Research Associate/Fellow (WATER-BLIND) (Fixed term) (SCI

Applications are invited for a Research Associate/Fellow position to work on an ERC funded project ‘WATER-BLIND’ which seeks to uncover how roots sense water stress.

Building on our recent discoveries (Mehra et al., Science, 2022), this project aims to identify novel genes and regulatory pathways involved in sensing water availability in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. We are particularly interested in understanding the roles of ion fluxes and mechanosensing pathways in root adaptation to transient water stress.

This position is ideally suited to candidates with a strong interest in ionic signalling (e.g. calcium fluxes/signalling), root development, and molecular cell biology.

Applicants must be highly motivated and self-driven, with a PhD in molecular biology or a related area of biological science. (PhD students about to submit their thesis in a relevant area of root cell biology will be considered). The successful candidate should ideally have experience in the following areas: Root biology, cell/developmental biology and molecular biology such as techniques involving protein-protein interactions, transcriptomics, or single-cell sequencing. A track record of publishing research is also desirable. 

This full-time post (36.25 hours) is available immediately and will be offered on a fixed-term contract for 3.0 years. Job share arrangements may be considered. Requests for secondment from internal candidates may be considered on the basis that prior agreement has been sought from both your current line manager and the manager of your substantive post, if you are already undertaking a secondment role.

For more information on our lab activities, please visit: https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/biosciences/people/p.mehra

For informal inquiries, please contact Poonam Mehra at p.mehra@nottingham.ac.uk

Please note that applications sent directly to this email address will not be accepted.

The University of Nottingham is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.

Closing Date: 04 Jul 2025 Category: Research and Teaching (R&T)