Senior Research Technician (112360)

Warwick Enterprise; Coventry; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

Warwick is seeking a Senior Research Technician to support the ERC RHYTHMS project within the School of Life Sciences. The role involves setting up and maintaining plant-microbe experiments, coordinating sampling, and performing microbiological and molecular analyses in both controlled environments and the field.

You will work with postdocs, students, and collaborators, and contribute to data management and reporting.

Qualifications

• Relevant degree or equivalent knowledge and practical experience.
• Expertise working with microorganisms.
• Methodical approach to planning experiments and recording results.

Responsibilities

• Set up and maintain plant-microbe experiments in controlled environments and in the field.
• Coordinate sampling programmes and manage experimental samples and associated data.
• Perform microbiological, molecular and environmental analyses.
• Lead the organisation and management of experimental samples and research records.

Education

Relevant degree or equivalent knowledge

Job description

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Job Title: Senior Research Technician (112360)

Reference: 501

Department: Life Sciences

Fixed Term End Date: 28 February 2030

Hours: Full-time, 36.5 hours per week (1.0 FTE)

Full time Salary Range: £31,861.00- £35,302.00per annum

About the Role

A senior technician is required to provide support for the European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Grant RHYTHMS, ‘Rhizosphere Rhythms: Unravelling Diurnal Microbiome Dynamics and Their Role in Plant-Soil Interactions’, within Professor Gary Bending’s research group in the School of Life Sciences. The research explores how plant circadian rhythms influence rhizosphere microbial communities, nitrogen cycling and interactions with bacteriophages.

You will work closely with postdoctoral researchers, students and collaborators to set-up and maintain plant-microbe experiments in controlled environments and the field, undertake microbiological, molecular and environmental analyses, coordinate sampling programmes, and lead the organisation and management of experimental samples and associated data.

You will help establish and maintain plant and soil microcosms, synthetic microbial communities and controlled-environment experiments, as well as support field trials. You will also help organise carefully timed sampling campaigns. Your laboratory work will include microbial culture, sample processing and quantification, extraction and quality assessment of DNA and RNA, PCR/qPCR and preparation of material for downstream sequencing and chemical / metabolite analyses. You may also contribute to measurements of root-zone physico-chemical conditions and nitrogen cycling, and to the organisation and preliminary analysis of microbiome and environmental datasets. You will take a lead role in maintaining and organising samples, experimental metadata and research records

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

Any requests for further information about the role can be directed to Prof. Gary Bending ([e-mail])

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 seeking to appoint a senior research technician to join Professor Gary Bending’s RHYTHMS research team in the School of Life Sciences at the University of Warwick. Funded by a European Research Council Advanced Grant, the project will investigate how daily rhythms in plants influence the composition and activity of microbes around their roots, and the implications for nutrient cycling and sustainable agriculture.

The successful candidate should have a relevant degree or equivalent knowledge and practical experience, expertise working with microorganisms and a methodical approach to planning experiments and recording results.

You should be comfortable working both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team. Experience of plant growth experiments, environmental sampling, molecular biology, research data management and preparation of health and safety documentation will be advantageous. Training and opportunities to develop new skills will be available.

This is an opportunity to contribute to ambitious, internationally relevant research at the interface of plant biology, microbial ecology and soil science, while developing a broad range of specialist technical and research-management skills.

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 click here .

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 here .

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 here . The University of Warwick is also one of the six founder institutions of the EUTOPIA European University Alliance .

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