Senior Research Technician

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.

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.

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. The workplace ethic has enabled the School to gain the Athena SWAN Silver award.

Benefits include an attractive pension scheme, a generous holiday allowance plus Christmas closure, excellent learning and development opportunities, savings on a wide range of products and services, a generous maternity/paternity/adoption/parental leave policy, onsite childcare facilities, and access to flexible working. The University is a Living Wage employer.