Postdoctoral Research Assistant - UOD2106

University of Dundee; Dundee; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK university is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Assistant to join their interdisciplinary team focused on enabling small molecule programming in plant biology. This role involves optimising protein expression and conducting assays. Ideal candidates will have experience in molecular biology, excellent time management skills, and a collaborative spirit. The position is fixed-term for 13 months and offers opportunities for independent research and interaction with top biologists. Applications from part-time candidates cannot be considered.

Qualifications

• Talented and adaptable molecular (plant) biologist.
• Experience in basic protein work such as western blotting.
• Excellent time management and data documentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Generate, validate and optimise expression constructs.
• Screen inducible protein degradation via luciferase assays.
• Pilot-scale expression and solubility testing of proteins.

Skills

Molecular biology

Protein work

Time management

Collaboration

Education

PhD in a relevant field

Tools

Western blotting

E. coli expression

Plate-based reporter assays

Job description

Postdoctoral Research Assistant - UOD2106

Posted on 18 December 2025 | Reference: UOD2106

The School of Life Sciences at the University of Dundee is a world-class academic institution with a reputation for the excellence of its research (currently ranked #1 In UK), its high-quality teaching and student experience, and the strong impact of its activities outside academia. With 900 staff from over 40 countries worldwide the School provides a dynamic, multi-national, collegiate and diverse environment with state-of-the-art laboratory, technology and teaching facilities.

We are recruiting an exceptional Post-Doctoral Researcher within our Team, as part of an ARIA funded project on "Enabling Small Molecule (re)programming And Manipulation Of Plant Biology". This is a fixed-term appointment for 13 months.

You will join an interdisciplinary team of plant biochemists, molecular biologists, computational biologists and medicinal chemists to identify E3 ubiquitin ligases able to inducibly degrade proteins of interest in plants. You will optimise soluble expression of candidates in E. coli for biophysical assays, fragment-based screens and structural determination.

This project is the start of a new field in plant biology, with many opportunities for independent research development and future funding, and provides the opportunity to interact with leading biologists and biotechnologists across all ARIA funded projects through "creator meetings".

Please note that applications made on a part-time basis for this role cannot be considered.

Your priorities will include:

• Generation, validation, optimisation and testing of in planta and E. coli expression constructs
• In planta and in vitro plate-based Luciferase and Western blot-based screening of inducible protein degradation
• Pilot-scale expression and solubility testing of protein produced in E.coli

Who we're looking for:

• Talented and adaptable molecular (plant) biologist.
• Ideally experienced in basic protein work (e.g., western blotting, E.coli- based protein expression).
• Ideally experienced in plate-based reporter assays (e.g., luminescence/fluorescence).
• Excellent time management and data documentation skills.
• Highly motivated and collaborative worker.

We are one of the UK's leading universities, internationally recognised for our expertise across a range of disciplines and research breakthroughs in multiple areas, including science, medicine and engineering. Our purpose is to transform lives, locally and globally, which we do as a community of staff, students and alumni.

Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to contact Dr Piers Hemsley ([e-mail] ) in advance of application. To find out more about our teams please visit: Hemsley Lab (https://www.dundee.ac.uk/people/piers-hemsley), Drost Lab (https://drostlab.com/) and Ciulli labs (https://www.dundee.ac.uk/cetpd).

Commitment to DORA

The School of Life Sciences has been fully committed to the principals of the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) since 2013. In assessing applicants, we consider the scientific quality of their published research papers, but do not take into account where the papers were published and do not consider journal-based metrics, such as Journal Impact Factors.

The diversity of our staff and students helps to make the University of Dundee a UK university of choice for undergraduate, postgraduate and distance learning. Family friendly policies, staff networks for BME, Disabled and LGBT staff, membership of Athena SWAN, the ECU Race Equality Charter and Stonewall as well a full range of disability services, create an enjoyable and inclusive place to work.

Thursday, 15 January 2026, 23:59

Apply as an external candidate

If you do not currently work for the University of Dundee, you can apply using this button.

If you are currently working for the University of Dundee, you can apply via OneUniversity using this button.

Navigate to ‘My Recruitment’, then ‘Available Jobs'.

Our recruitment service is provided by a third party.

If you are encountering barriers in relation to accessibility, please review the accessibility statement for help and assistance

Work for the University of Dundee

Find job vacancies and become part of our thriving, supportive, and inclusive community