Research Technician

Research Technician

Department

Biology

Salary

£30,487 - £34,980 per year

Grade

Grade 5

Contract status

Fixed term

Hours of work

Full-time

Based at

University of York campus

Interview date

2nd May 2024

Posted Date

21/03/2024

Apply by

04/04/2024

Job Reference

13244

Documents

Job description 13244.pdf (PDF, 157.09kb)

Role Description Department

You will be a member of the Department of Biology, which is one of the UK's leading Biology departments, and renowned internationally for our research. This is combined with a commitment to teaching and outstanding student satisfaction, and we have been recognised consistently for our family-friendly policies and are proud of our Athena SWAN Gold Award. We aim to ensure that there is a supportive culture across all staff groups and levels. We promote good practice and a strong culture of equality in higher education. Further information can be found on our website (https:// www. york.ac.uk/biology/research/). We want to recruit the best people for our roles.

Role

We are looking for a Research Technician to support two new plant science projects in Katherine Denby's lab. One project will engineer gene regulatory networks to design disease resistant crops and is a collaboration between Katherine Denby's group at the University of York, Nicola Patron at the University of Cambridge and Richard Morris at the John Innes Centre. In this collaborative project we will validate a gene regulatory network underlying the lettuce defence response to fungal pathogens, and use gene editing and synthetic regulators to re-wire the network and enhance disease resistance. Much of the work will be done in lettuce protoplasts to enable high throughput testing.

The second project will investigate the interaction between lettuce and an endophytic bacterium that is able to fix nitrogen, and how to exploit this endophyte to enhance resource use efficiency of vertical farming. We will test the potential of the endophyte to enhance production of lettuce in vertical farming systems and investigate genetic loci determining colonisation and/or response to the bacterium. The project is in collaboration with Azotic Technology, Vertical Future and LettuceKnow, a Dutch consortium.

The main duties and responsibilities of this role will be:

To provide technical and scientific support to this work, involving protoplast-based techniques, cloning of DNA constructs, screening of lettuce for endophyte colonisation and generation of gene-edited plants. You will work under your own initiative as well as part of a wider team.

To maintain accurate records of work undertaken and communicate results via reports or presentations.

To understand, promote and apply COSHH/Risk Assessment, departmental health and safety protocols and good microbiological practice.

Skills, Experience & Qualification needed

Degree or equivalent in biological sciences or appropriate experience

Knowledge of plant molecular biology and ability to implement a range of practical techniques used in plant science

Ability to perform complex technical tasks to a consistently high standard with attention to detail, and to keep detailed records of activities and use these to improve procedures

In depth knowledge of relevant safety regulations and procedures for example, COSHH and risk assessment, and good microbiological practice

Good interpersonal skills and ability to maintain a positive, open attitude toward others, to value and support colleagues

Interview date: 2nd May 2024

For informal enquiries: please contact Katherine Denby on [email protected]

The University strives to be diverse and inclusive – a place where we can ALL be ourselves.

We particularly encourage applications from people who identify as Black, Asian or from a Minority Ethnic background, who are underrepresented at the University.

We offer family friendly, flexible working arrangements, with forums and inclusive facilities to support our staff. #EqualityatYork