Professorship of Plant Development

The Board of Electors to the Professorship of Plant Development invite applications from individuals whose work falls within the general field of the Professorship to take up the appointment at the Sainsbury Laboratory at Cambridge University as soon as possible.

Candidates will have an outstanding research record of international stature in Plant Development with a strong interest in quantitative and interdisciplinary work. The position is open to everyone who meets the requirements, including both established professors and earlier career group leaders looking for the next stage in their development. They are expected to have the vision, leadership, experience and enthusiasm to build on current strengths at the Institute and to help maintain and further develop its leading research profile. Duties include research, the training of students, the supervision and mentoring of postdoctoral fellows, as well as some teaching and administration. The Professor will be based in Cambridge.

The Sainsbury Laboratory is funded by the Gatsby Charitable Foundation to provide for an exceptional centre of excellence in quantitative plant development. The Institute brings together specialists in the biological, physical and mathematical sciences and encourages interdisciplinary collaborations for elucidating the regulatory systems underlying plant growth and development.

The Professorship is an established position that will contribute to the scientific leadership of the Institute. We are interested in scientists with imaginative research ideas that will contribute to our quantitative understanding of multiscale events in plant development using any appropriate study system. Candidates will be considered based on the following selection criteria: 1. An outstanding research record of international status relevant to research in plant developmental biology. 2. The scientific vision and interpersonal skills to provide academic leadership to the Laboratory and within the wider University, the UK and international plant science communities. 3. An awareness of the importance of, and the willingness to promote, the recruitment and training of the next generation of interdisciplinary plant scientists.

The post provides a competitive salary, ample laboratory and office space, administrative support and 5-years of unrestricted research funds to the amount of £250,000 p.a., funded by the Gatsby Charitable Foundation. Gatsby funding is renewable, in 5-year instalments, pending the outcome of a competitive peer review process.

Applications, consisting of a letter of application, a statement of current and future research plans (no more than five pages), a curriculum vitae and a publications list, along with details of three referees should be made online no later than 15 September 2021.

We particularly welcome applications from women and candidates from a Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic background for this vacancy as they are currently under-represented at this level in our Institution.

Click the ’Apply’ button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.