Senior Research Associate in Control Engineering/Engineering Biology Closing date: Sep 18, 2026

University of Oxford, Department of Engineering Science; Oxford; On-site; GBP 49,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Travel schemes

Flexible working options

Family leave provisions

Discount codes

Childcare services

Job summary

University of Oxford, Department of Engineering Science, in central Oxford, invites applications for a full-time Senior Research Associate in Control Engineering/Engineering Biology. The role is funded by EPSRC and fixed-term for up to 36 months, joining a collaboration across multiple universities and industry partners to advance synthetic/engineering biology with reliable design processes.

The successful candidate will hold a PhD/DPhil with experience at the intersection of control

Qualifications

• PhD/DPhil in control engineering, mathematical biology, or engineering/synthetic biology.
• Strong computational and programming skills.
• Excellent written and oral communication; ability to work in interdisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams across biology, mathematics, robotics and AI.
• Contribute to the EPSRC programme grant and to the design and execution of research projects.

Skills

Control engineering

Mathematical biology

Computational skills

Education

PhD/DPhil

Job description

United Kingdom

ENGINEERING SCI

Careers

Senior Research Associate in Control Engineering/Engineering Biology

Salary

£49,119 - £58,265 per annum

Closing date

Sep 18, 2026 12:00PM

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Description About the role

We are seeking a full-time senior researcher to work with the group of Prof Antonis Papachristodoulou at the Department of Engineering Science in central Oxford. The post is funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and is fixed-term for up to thirty six months.

This position is part of the recently funded EPSRC Programme Grant “EEBio: Efficient engineering and control of predictable and reliable biotechnologies”, a collaboration between the universities of Oxford, Bristol, and Imperial College as well as several industry and academic partners. The research project will develop new technologies underpinning Synthetic/Engineering Biology, with the goal of transforming the field to add reliability, robustness, and predictability throughout the biological design process.

About You

For this post, candidates with experience in the intersection of Control Engineering, mathematical modelling and Engineering Biology are being sought. The successful candidate will work in collaboration with our interdisciplinary team that includes experts in synthetic biology, mathematics, robotics, control, AI, and biotechnology more broadly, and also interface with EEBio team members at Imperial College and the University of Bristol.

You should hold a PhD/DPhil together with relevant experience at the intersection of control engineering, mathematical biology and Engineering/Synthetic Biology, and strong computational skills. You should have excellent written and oral communication skills and a strong ability to work as part of an interdisciplinary team.

What We Offer

At the University of Oxford your happiness and wellbeing at work is important to us. We have a number of generous benefits including 38 days' annual leave (inclusive of bank holidays and fixed closure days), generous pension schemes and free access to the Oxford colleges. The other benefits include:

• Travel - We have several travel schemes available for staff which promote sustainable modes of transport.
• Family friendly benefits - We aim to be a family-friendly employer and offer a range of flexible working options. We have some of the most generous family leave provision in the Higher Education sector.
• Sports – We have several schemes to help you stay fit and healthy, including discounted membership of the university sports centre on the Iffley Road
• Personal and professional development - We actively encourage all staff to participate in planning their personal and professional development and provide a broad range of opportunities to enable them to reach their full potential.
• University club - All staff are entitled to free membership of the University Club. It offers social and hospitality facilities, a small gym and exercise classes.
• Staff discounts - University staff can access shopping discounts in several ways; by purchasing a TOTUM card, by showing an employee pass in selected local stores, or online by using any of the listed discount codes
• Childcare services - We offer excellent childcare services including five University nurseries as well as University-supported places at other local private nurseries.
  

Contact name

Professor Antonis Papachristodoulou

Contact email

[e-mail]