Research Associate

Job number

**ENG03369**
- Faculties

**Faculty of Engineering**
- Salary or Salary range

**£54,063 - £63,797 per annum**
- Location/campus

**South Kensington and White City Campus - On site only**
- Contract type work pattern

**Full time - Fixed term**
- Posting End Date

**5 Feb 2025**

**About the role**:
We are looking for an experienced and motivated Research Fellow to join Dr Rodrigo Ledesma-Amaro's dynamic research team. The RLAlab is formed by over 30 motivated and talented researchers working at the interphase of synthetic biology and metabolic engineering, with an emphasis on Sustainability, particularly around foods and fermentation.

The research projects span from 1) the development of new tools based on cutting-edge synthetic biology, automation and modelling, and 2) the design and creation of new microbial strains engineered to improve the bioproduction of molecules of interest from renewable feedstocks (e.g. food ingredients) to 3) the investigation and building of synthetic microbial communities with the capacity to become the new frontier in biotechnology, making processes more affordable, robust and efficient.

You will also be involved in one of the six new mission hubs for Engineering Biology funded by UKRI. The first of its kind in the world, the Engineering Biology Hub for Microbial Foods will bring together world-leading academics, industrial partners, food organisations and diverse end-users in a wide-ranging and ambitious programme of work that provides a clear pipeline from fundamental research to commercialisation. The overarching vision of the Hub is to harness the joint potentials of engineering biology and the microbial food revolution to create and deliver a more sustainable, productive, resilient and healthy food system.

**What you would be doing**:
**What we are looking for**:
We are seeking a highly organised, proactive individual with experience in biotechnology or metabolic engineering and a passion for food innovation. You should bring:

- Strong project management and organisational skills, with experience in coordinating complex multi-stakeholder projects.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a proven track record in successful grant writing.
- An adaptable approach to problem-solving, with a keen understanding of the evolving opportunities of microbial foods and engineering biology.
- A strategic mindset and initiative to drive projects in a pioneering research group.

**What we can offer you**:
In joining Imperial College London, you’ll be part of a world-leading institution, focused on revolutionising sustainable food systems. Benefits include:

- The opportunity to work with and supervise students and postdocs on various projects.
- Access to a rich professional network of industry and academic experts working to shape the future of food.
- A dynamic, collaborative team environment that values innovation and professional growth.
- Sector-leading salary and benefits package, including 38 days of annual leave.
- The chance to advance your career within a prestigious institution making a meaningful impact.

**Further information**:
**This is a fixed term position for 48 months (24 months + 24 months extension).**
- Committed to equality and valuing diversity. We are also an Athena SWAN Silver Award winner, a Stonewall Diversity Champion and a Two Ticks Employer._

**Available documents**:

- Attached documents are available under links. Clicking a document link will initialize its download.- Please note that job descriptions are not exhaustive, and you may be asked to take on additional duties that align with the key responsibilities mentioned above.

**About Imperial**:
Welcome to Imperial, a global top ten university where scientific imagination leads to world-changing impact.

Join us and be part of something bigger. From global health to climate change, AI to business leadership, here at Imperial we navigate some of the world’s toughest challenges. Whatever your role, your contribution will have a lasting impact.

As a member of our vibrant community of 22,000 students and 8,000 staff, you’ll collaborate with passionate minds across nine London campuses and a global network.

This is your chance to help shape the future. We hope you’ll join us at Imperial College London.

**Our Culture**:
Our values are at the root of everything we do and everyone in our community is expected to demonstrate respect, collaboration, excellence, integrity, and innovation.