Research Assistant

Organisation/Company John Innes Centre Department Crop Genetics Research Field Biological sciences » Biology Researcher Profile Other Profession Positions Bachelor Positions Final date to receive applications 17 Mar 2026 - 23:23 (Europe/London) Country United Kingdom Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Research Assistant in Molecular Biology to join the Saunders group at the John Innes Centre to lead further development and deployment of our award-winning Mobile And Real-time PLant disEase (MARPLE) diagnostics platform.

The John Innes Centre is an independent, international centre of excellence in plant and microbial genetics. We nurture a creative, curiosity-led approach to answering fundamental questions in bioscience, and translate that knowledge into societal benefits.

Our employees enjoy access to state-of-the-art technology and a diverse range of specialist training opportunities, including support for leadership and management.  to find out more about working at the John Innes Centre.

The Saunders group focuses on studying (re-)emerging plant pathogens that pose a significant threat to agriculture. We use an array of different approaches, integrating molecular genetics, microbiology, plant pathology, population genetics, genomics and data mining to improve our understanding of how pathogens cause disease.

This is an exciting opportunity to join an international, multi-partner project and have a direct impact on enhancing disease diagnostic capacity for some of the most devastating diseases of wheat worldwide. The postholder will assist with further development of the MinION mobile sequencing platform for crop pathogen diagnostics.

The role will require extensive optimisation of all wet‑lab components, working with the MinION portable sequencing device. The appointee will work closely with other members of the group to use the latest molecular techniques and sequencing technology to genotype pathogen strains in infected wheat leaf samples and further develop the MARPLE diagnostics platform. Furthermore, the Research Assistant will assist with the deployment of MARPLE diagnostics in Africa and Asia, including assisting with the organisation and execution of training workshops and logistical arrangements.

The successful applicant will join a large research group at the John Innes Centre and be expected to interact with other members of the Saunders group, whilst also interacting with other researchers working on wheat rust diseases at the John Innes Centre. They will work independently day‑to‑day with guidance and training in specific techniques provided by other lab members and the group leader.

In addition to their own research project, they may be required to support other lab members as appropriate. This project is a collaboration between JIC and CIMMYT and other research organisations in Africa and Asia. The appointee will also regularly interact with these organisations and provide support for the development of MARPLE diagnostics hubs in several locations.

The appointee will require excellent experience and expertise in molecular biology and a demonstrated ability to perform research and develop novel ideas. A BSc or equivalent in Biological Sciences is essential.

Please note, this post does not meet UKVI requirements to provide visa sponsorship.

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.