Contract: Indefinite with end date (currently 31/08/2028)

Position Summary:

Applications are invited for a postdoctoral researcher in Plant Biochemistry within the Lancaster Photosynthesis team under the supervision of Dr Doug Orr. This new position will join the Plant Biology grouping within the Lancaster Environment Centre, which consists of roughly 35 people including PIs, postdoctoral researchers, research technicians and postgraduate students.

This is part of a BBSRC-funded project that focuses on improving our understanding of Rubisco activity, and pursuing a novel target for increasing Rubisco activity in plants and cyanobacteria. This project is in collaboration with Prof. Martin Cann at Durham University. At Lancaster we will focus on understanding Rubisco activity of recombinant proteins in vitro, and testing these in planta to understand the impact of mutations on leaf level photosynthesis.

The ideal candidate for this position in Plant Biochemistry will have a genuine interest and the curiosity to pursue new research avenues in Rubisco. With training and support, you will be responsible for leading in vitro and in vivo research to advance the understanding of Rubisco activity. You will lead the molecular and biochemical study of novel Rubisco variants to build fundamental understanding, and lead the physiological characterisation of plants expressing these proteins. You will design and carry out experimental and computational work, analyse data, present results in oral and written form and lead the preparation of scientific manuscripts.

You will join the collaborative and supportive Lancaster Photosynthesis team and have access to state-of-the-art resources, including a well-equipped lab for plant molecular biology and biochemistry work using ionising radiation, high-specification plant growth chambers, and the Lancaster High End Computing (HEC) Cluster. Professional development opportunities and training courses to broaden your expertise and skills will be encouraged and are covered by the project.

Individuals from all diversity groups are encouraged to apply. LEC offers a collegial and stimulating environment for career development, based on departmental values and embedded Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity (EDI) considerations and actions. We are committed to family-friendly and flexible working policies on an individual basis, as well as the Athena SWAN Charter, which recognises and celebrates good employment practice undertaken to address gender equality in higher education and research. Furthermore, we are active and progressive around sustainability, wellbeing and social justice agendas.

Timeframe:

This position is available for immediate start, with candidates ideally available to start by early 2027, however this is negotiable.

You will join us on an indefinite contract however the role remains contingent on external funding. This position will initially have an end date of 30/08/2028, with the possibility for extension.

We anticipate interviews will be held within 3 weeks of the closing date, with decisions communicated 1-2 weeks after the interview date.

To apply for this post:

In reading your application documents, we are assessing if you are a good fit to this position and if this position is a good fit for you. To be able to do this, we need you to tell us about your expertise and experience to date, and your research interests. We want to know about the skills you had the opportunity to develop, put within the context of your previous study/work environment by, for example, briefly describing the research facilities available to you, and whether you had opportunities to attend conferences/scientific meetings and develop transferable skills. Please let us know if you have had a career break for any reason so that we can consider the achievements listed on your CV, including your publication record, in relation to these factors. 

There is flexibility to appoint either a junior (grade 6) or senior (grade 7) postdoc to this role, with responsibilities and salary set accordingly, and dependent on the successful candidate’s current expertise and experience level.

What to include in each section of your application?

Cover letter: Please discuss why you are interested in this position, your career goals, and how you anticipate this position will help you achieve those goals. Please also describe the skills you have developed that are relevant to this post and tell us about any skills you want to develop further. It is helpful for us to know your contribution toward the achievements and experiences listed on your CV that are relevant to this post.

CV: Please include the following sections: Scientific interests; Education history; Professional experience/Employment history; Areas of expertise/Skills; Publications; Presentations.  And, if applicable: Honours/Awards/Prizes/Funding (e.g. travel grant, best poster); Academic service (e.g. review of manuscripts); Outreach; Career development (e.g. training courses or workshops).

Supporting Statements: Please provide a supporting statement for each criterium in the Personal Specification document that is listed as being scored via “Supporting Statements”. This should include examples that provide evidence of your experience and expertise. Aim for one paragraph per criterium (~50-200 words).

Referees: Contact information for at least two referees.

For informal enquiries relating to this post, please contact:

Dr Doug Orr d.j.orr@lancaster.ac.uk.

Further details on our research and team are available here:

http://wp.lancs.ac.uk/lancsphotosynthesis/

https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/lec/about-us/people/douglas-orr

Closing Date: 23 Nov 2026

Department: Research

Salary: £39,906 to £46,049 Full-Time Indefinite with End Date

Location: Lancaster. Travel for fieldwork and project meetings as required.

Duration: 3 years with possibility of extension

We are seeking a highly motivated and enthusiastic individual to support the delivery of two research fellowships and the associated research teams:

A Royal Society Faraday Discovery Fellowship awarded to Prof Nick Graham to establish the Island-Ocean Research Hub. This new project will investigate island-ocean connectivity and the influence of seabird nutrients and island rewilding on island and marine ecology and ecosystem services. The project has collaborating parters at 4 other universities, fieldwork planned in 5 countries, and will employ a large team of researchers. Your role would support this fellowship for 0.5 FTE of your time (i.e. 2.5 days per week)

A UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship awarded to Dr Tim Lamont. This project will investigate mechanisms for scaling up tropical marine restoration (coral reefs, mangroves and seagrass), and the role of business sustainability initiatives in delivering large-scale ecosystem restoration. The project has collaborations with the world’s largest coral restoration programme (www.buildingcoral.com), and the private sector’s most widely used sustainability reporting standards (www.globalreporting.org). Your role would support this fellowship for 0.3 FTE of your time (i.e. 1.5 days per week)

 The role will include elements of the following, along with general support for the two projects: Fieldwork planning to include risk assessments, diving safety, ethics and research permits; fieldwork support and possible involvement as research assistant; lab work and organisation; website and logo development and maintenance; social media and public engagement support; team cohesion and coordination including organising socials and retreats; team visas and other needs; workshop and meeting organisation; budget oversight and spending; help with reporting; data management and requests for data sharing; maintaining contact with project partners and collaborators; welcoming and inducting visitors and new group members. 

You will work closely with Nick Graham and Tim Lamont, collaborate with other members of the research team, and coordinate with project partners.

Preferred candidates will have experience in marine / biological science and/or project management. A proactive and enthusiastic approach and good interpersonal skills are essential. 

Lancaster University is a research-intensive university, ranked in the top 10 of UK universities. The Lancaster Environment Centre (LEC) is a large and multidisciplinary department, tackling environmental challenges across the natural and social sciences. Within LEC, there is particular strength in high diversity tropical systems, including coral reefs and tropical rainforests. LEC offers a highly collegial and stimulating environment for career development  based on departmental values and embedded Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity (EDI) considerations and actions. We are committed to family-friendly and flexible working policies on an individual basis as well as the Athena SWAN Charter, which recognises and celebrates good employment practice undertaken to address gender equality in higher education and research. Furthermore, we are active and progressive around sustainability, wellbeing and decolonising agendas.

Applicants from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. 

 What to include in each document of your application:

Cover Letter Please discuss why you are interested specifically in this position, and how it fits with your career goals. Please also describe any skills and related experience you have developed that are relevant to this post. Word limit 500 words. 

CV Please include a 2-page CV.

Supporting Statements: Please provide a supporting statement for each Personal Specification point that is listed as being scored via “Supporting Statements”. This should include examples that provide evidence of your experience and expertise. Aim for one paragraph per criteria (~50-200 words).

Referees: Contact information for at least two referees. At this stage, only contact details are required for referees, not letters of support.

For more information, see the Further Information link below.

Informal enquiries for issues not covered in the further information to Nick Graham nick.graham@lancaster.ac.uk or Tim Lamont tim.lamont@lancaster.ac.uk. Such enquiries are not necessary as part of the application and will not inform any decision. Applications without prior enquiry are welcome and will not be disadvantaged.

Closing Date: 30 Oct 2026

Department: Research

Salary: £33,002 to £37,694 part time indefinite with end date

Location: Lancaster. Travel for fieldwork and collaborations as required.

We are seeking a highly motivated and enthusiastic temperate or warm-water marine scientist and/or community ecologist to join the Island-Ocean Research Hub. This new research hub will investigate island-ocean connectivity and the influence of seabirds and island rewilding on ecosystem structure, function, and benefits to people. This specific position will focus on how biodiversity-ecosystem function relationships and ecosystem recovery potential are influenced by seabird nutrient inputs. Potential study sites will include the inner and southern Seychelles, the Mediterranean Sea and island archipelagos around the UK, and ecosystems to explore include Mangroves, seagrass, coral reefs and kelp. This project is led out of Lancaster University, with a number of collaborating universities and NGOs. Fieldwork for the project will include periods in remote locations, working in small teams, and scuba and snorkel-based work, and experience of such working will be essential. The successful applicant will work closely with Prof Nick Graham on this project, and collaborate with other members of the research team, both in Lancaster and at collaborating institutions.

Preferred candidates will have a PhD in marine science/disturbance ecology, experience of fieldwork, skills in statistical modelling, and a proven ability to publish scientific papers. A proactive and enthusiastic approach and good interpersonal skills are essential. 

The Lancaster Environment Centre (LEC) is a large and multidisciplinary department, tackling environmental challenges across the natural and social sciences. Within LEC, there is particular strength in high diversity tropical systems, including coral reefs and tropical rainforests. LEC offers a highly collegial and stimulating environment for career development  based on departmental values and embedded Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity (EDI) considerations and actions. 

Please include:

Cover Letter Please discuss why you are interested specifically in this position, and how it fits with your career goals. Please also describe any skills you have developed that are relevant to this post, and how you may seek to develop this area of research. 500 word limit.

CV Please include a 2-page CV.

Publication record: Please upload a list of your publications, clearly distinguishing those that are published and those that are under review. Please do not include those in preparation.

Supporting Statements: Please provide a supporting statement for each Personal Specification point that is listed as being scored via “Supporting Statements”. This should include examples that provide evidence of your experience and expertise. Aim for one paragraph per criteria (~50-200 words).

Referees: Contact information for at least two referees. At this stage, only contact details are required for referees, not letters of support.

Informal enquiries for issues not covered to Prof Nick Graham nick.graham@lancaster.ac.uk. Such enquiries are not necessary as part of the application and will not inform any decision. Applications without prior enquiry are welcome and will not be disadvantaged.

Closing Date: 30 Oct 2026

Department: Research

Salary: £39,906 to £46,049 (Full-Time/Indefinite with End Date)

Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, UK

An exciting opportunity exists for a marine scientist or community ecologist to contribute to a Royal Society funded project: Harnessing island-ocean connections to support ecosystems and people.

Salary: Grade 7

Hours: Full time

Location: Lancaster. Travel for fieldwork and collaborations as required.

Duration: 4 years

We are seeking a highly motivated and enthusiastic temperate or warm-water marine scientist and/or community ecologist to join the Island-Ocean Research Hub. This new research hub will investigate island-ocean connectivity and the influence of seabirds and island rewilding on ecosystem structure, function, and benefits to people. This specific position will focus on the role of seabird nutrient run-off, the extent to which those nutrients are integrated into foundation species, and how food web structures are influenced by the nutrient subsidies. Potential study sites will include the inner and southern Seychelles, the Mediterranean Sea and island archipelagos around the UK, and ecosystems to explore include Mangroves, seagrass, coral reefs and kelp. This project is led out of Lancaster University, with a number of collaborating universities and NGOs. Fieldwork for the project will include periods in remote locations, working in small teams, and scuba and snorkel-based work, and experience of such working will be essential. The successful applicant will work closely with Prof Nick Graham on this project, and collaborate with other members of the research team, both in Lancaster and at collaborating institutions.

Preferred candidates will have a PhD in marine science/community ecology, experience of fieldwork, skills in statistical modelling, and a proven ability to publish scientific papers. A proactive and enthusiastic approach and good interpersonal skills are essential. 

Lancaster University is a research-intensive university, ranked in the top 10 of UK universities. The Lancaster Environment Centre (LEC) is a large and multidisciplinary department, tackling environmental challenges across the natural and social sciences. Within LEC, there is particular strength in high diversity tropical systems, including coral reefs and tropical rainforests. LEC offers a highly collegial and stimulating environment for career development  based on departmental values and embedded Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity (EDI) considerations and actions. 

Applicants from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. 

We anticipate interviews will be held in November 2026. 

What to include in each document of your application:

Cover Letter Please discuss why you are interested specifically in this position, how it fits with your career goals, describe any relevant skills, and how you may seek to develop this area of research. 500 word limit.

CV Please include a 2-page CV.

Publication record: Please upload a list of your publications, clearly distinguishing those that are published and those that are under review. Please do not include those in preparation.

Supporting Statements: Please provide a supporting statement for each Personal Specification point that is listed as being scored via “Supporting Statements”. Aim for one paragraph per criteria (~50-200 words).

Referees: Contact information for at least two referees. At this stage, only contact details are required for referees, not letters of support.

For more information, see the Further Information link below.

Informal enquiries for issues not covered in the further information to Prof Nick Graham nick.graham@lancaster.ac.uk. Such enquiries are not necessary as part of the application and will not inform any decision. 

Closing Date: 30 Oct 2026

Department: Research

Salary: £39,906 to £46,049 (Full time, indefinite with end date)