick Enterprise; Coventry; Hybrid; GBP 36,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

You will join the Bending group in the School of Life Sciences at the University of Warwick. You will design and undertake experiments with synthetic bacterial communities to study how the plant circadian clock controls rhizosphere microbiome dynamics, contributing to the ERC Advanced grant project.

Collaborating with UK and international partners, you will develop and apply molecular microbiology techniques to profile microbial communities and explore interactions with plant hosts.

Job description

Select how often (in days) to receive an alert:

Full time Salary Range: £36,320.00- £46,970.00per annum

About the Role

You will join the Bending group/team in the School of Life Sciences at Warwick University.

You will undertake research on plant-microbe interactions in the research group of Professor Gary Bending in the School of Life Sciences, working on the European Research Council (ERC) Advanced grant project ‘Rhizosphere Rhythms: Unravelling Diurnal Microbiome Dynamics and Their Role in Plant–Soil Interactions’. You will design and undertake experiments with synthetic bacterial communities to investigate the way in which the plant circadian clock controls rhythmicity of the rhizosphere microbiome via exudation and plant immune responses. You will liaise closely with collaborators in the UK and overseas, and with other research staff working on the project.

We and the wider University of Warwick environment offer substantial opportunities for professional development including regular opportunities to attend international conferences.

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

About You

We are looking for someone with expertise in molecular microbiology, environmental microbiology or plant-microbe interactions.

Applicants should be proficient in molecular biology techniques for profiling microbial community composition and abundance, and experience handling synthetic bacterial communities, phages or protists in culture would be an advantage.

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.

About the Department

The School of Life Sciences (SLS) is a cohesive, enthusiastic community producing world-class, high-impact bioscience research and teaching within an open, friendly, inclusive and highly collaborative environment.

For further information about the School of Life Sciences please see our website at:

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.

In your application, you can also include any career breaks you may have taken (e.g. parental/caring/long-term sick leave, part‑time work, secondments) or any periods where you were unable or restricted to work because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

We will provide you with a great range of benefits, which include an attractive pension scheme, a generous holiday allowance plus Christmas closure, excellent learning and development opportunities, and savings on a wide range of products and services. We offer a generous maternity/paternity/adoption/parental leave policy, and onsite childcare facilities.

We recognise the importance of a healthy work/life balance and offer you access to flexible working, for more information.

If you are considering relocating to the UK, read our Relocation Guide to find out more about what Warwick has to offer and what might be involved in the process.

Warwick is committedto building an organisation ofmutual respectanddignity, promoting awelcoming, diverse, and inclusive workingand learning environment. We recognise that everyone is different in a variety of visible and non‑visible ways, and that those differences are to berecognised, respected, and valued. Where possible, we go beyond legislation to provide a place where everyone can thrive, supporting all staff to achieve their full potential. We aspire to remove economic, social, and cultural barriers that may otherwise prevent people from succeeding.

We therefore welcome and encourage applications from all communities regardless of culture, background, age, disability, sex/gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, religion/belief, or sexual or romantic orientation. To find out more about our social inclusion work at Warwick visit our webpages.

The University currently holds aRace Equality Charter Bronze Award,Athena Swan Sliver Awardand aDisability Smart Bronze Award.Further information on all of the University's Awards and Accreditations can be found. The University of Warwick is also one of the six founder institutions of the EUTOPIA European University Alliance.

Right to Work in the UK

If you do not yet have the right to work in the UK and/or are seeking sponsorship for a Skilled Worker visa, please follow this link which contains further information about obtaining the right to work in the UK.