Research Fellow United Kingdom
Job description
Full time, Fixed Term Contract for 48 months
Funding is available immediately to recruit a Research Fellow 100% FTE on FA6 for a maximum 48 months; the duration may have to be shortened up to 42 months depending on the starting salary of the successful candidate. Any extension to the contract will need to be approved by the funder.
A Research Fellow position is available in the Grant lab at Warwick University to dissect early signalling events underpinning plant systemic acquired resistance (SAR). While several mobile signals have been identified to date, combined phloem exudate-genetic studies suggest that these are unlikely to be the initial propagating SAR signal.
Working with US collaborators, our data indicate a complex role for metabolites (including phytohormones), small RNA and protein aggregates in the activation, transmission and establishment of SAR following effector triggered immunity. We have created novel reporters that allow spatial, temporal visualisation of SAR signal generation in whole plants and complementary ones enabling cellular imaging.
We are seeking a highly motivated PDRA to use these tools to establish the spatial temporal dynamics of SAR initiation by different eliciting pathogens and use these to define sampling times for combined transcriptomic and targeted/untargeted metabolomic studies leading to the identification of mobile SAR elicitors.
The ideal candidate will have experience in plant molecular pathology and expertise in phytohormone signalling, plant imaging (whole plant or confocal) or “omics” approaches. They will be responsible for generating temporal/spatial data from a novel set of genetically encoded reporters and interpreting and integrating imaging results alongside analytical /transcriptomic data. The School of Life Sciences at Warwick has state-of-the-art imaging facilities and excellent analytical support from the Department of Chemistry. The position is for up to 4 years and the successful candidate will join a well-funded, dynamic group using multidisciplinary approaches to study various aspects of plant-microbe interactions.
For further information and informal enquiries contact Prof. Murray Grant ([email protected]).
We believe that collegiality, openness, inclusivity and diversity are essential for an excellent environment; this ethic has enabled us to gain an Athena SWAN Silver award. We are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace, so if you are excited by this role, we encourage you to apply, even if your past experience does not match exactly. We also encourage applications from all groups with protected characteristics (traditionally under-represented in STEM fields.)
In your application, you can also include any career breaks you may have taken (e.g. parental/caring/long-term sick leave, part-time work, secondments) or any periods where you were unable or restricted to work because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
For those eligible, the University of Warwick offers relocation and Immigration Support Scheme packages to assist with costs of relocating and any associated visa applications and HIS (health) surcharge fees.
Interview Date: TBC.
Job Description
Undertake research into the mechanisms of plant systemic immunity using a combination of molecular, whole plant and confocal imaging, and metabolomics/proteomic approaches to characterize SAR signaling complexes. To assist the Project Leader and USA collaborators in the successful execution of the project objectives including undertaking, interpreting, and integrating imaging data with phytohormone analyses and associated metabolomics and transcriptomics data. Necessary additional training to undertake these techniques will be provided. The project will entail training post-graduates and supporting other projects in the laboratory.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
RESEARCH
- Take responsibility for delivering project research objectives designed to elucidate early signalling events in plant systemic immunity.
- Conduct and incentivise collaborative research between Warwick and USA partners.
- To generate high quality imaging and analytical data capturing temporal spatial signalling dynamics and metabolomic reconfigurations during SAR.
- Explore, in collaboration with US partners, the possible role of lipid transfer protein complexes in SAR and their possible links to small RNA signalling.
- Communicating the above results by publication in appropriate journals of international standing and disseminating the result of research to via conferences and outreach events.
- Translate knowledge of advances in the area of SAR into other research activity within the laboratory and more broadly within the School of Life Sciences.
- Where necessary, support proposals and applications to external bodies, e.g. for funding and contractual purposes, ensuring a developing research agenda in this area.
- Present research progress and outcomes both face-to-face and virtually to the research team, US collaborators and to external audiences (e.g. conferences, funders)
- Maintain oversight of state-of-the-art developments applicable to plant immunity, imaging, and untargeted metabolomics.
- Continually update own knowledge and understanding in the field of imaging and SAR.
TEACHING AND LEARNING SUPPORT
- Assist in the supervision of under-graduate and post- graduate students and support the development of student research skills, e.g. workshops.
- May be involved in the assessment of student knowledge.
ADMINISTRATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES
- Ensure compliance with health and safety in all aspects of work including the development of appropriate risk assessments and appropriate handling of licensed pathogens.
- Work within budget constraints.
- Travel to USA to support collaborative research and dissemination of techniques/results.
The duties and responsibilities outlined are not intended to be an exhaustive list but provide guidance on the main aspects of the job. You will be required to be flexible in your duties.
If you are near submission or have recently submitted your PhD but have not yet had it conferred, any offers of employment will be made as Research Assistant at the top of level 5 of the University grade structure (£32,411). Upon receipt of evidence of the successful award of your PhD, you will be promoted to Research Fellow on the first point of level 6 of the University grade structure (£33,348).
For further information about the University of Warwick, please read our University Further Particulars.
For further information about the department, please visit the departmental website.
Project:
This collaborative project aims to elucidate the early events in initiation of plant systemic acquired resistance (SAR) and the mobile signals that activate SAR in distal tissues. While several mobile signals have been identified to date, combined phloem exudate-genetic studies suggest that these are unlikely to be the initial propagating SAR signal. This joint NSF/BBSRC project builds on exciting findings from the Grant lab (UK) and those of the Kachroo laboratories (USA) that show a collective role for metabolites, small RNAs, and protein aggregates in the activation, transmission and establishment of SAR following activation of plant disease resistance proteins.
Objectives include investigation of the function of a novel protein of unknown function which is intimately associated with the earliest SAR signaling events and is rapidly induced systemically. Luciferase and GFP reporter constructs have enabled precise definition of the spatial temporal dynamics of SAR initiation by different eliciting pathogens. These will be used to further characterise SAR inductio0n and propagation dynamics and inform sampling times for transcriptomic/untargeted metabolomic studies and unbiased determination of mobile SAR elicitors. The project includes analysis of lipid transfer protein complexes predicted to function as processing centres for the transport of small RNAs during SAR which are also implicated in binding our novel SAR reporter.
Post:
We are seeking a highly motivated and enthusiastic molecular biologist with expertise in plant hormone signalling, imaging and a strong suite of additional skills, ideally related metabolomics and/or transcriptomics. The objectives are to elucidate the signaling mechanisms and small molecules causal to the establishment of broad-spectrum SAR. We aim to understand the collective role of metabolites, small RNAs, and protein aggregates in the activation, transmission and establishment of SAR following activation of plant disease resistance proteins. This requires an experienced, enthusiastic and innovative candidate with a passion for discovery and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively. You will join a well-established and well-resourced group with all the fundamental protocols in place that will facilitate rapid progress. The project is multidisciplinary and builds on the complementary expertise of the UK and US collaborators. The position affords the right candidate the opportunity to develop valuable skill sets and work at the forefront of the exciting but challenging field of plant systemic immunity. The laboratory currently has 3 Research Fellows and 6 PhD students working on different aspects of plant immune responses and is equipped with all the necessary equipment and genetic tools to facilitate rapid progress. We now seek the right candidate who can capitalise on our existing discoveries and these resources.
Warwick is committed to building an organisation of mutual respect and dignity, promoting a welcoming, diverse and inclusive working and learning environment. We recognise that everyone is different in a variety of visible and non-visible ways, and that those differences are to be recognised, respected, and valued. Where possible, we go beyond legislation to provide a place where everyone can thrive, supporting all staff to achieve their full potential. We aspire to remove economic, social and cultural barriers that may otherwise prevent people from succeeding.
We therefore welcome and encourage applications from all communities regardless of culture, background, age, disability, sex/gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, religion/belief, or sexual or romantic orientation. To find out more about our social inclusion work at Warwick visit our webpages here.
The University of Warwick holds an Athena SWAN Silver award; a national initiative to promote gender equality for all staff and students. Further information about the work of the University in relation to Athena SWAN can be found at the following link: Athena Swan (warwick.ac.uk)
The University of Warwick is one of the six founder institutions of the EUTOPIA European University alliance, whose aim is to become by 2025 an open, multicultural, confederated operation of connected campuses.
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Rewards and Benefits
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