Research Leader (Mycorrhizal Ecology)

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Greater London; On-site; GBP 48,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Continuous learning

Generous annual leave

Flexible working

Employee Assistance Programme

Cycle to work scheme

Gym membership discounts

Pension

Museum and garden entry

Access to Kew and Wakehurst gardens

Job summary

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew invites applications for a Research Leader in Mycorrhizal Ecology to steer a portfolio of pioneering projects and mentor a multidisciplinary team. You will shape strategy, secure funding, and translate research into biodiversity protection and land-management outcomes.

The role combines scientific leadership with cross-institution collaboration, policy impact, and teaching/outreach to broaden your influence across academia, government, and conservation sectors.

Qualifications

• PhD in a relevant field with significant post-qualification research experience.
• Track record of high-quality research outputs in mycorrhizal ecology.
• Proven ability to secure research funding and manage large interdisciplinary teams.
• Interest in teaching, outreach and impact, with ability to build partnerships across sectors.

Responsibilities

• Lead and grow the Mycorrhizal Ecology research portfolio and team.
• Develop strategic research directions and secure funding for a defined programme.
• Collaborate across disciplines and with government, academia, and conservation partners.
• Mentor researchers and students, promoting diversity and inclusion.

Skills

Scientific leadership

Mentoring

Grant funding

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Strategic planning

Education

PhD in relevant field

Job description

Join the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, as a Research Leader in Mycorrhizal Ecology (ME) and help shape the future of biodiversity science.

Through a role that generates novel research on mycorrhizal function and diversity and steers ongoing projects, you will contribute to delivery of the initiatives and impact goals that form Kew's ambitious new Science Strategy 2026-2030 (https://www.kew.org/science/our-science/publications-and-reports/science-reports/kew-science-strategy). This document is advancing our mission to understand and protect plants and fungi for the well-being of people and the future of all life on Earth using our research expertise, collections, people and extraordinary network of partners worldwide. Mycorrhizal research links particularly to four of its initiatives (Living Labs, Trees and Forests, Rapid Ecosystem Assessment and Restoring Biodiverse Landscapes) and offers a unique opportunity to initiate and lead innovative research that improves our understanding of biodiversity and ecosystem function and resilience, generating evidence that influences biodiversity protection practice, land management and environmental policy in the UK and beyond.

You will contribute to scientific leadership for Kew's portfolio of ME research (Mycorrhizal Ecology | Kew). ME was the fastest growing team in the Science Directorate during the 2021-25 Science Strategy. Your strategic vision will play a part in developing the team’s research on how mycorrhizal fungi underpin ecosystem function, services and resilience to environmental change by researching their diversity and distribution across terrestrial habitats and geographical scales, both nationally and internationally. There is an increasing need for ecosystem assessment and monitoring that the mycorrhizal ecology team will contribute to through research that delivers solutions for biodiversity protection and ecosystem restoration. Alongside developing and securing funding for an exciting programme of research, you will build partnerships across government, academia and the conservation sector, while leading and inspiring a multidisciplinary team of researchers and students.

• Employee benefits - RBG Kew 2026.pdf (PDF, 629.22kb)
• Job Profile.pdf (PDF, 216.11kb)

We are looking for a biodiversity scientist with innovative ideas who is seeking to further develop their career as an independent researcher, leader and mentor. You will be an outstanding and inspiring scientist with a relevant PhD and significant post-qualification research experience, with a strong track record of research excellence, securing funding and delivering scientific outputs in mycorrhizal ecology and impact through collaborating across disciplines. You will have an interest in teaching, outreach and impact, with the ability to lead and motivate large and diverse research teams, develop impactful research programmes and build partnerships that translate scientific knowledge into meaningful outcomes for protecting biodiversity and the ecosystem services that is supports.

Depending on the track record, experience and excellence of the successful candidate, we will recruit one roleholder at either Senior Research Leader or Research Leader in Mycorrhizal Ecology level. We will not recruit to both.

This is a hybrid role with the option of regular home working, subject to operational requirements.

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (RBG Kew) is a leading plant science institute, UNESCO World Heritage Site, and major visitor attraction. Our mission is to understand and protect plants and fungi for the well-being of people and the future of all life on Earth.

We are working to end the unprecedented extinction crisis and to help create a world where nature is protected, valued by all and managed sustainably. We will achieve these goals by drawing on our leading scientific research, unrivalled collections of plants and fungi, global network of partners, inspirational gardens at Kew and Wakehurst, and our 260 years of history.

Join us on our journey as protectors of the world’s plants and fungi.

The salary for this position is £47,953 - £55,499 per annum, depending on skills and experience [Band E]

Our fantastic benefits package includes opportunities for continuous learning, a generous annual leave entitlement, flexible working to help you maintain a healthy work-life balance, an Employee Assistance Programme and other wellbeing support such as cycle to work scheme and discounted gym membership. We also offer a competitive pension, an employee discount scheme and free entry into a wide range of national museums and galleries, as well as access to our own beautiful gardens at Kew and Wakehurst.

At Kew, our strength lies in the diversity of our people and the insights they bring. When you join us, you will find an organisation that values your perspective and lived experience. You will receive support to achieve your full potential and access opportunities to develop and progress. Our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion is ongoing, shaped by the people who work here and the communities we serve. As a disability confident employer, we are breaking down barriers to be an inclusive workplace for everyone.

Whoever you are, and however you experience the world, there is a place for you to grow and belong at Kew.

No agencies please.

£47,953 to £55,449. Grade E