Post Doctoral Research Associate


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Details

Reference number

323220

Salary

£36,338 – £41,747
per annum, depending on skills and experience

Job grade

Higher Executive Officer
Band D

Contract type

Fixed Term

Length of employment

3 years

Business area

RBGK – Science

Type of role

Operational Research
Science

Working pattern

Full-time

Number of jobs available

1

Contents

London, London (region), TW9 3AE

Job summary

Post Doctoral Researcher – Biological Chemistry of Pollinators. We are seeking a 3-year Postdoctoral Research Associate, starting in January 2024 (or as soon as possible thereafter), to join a new research project funded by UKRI-NERC. The biological chemistry research group at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, is studying how naturally occurring chemicals in plants and fungi mediate interactions between plants, insects, and fungi.  One key area of interest is studying how plant metabolites influence the health and behaviour of pollinators.  This post will work with Professor Phil Stevenson at Kew in collaboration with Professor Mark Brown from Royal Holloway University of London supported by a NERC pushing the frontiers grant from UKRI to investigate the impact of nectar secondary chemicals on wild bee health, specifically through the mitigation of parasitic disease.  The successful candidate will undertake research to analyze, identify and isolate antiparasitic compounds occurring in floral nectar to inform the value of different ecosystems and especially lowland heath to pollinator health.

Job description

The post holder will have responsibilities for delivering on the research activities assigned to Kew on a NERC funded grant that supports the role.  This includes coordinating with project collaborators and partners and their inputs as well as publishing the research findings and presenting in public fora but also applying for additional funding commensurate with the grade. Supervision and mentoring of PhD students and other lab visitors associated with the NERC funded project activities will also be part of the role.

The successful applicant will have a PhD in a relevant subject and have established expertise and track record in plant chemical analysis with an interest and ideally experience working in pollinator health and wild bee ecology in the UK.  You will have full access to Kew’s in house state-of-art  small molecule analysis facilities including High Resolution-LCMS (Fusion Orbitrap, Exploris and Velos Pro) GC-MS, and NMR to identify anti-parasitic compounds in Calluna heather nectar and with a new post doc appointed at Royal Holloway University of London on the same project determine how these nectar compounds affect disease incidence and bee health at colony level and across lifecycle, determine patterns and drivers of nectar metabolite production across time and space and measure the extent to which metabolites prevent epidemics in colonies and natural bee communities.

Person specification

Ultimately this project will generate data that provides policy and practice advice to Natural England, Defra, and NGOs for landscape management.

NB: As part of our inclusive recruitment aim, Kew recruitment no longer accepts CVs. Please therefore ensure ALL of your relevant experience is included in the application form. Please do upload a full list of publications, grants and any other scholarly experience relevant to the role such as editorial and conference organization.

This role is based at Kew with the option of regular home working, subject to operational requirements. There will be field work in the UK. 

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 as access to our own beautiful gardens at Kew and Wakehurst.

Selection process details

If you are interested in this position, please submit your application via the Kew Gardens website. 

We are dedicated to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from all sections of the community. We are committed to interviewing disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post.

No agencies please.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

  • UK nationals
  • nationals of the Republic of Ireland
  • nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
  • nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
  • nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
  • individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
  • Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s recruitment principles (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).
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Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

  • Name : jobs@kew.org
  • Email : jobs@kew.org

Recruitment team

  • Email : jobs@kew.org
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