Ref Number
B02-10666
Professional Expertise
Research and Research Support
Department
School of Life & Medical Sciences (B02)
Location
London
Working Pattern
Full time
Salary
£43,981-£52,586
Contract Type
Fixed-term
Working Type
On site
Available for Secondment
No
Closing Date
08-Jun-2026
The Division of Biosciences at UCL is one of the world's foremost centres for research and teaching in the biological sciences. We have an outstanding international reputation and a community of over 500 staff and more than 300 PhD students engaged in cutting edge research and collaboration.
Further information can be found on our website https://www.ucl.ac.uk/biosciences
This is an exciting opportunity to join the Purton group who are world-leaders in the field of algal biotechnology. You will work as a post-doctoral researcher within a friendly and dynamic team contributing to an engineering biology project funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). The project aims to develop the microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii as a robust chassis for industrial biotechnology.
We are seeking a highly motivated researcher to take a lead role in our strain improvement programme where modern genetic engineering methods including CRISPR-based techniques are being used to introduce a series of ‘domestication’ traits into Chlamydomonas allowing improved growth and productivity performance in photobioreactors and fermenters. This project is part of an Engineering Biology Mission Award funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and involves collaborations with the University of Glasgow, University of Sheffield and The Scottish Association for Marine Science. The role would suit someone with expertise in synthetic biology, genetic engineering of microorganisms, genome editing technologies, and algal biotechnology.
- Interview Date(s) are scheduled for: the third week of June 2026.
- This is a fixed-term role until March 31st 2027 in the first instance.
- Appointment is at Grade 7, with a salary of £45,103 per annum, inclusive of London Weighting.
- Note: appointment at Grade 7 is dependent upon having been awarded a PhD; if this is not the case, initial appointment will be at Grade 6B (salary £39,148 – £41,833 per annum) with payment at Grade 7 being backdated to the date of final submission of the PhD Thesis.
- This appointment is subject to UCL Terms and Conditions of Service for Research and Professional Services Staff. Please visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/human-resources/conditions-service-research-teaching-and-professional-services-staff for more information.
A job description and person specification can be accessed at the bottom of this page.
If you have any queries about the role, please contact Prof Saul Purton at [email protected].
If you need reasonable adjustments or a more accessible format to apply for this job online or have any queries about the application process, please contact the HR Administrator.
You must have a PhD in molecular biology, biotechnology, or a related subject area and proven knowledge of synthetic biology and its application to strain engineering and genome manipulation. Experience in recombinant DNA methods, transgene design, DNA assembly and microbial transgenics is also essential. You will be expected to work as part of a tightly integrated team of synthetic biologists to produce original contributions to the development of the microalga, Chlamydomonas as an industrial biotechnology platform. Your studies will focus on the targeted knockout of specific endogenous genes and the knock-in of key transgenes in both the nuclear and chloroplast genomes. The evaluation of these stacked traits will then be assessed using lab-scale photobioreactors. In addition to developing and conducting the research, you will contribute expertise to the overall research effort in the Purton group. You will also communicate results as scientific papers in leading journals, and as scientific presentations at national and international conferences.
The UCL Ways of Working supports colleagues to be successful and happy at UCL through sharing expectations around how we work – please https://www.ucl.ac.uk/human-resources/policies-advice/ways-working to find out more.
As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer some great benefits some of which are below:
- 41 Days holiday (27 days annual leave, 8 bank holidays, and 6 closure days)
- Additional 5 days’ annual leave purchase scheme
- Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
- Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
- Immigration loan
- Relocation scheme for certain posts
- On-Site nursery
- On-site gym
- Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
- Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service
- Discounted medical insurance
Visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/reward-and-benefits to find out more.
As London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world’s talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong.
We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL’s workforce.
These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women.
Our division holds an Athena SWAN Bronze award, in recognition of our commitment to advancing gender equality.
You can read more about our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/equality-diversity-inclusion/
