The Role                                                                                                                                  

The Rosalind Franklin Institute is a national interdisciplinary research centre, funded by the UK government through UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). We are dedicated to creating new disruptive technologies which will allow us to see the biological world in new ways - from picometre-scale atoms to centimetre-scale tumours. These technological advances will speed up the discovery of new medicines, help find new diagnostics and contribute to a deeper understanding of human health and disease.

The Franklin operates from a purpose-built research facility on the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus near Didcot, a unique community of government, academia and industry working to accelerate progress on key issues. The 700-acre campus is steeped in world-firsts, and technology and research are at the heart of everything Harwell does.

Our building houses both specialist laboratories, research scientists and operational staff within a state-of-the art facility designed to inspire our people in their work and create a welcoming hub for our collaborations and visitors. Our research values of adventure, novelty, engagement, and utility are drawn on and exemplified by the Franklin team through our collaborations with universities and industrial partners, both in the UK and internationally.

Within the Davis group in the Next Generation Chemistry theme, one of the aims is to develop new synthetic chemical methods to edit complex biomolecules. Specifically, this project will develop new methods for the manipulation of complex protein [see e.g. Nature, 2020, 585, 530] and sugars [see e.g. Nature, 2016, 540, 574]. Within this theme, you will expand on these discoveries and develop new methods for chemical manipulation of biomolecules in ever more complex environments to probe fundamental biology and medicine. The post, reports to the Franklin’s Theme Lead for Chemistry (Ben Davis), as well as key academic collaborators and will work alongside other researchers in the Franklin and at partner university institutes including at the University of Oxford (where some groups, such as the Davis group, are jointly based).

Whilst the role is a Postdoctoral Research level and requires candidates to hold a PhD/DPhil (or equivalent), we may consider candidates who are close to completion of their PhD/DPhil qualification, in which case the initial appointment will be made at £36,500 per annum (to be increased on completion of the PhD/DPhil qualification).

Responsibilities

As a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Biological Editing you will:

• Embrace the primary project of the role, namely developing new chemistries that may be applied to complex protein and/or sugar architectures and characterizing their consequences chemically, structurally, and functionally.
• Collaborate with industrial and academic partners (especially on fundamental biological consequences).
• Collaborate with other researchers on design hypotheses.
• Work with other themes and researchers to develop the burgeoning Franklin environment to be as suitable as possible for such work, especially partners in omics and synthetic biology.
• Develop the scientific scope of the project, formulate relevant research questions, conduct individual research, analysing detailed and complex qualitative and/or quantitative data from a variety of sources, and generate original ideas by building on existing concepts.
• Work together with the surrounding facilities to ensure efficient processes at the Franklin and Harwell environment.
• Publish research articles in leading academic journals.
• Present findings at national and international meetings/conferences.
• Take a formal or informal role (as required) in the supervision of research students, including recruitment, mentorship and career development.
• Raise research funds through grant applications and manage own area of a larger research budget.
• Participate in and support the public engagement and widening access activities of the Franklin.
• Any other duties that come up in the normal running of the facility and that can be reasonably requested of the post-holder.

The Rosalind Franklin Institute is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from all. This job description set outs the skills and experience we believe are needed to be able to do this job but, research also tells us women are much more likely than men to take this list of requirements as absolute and self-select out of the process. If you think you can deliver this role then we want to hear from you, regardless of the boxes you didn’t tick.

In return we offer:

• 25 days holidays plus bank holidays and Christmas holiday shutdown
• Generous pension scheme (employer’s contribution currently up to 18%)
• Group Life Assurance (also known as Group Life Insurance or Death in Service)
• Hub building with state-of-the-art laboratories
• Training and development opportunities for staff at all levels
• Bus pass discount scheme and good transport links to Oxford and surrounding areas
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Access to employee discount platform (Perkbox)
• Occupational Health and wellbeing support including Employee Assistance (24/7 support and counselling)
• Health Cash Plan
• Subsidised canteen and food outlets on campus
• Free on-site parking
• Campus location in beautiful countryside with social and sports clubs open to staff

Before submitting your application please ensure you read the Job Information Pack for full details of this role by clicking on the attachment at the bottom of this page.

About us: The Rosalind Franklin Institute is a new national Research Centre, funded by the UK government through UK Research and Innovation, dedicated to bringing about transformative changes in life science through interdisciplinary research and technology.

Location: The Franklin is based in Harwell Campus, UK’s innovation hub and well-established as one of the leading science and innovation campuses in Europe. 

The Franklin’s underlying aim is to produce the best science for research today, and this means resolutely embracing a diverse team, who have a wide range of experiences, skills and knowledge to push forward on the innovative work our institution delivers. Both our work and our institution are better for it. For further information, view our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy. 

At the Rosalind Franklin Institute we welcome applications from all around the world!

To be considered for this role, please submit a CV and cover letter through explaining why you think you are the right person for this job. Please including information about your education and work experience.

Closing date: The closing date for applications is 23:59 on Sunday 24th November 2024.

Applicants should refer to our Candidate Privacy Policy