Senior Research Technician - Rice Research (Fixed-term)

University of Nottingham; Sutton Bonington; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Nottingham is seeking a fixed-term full-time Senior Research Technician for Rice Research at Sutton Bonington Campus. The role focuses on developing stress resilience in rice across two linked projects, TempR germplasm and root diameter trait validation, under Professors Zoe Wilson and Erik Murchie.

The post is 36.25 hours per week, ends 12 October 2028, and involves plant growth, physiology analysis, and molecular biology techniques with rice.

Qualifications

• Experience in growing plants and analysing plant physiology.
• Experience with rice and plant reproduction or photosynthesis is desirable.
• Experience with molecular biology techniques is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Grow plants and analyse physiology using standard techniques.
• Work with rice genetics and photosynthesis under heat stress conditions.

Skills

Plant growth

Plant physiology

Molecular biology

Education

BSc in Plant Science or related

Job description

Senior Research Technician - Rice Research (Fixed-term)

Location
Sutton Bonington

Salary
£29,740 to £36,446per annum pro-rata depending on skills and experience.

Closing Date
Friday 04 December 2026

Reference
SCI807226

Applications are invited for a fixed term full-time Research Technician position to work on developing stress resilience in rice. The role involves two linked projects, one which seeks to develop Temperature Resistant (TempR) Rice by exploiting novel germplasm to deliver improved heat tolerance and future-proofed rice yields and the other “Validation of root diameter as a key root trait for stress resilience”. The project is based in the laboratories of Prof Zoe Wilson and Erik Murchie (Sutton Bonington Campus, University of Nottingham, UK).

Rice reproduction, especially pollendevelopment and photosynthesis, areextremelysensitive to heatstress,resulting inmajor impacts toseed set, posing a significant threat to future yield and food security. It is not known whether the failure of reproduction is because pollen development isparticularly sensitive to heat, orasecondaryconsequence of disruption of energy generation by impairedphotosynthesis, or a combination ofboth.This project aims to address this fundamental question, alongsidedevelopingricegermplasm and markers to enable rapid trait deployment in breedingprogrammesfor heat stress resilience in an agricultural field environment. The workinvolves a partnership with the InternationalRice Research Institute (IRRI) in the Philippines, which will enabletesting of rice germplasm under in-field conditions of heat stress,and utilisation of their rice populations that have been established for heat resistance and trait identification and deployment. It will also involve detailedanalysis of several candidate genes that we havealreadyidentifiedalong with their resultant phenotype.

Applicants must be highly motivatedand meticulous,with experience in growing plants, analysing plant physiology, and molecular biology techniques.Experience in working with rice,plantreproduction, photosynthesisand advancedphysiological techniquesis desirable.

This is a full-time, fixed-term post (36.25 hours) and is availableimmediately on a fixed term contract until12thOctober2028.

For more information on our lab activities please contact [e-mail] or [e-mail].

Our university is a supportive, inclusive, caring and positive community. We welcome those of different cultures, ethnicities and beliefs – indeed this very diversity is vital to our success, it is fundamental to our values and enriches life on campus. Visit our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion website.

To help you succeed, we published Candidate Guidance to provide support on the application and interview process.

We welcome applications from UK, Europe and worldwide and aim to make your move to the UK as smooth as possible. Visit the Moving to Nottingham page for details.

Your application will be considered on an equal basis, subject to the relevant permission to work in the UK as set out by UK Visas & Immigration .