research assistant Kew Gardens, England
Job description
Research Associate (Natural Product Chemistry)
We are seeking a Post-doctoral Researcher in Natural Product Chemistry for a BBSRC-funded project to assess the chemical diversity of plants in the Asteraceae family, which includes medicinal species.
This two-year post will be based in the unique environment of Kew, taking advantage of state-of-the-art analytical chemistry and flow cytometry facilities to analyse specimens from Kew’s extensive plant collections. The successful applicant will generate new chemical data on the terpenoid diversity across the plant genus Achillea and explore whether this is influenced by ploidy (the number of genomes within a species) to provide new insights into which species could be sources of bioactive molecules.
The project will contribute to Kew’s Strategic Science Priority 2 (Biointeractions and Bioactive Molecules) by combining chemistry, genomics and phylogenetic prediction to identify bioactive molecules with potential to enhance human health, and offers an exciting opportunity to collaborate with the Synthetic Biology group at the Earlham Institute, Norwich and hence contribute to the newly launched ‘DECODE’ strategic programme (2023-2027), which aims to decode the scale and complexity of living systems.
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More details
This two-year fixed term appointment as a postdoctoral researcher will involve the analysis of specimens from Kew’s extensive plant collections using in-house chemical analysis facilities, including NMR spectroscopy and LC-MS, and the application of natural product chemistry methods to isolate plant compounds and elucidate their chemical structures.
The successful applicant will have a PhD in natural product chemistry of plants, or a related relevant specialist subject, and will join a multi-disciplinary team, through collaboration across the Biological Chemistry and Character Evolution teams within Kew’s Trait Diversity and Function Science Priority. The successful postdoctoral researcher, who will be based at Kew in London, will have experience of analytical chemistry methods including LC-MS and in separation methods to isolate compounds from plants. Experience of NMR spectroscopy and structural elucidation of plant compounds, and an understanding of polyploidy and phylogenetic analyses using genomic data, are desirable skills for this role.
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (RBG Kew) is a leading plant science institute, UNESCO World Heritage Site, and major visitor attraction. Our mission is to understand and protect plants and fungi for the well-being of people and the future of all life on Earth.
We are working to end the unprecedented extinction crisis and to help create a world where nature is protected, valued by all and managed sustainably. We will achieve these goals by drawing on our leading scientific research, unrivalled collections of plants and fungi, global network of partners, inspirational gardens at Kew and Wakehurst, and our 260 years of history.
Join us on our journey as protectors of the world’s plants and fungi.
The salary will be £33,802 - £36,701 per annum pro-rata, depending on skills and experience.
Our fantastic benefits package includes opportunities for continuous learning, a generous annual leave entitlement, flexible working to help you maintain a healthy work-life balance, an Employee Assistance Programme and other wellbeing support such as cycle to work scheme and discounted gym membership. We also offer a competitive pension, an employee discount scheme and free entry into a wide range of national museums and galleries, as well access to our own beautiful gardens at Kew and Wakehurst.
If you are interested in this position, please submit your application through the online portal, by clicking “Apply for this job”.
We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from all sections of the community. We guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post.
No agencies please.
