With the human population estimated to reach 9.8 billion people by 2050, the looming nitrogen (N) crisis, stemming from the intensive use of fertilisers in agriculture, requires urgent global action. Massive synthesis and application of fertiliser N has a large energy cost, causes CO2 release and results in large-scale loss of reduced N to the environment. Use of legumes, which in association with rhizobia can fix up to 200 kg N per ha, as crops and for forage are potential ways to improve both N efficiency and the sustainability of agriculture. In this project we are engineering nif clusters for their expression in plant colonizing bacteria and integrating them into the chromosomes of appropriate chassis. Control systems will be designed to restrict expression to target plants and ensure optimal expression of the nitrogenase complex.
Where Covid-19 has resulted in substantial disruption to your work or research outputs, please explain this by providing an additional paragraph in your supporting statement.
The University of Oxford is committed to equality and valuing diversity. All applicants will be judged on merit, according to the selection criteria.
This post is full time and available immediately.
The closing date for applications is 12.00 noon on Monday 7th July 2025, interviews are likely to be scheduled for late July. Applications for this vacancy are to be made online via our e-recruitment system, and you will be required to upload a supporting statement and CV as part of your online application.