Senior Research Associate: Plant-fungal-soil interactions

Interview Date: Friday 24 April 2026

Recent discoveries have revealed that grassland plants form symbioses with a much broader range of fungi than previously thought, notably Mucoromycotina ‘fine root endophytes’ (MFRE), which co-occur alongside more commonly described arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.

This exciting project seeks to disentangle the roles of both MFRE and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in providing key ecosystem functions and resilience to grasslands. The project will use cutting‑edge technologies (e.g. stable isotope tracers) applied to field, greenhouse and laboratory experiments to advance our understanding of the diversity and function of these ‘hidden’ root‑associated fungal networks.

The Senior Research Associate, together with an associated technician and a PhD student, will be based at Lancaster University within the research group led by Prof David Johnson, in the newly formed Centre for Sustainable soils. The role involves conducting field, greenhouse and laboratory experiments, analysing data, and collaborating with partners in the Royal Society Faraday Discovery Fellowship at the University of Sheffield and with Silvia Pressel at the Natural History Museum in London.

UK based.

£39,906 to £46,049 per annum

We warmly welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of their age, religion, gender identity or expression, race, disability or sexual orientation, and are committed to promoting diversity, and equality of opportunity.