Postdoctoral Research Associate

About the role

The Department of Biology is seeking to recruit a Research Associate for a fixed-term period until end of May 2028. The post is financially supported by funds from the ARIA grant 'OPTIMiSE', awarded to Professor Francesco Licausi and Dr Ximena Chirinos, and the work will be conducted in the SynOxys Lab in the Department of Biology, University of Oxford.

The postholder will contribute to the generation of transplastomic plants bearing substitutions designed to improve photosynthetic performance. This work is a collaboration with the groups led by Professor Steve Kelly, Professor Chris O'Callaghan and Dr Natali Flores.

The successful candidate will optimise methods for DNA delivery to chloroplasts; transform leaf explants and regenerate transplastomic plants; and characterise the photosynthetic features of the regenerated plants. The role will also involve protocol development and working closely with other members of the group on chloroplast transformation.

This post is full time and is available from 1 November 2026.

About you

You will hold, or be close to completion of, a relevant PhD/DPhil, together with relevant experience in molecular plant biology.

You will have the ability to work both independently and as part of a team, with a willingness to learn new methods and skills and to persevere when faced with challenging experimental results. You will be highly organised, with excellent record-keeping skills and the ability to manage multiple tasks, including training junior members of the group.

Previous experience of growing plants in soil and in vitro is desirable, although training will be provided.

Please see the job description for the full list of selection criteria.

How to apply

Informal enquiries may be directed to Professor Francesco Licausi at francesco.licausi@biology.ox.ac.uk or Dr Ximena Chirinos at ximena.chirinosherrera@biology.ox.ac.uk.

Applications for this vacancy are to be made online via our e-recruitment system, and you will be required to upload a supporting statement and CV as part of your online application. Your supporting statement should explain how you meet each of the selection criteria for the post, using examples of your skills and experience.

The closing date for applications is 12.00 noon on 21 October 2026. Interviews are likely to be scheduled for early November.

The University of Oxford is committed to equal opportunity, and to being a place where everyone belongs and is supported to succeed. We recognise how the diversity of our community enriches our ability to deliver on our academic mission.

We welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds, including those under-represented within higher education. No applicant or member of staff shall be unlawfully discriminated against on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.