An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Research Assistant to join the Crop Genetics Department at the John Innes Centre, working on cutting-edge science in the field of Crop Genetics.

The role

The postholder will grow and care for a large number of wheat lines and conduct experiments testing the plants for cold tolerance.

Other tasks will include plant phenotyping and sample generation in collaboration with the postdoc on the project.

In this role, you will have the opportunity to develop your skills in plant growth and care, plant phenotyping and molecular biology techniques. You will also gain experience in the design and execution of controlled environment and field experiments, and hands on scientific experience of wheat genetics and genomics. You will also have opportunities to work on your scientific presentation skills at lab meetings and conferences. You will support world leading scientists who are experts in their field.

The ideal candidate

Candidates should have experience in the care and growth of plants in a research setting. Experience in scientific data collection and analysis is essential for this role. You will have good communication and timekeeping skills and the ability to work independently.

It would be desirable to have a BSc in Biology, although this is not essential, and experience working with wheat or another crop plant would be beneficial, but again not essential.

Additional information

Interviews will be held on 22 June 2026.

This role is not suitable for first-time Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. However, some individuals may be eligible for an alternative visa depending on their personal circumstances, you can read more about the visa options here.

For further information and details of how to apply can be found here or contact the Human Resources team on 01603 450814 or nbi.recruitment@nbi.ac.uk quoting reference 1006110.

We are an equal opportunities employer, actively supporting inclusivity and diversity.  As a Disability Confident organisation, we guarantee to offer an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for this vacancy. We are proud to hold a prestigious Gold Athena SWAN award in recognition of our inclusive culture, commitment and good practices towards advancing of gender equality. We offer an exciting, stimulating, diverse research environment and actively promote a family friendly workplace. The Institute is also a member of Stonewall’s Diversity Champions programme.

The John Innes Centre is a registered charity (No. 223852) grant-aided by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.

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