Scientific Technician – Plant Molecular Biology & Genetics
9‑month fixed term | Harpenden | Dr Christophe Lambing’s Laboratory
£24,225 - £26,573 per annum
Are you passionate about plant science, genetics, and cutting‑edge molecular biology? Do you want to contribute to high‑impact research uncovering how genetic information is exchanged and inherited? If so, we’d love you to join our team.
We are inviting applications for a Scientific Technician to help the research programme of Dr Christophe Lambing at Rothamsted Research. This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated and curious scientist to gain hands-on experience in a vibrant research environment.
About the Research
Our group investigates the fundamental biology of meiotic recombination—a process crucial for fertility, genetic diversity, and genome evolution. During meiosis, hundreds of programmed DNA double‑strand breaks are repaired through unique germ‑cell pathways. While essential, many aspects of this mechanism remain unknown.
This project focuses on Arabidopsis and aims to:
- Decode the molecular pathway driving germ cell differentiation
- Understand how these pathways influence meiotic recombination
- Develop and apply innovative genetic, epigenetic, and molecular biology techniques to answer long-standing questions in plant reproductive biology
What You’ll Be Doing
You’ll play a key role in supporting experimental work across the lab, including:
- Characterising Arabidopsis mutant lines
- Collecting and preparing plant samples for genotyping
- Conducting DNA extractions, PCR, and microscopy
- Assisting with molecular cloning and plant transformation
- Contributing to high‑throughput phenotyping of recombination events
- Working closely with a postdoctoral researcher to deliver high‑quality data and impactful research outputs
This role offers the chance to broaden your technical expertise and work across a wide range of modern molecular and genetic techniques.
About You
We’re looking for someone who is:
- Experienced in genetics and molecular biology
- Scientifically curious with a strong understanding of biological concepts
- Able to work with precision, accuracy, and attention to detail
- A clear communicator with a collaborative, team‑focused mindset
- Ideally educated to university level or higher in a relevant discipline
You’ll have expert guidance, but we also value proactive individuals who enjoy taking ownership of their experiments and contributing to the wider success of the team.
Interested?
For informal enquiries or further information, please contact:
Dr Christophe Lambing – [email protected]