Legume Crop Physiology and Phenotyping Postdoctoral Researcher

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Starting Salary£36,178.00

LocationDundee

This is a Fixed Term, Full Time vacancy that will close in a month at 23:59 BST.

Main Purpose of Job

We are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Researcher with expertise in plant physiology, plant phenotyping, plant biology or a closely related discipline to join an interdisciplinary international team as part of the Horizon Europe/UKRI project ProFEED. This 2.5-year post will be based in the Department of Environmental & Biochemical Sciences at the James Hutton Institute's Invergowrie Campus and will require in-person attendance on site.

The postholder will play a central role in delivering the Hutton-led activities within the “Advancing Resilience and Yield in Strategic EU Protein Crops” work package. The postholder will conduct independent and collaborative research, working closely with project partners across Europe; select and characterise suitable soybean and lupin germplasm in fully controlled-environment experiments at the Advanced Plant Growth Centre (APGC); and evaluate plant performance from germination through vegetative and reproductive development to seed maturity. The research will combine high-throughput imaging and physiological phenotyping with manual developmental, agronomic, and yield measurements to identify resilient accessions and plant traits associated with adaptation to current and projected future climate conditions in northern Europe, while preserving nutritional and protein-related traits.

Main Duties of Postholder

• Design and conduct independent and collaborative research to deliver the Hutton activities within the ProFEED work package.
• Establish and screen soybean and lupin germplasm under fully controlled-environment conditions relevant to current and future northern European climates.
• Characterise plant growth, development, resilience, and yield by integrating physiological, phenotyping, and agronomic approaches, along with biochemical methods to assess associated nutritional and protein-related traits.
• Analyse and integrate experimental data to identify resilient accessions and traits associated with improved crop performance.
• Prepare publications and present research findings at scientific conferences, project meetings and to relevant stakeholders.
• Contribute to project reporting and collaborative activities within ProFEED.

Alongside these main responsibilities, and where compatible with project delivery, the postholder will be encouraged to engage with the wider JHI research community and contribute to related research initiatives, including the National Alternative Protein Innovation Centre (NAPIC) and other projects aligned with their expertise and interests. They will also have opportunities to contribute to the development of new research ideas, collaborations and funding proposals, supporting the development of an independent research profile and future career progression.

What We Offer

• Generous holiday entitlement up to 40.5 days a year, with limited carryover and guaranteed time off for Christmas.
• Employer contribution of 15% in a personal pension plan, with employee contribution flexibility.
• 35-hour working week with self-managed hours and flexible working options.
• Access to a confidential Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) for personal and professional support.
• Participation in the James Hutton Group Life Scheme.

What We Are Looking For

The ideal candidate will have:

• A PhD in plant physiology, plant phenotyping, plant biology or a closely related discipline.
• Proficiency in conducting controlled-environment, glasshouse or comparable plant experiments.
• Experience in qualitative and quantitative assessments of plant growth, development, physiology, phenology and/or crop performance.
• Self-motivation and time management to manage experiments involving multiple genotypes and treatments.
• Experience in analysing and interpreting complex experimental datasets using R, Python or similar.
• Strong scientific communication skills and experience in preparing scientific publications and presenting research findings.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in multidisciplinary and international research teams.
• Experience in one or more of the following would be advantageous:
• Research with diverse grain legume germplasm, cultivars, landraces or genetic resources, particularly soybean or lupin.
• High-throughput plant phenotyping, including imaging, chlorophyll fluorescence, hyperspectral or related approaches.
• Controlled-environment studies of abiotic stress responses.
• Biochemical or nutritional characterisation of plant material, particularly seed quality traits.

About Us

The James Hutton Institute is committed to advancing science for the benefit of society and the environment. We carry out both fundamental and applied research to help meet the future challenges of agriculture, climate change, and the transition to a sustainable bioeconomy. Our multidisciplinary teams collaborate with academic, industrial, and governmental partners to deliver innovative solutions for food security, environmental sustainability, and carbon neutrality.

For more information about the role or the James Hutton Institute, please visit The James Hutton Institute website or contact Raul Huertas ( ) for an informal chat about the role.

The Company

The James Hutton Institute combines strengths in crops, soils and land use and environmental research, and makes a major contribution to the understanding of key global issues, such as food, energy and environmental security, and developing and promoting effective technological and management solutions to these.

James Hutton (1726 – 1797) was a leading figure of the Scottish Enlightenment, an eighteenth century golden age of intellectual and scientific achievements centred on Edinburgh. He is internationally regarded as the founder of modern geology and one of the first scientists to describe the Earth as a living system. His thinking on natural selection influenced Charles Darwin in developing his theory of evolution.

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