Overview

Kew is the world’s leading botanic gardens, at the forefront of plant and fungal science, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a major visitor attraction. We want a world where plants and fungi are understood, valued and conserved – because our lives depend on them. We use the power of our science and the rich diversity of our gardens and collections to provide knowledge, inspiration and understanding of why plants and fungi matter to everyone.

Are you an ambitious scientist looking for your next exciting challenge?  Do you want to take then next career step in biological chemistry with a vibrant and active research laboratory in a beautiful corner of South West London?

We are looking for a qualified chemical ecologist to join the team at Kew.

The chemical ecology and in vitro biology research group at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, led by Professor Phil Stevenson is currently engaged in a variety of research activities that investigate the relationship between insects and plants and specifically how plant chemicals mediate those interactions and influence the health and well-being of beneficial insects, especially pollinators.
Hours of work
Full time
Contract Type
Fixed Term (FTA)
Contract end date
15 Months
Salary
£30,000 per annum
Directorate
Science
Location
Kew Gardens, Richmond
Closing Date
30/04/2017
Documents
Employee Benefits RBG Kew 2016.pdf
(PDF, 231.1kb)
Chemical Ecologist Job Profile.docx
(Word, 68.25kb)
More details
We also study how plants can be used for biorational pest management in small holder farming systems with a particular focus on Africa.  We have funding through BBSRC, McKnight foundation, Darwin Initiative and European Union to support a research assistant for a minimum of 18 months to carry out research on chemical ecology, horticultural and pollinator health related research projects.

The work is in collaboration with several UK based groups including University of Newcastle (Prof GA Wright), Natural Resources Institute (Prof SR Belmain), Leeds University (Prof W Kunin) and research groups in Tanzania and Malawi.

Your work will focus on chemical analysis and isolation of secondary metabolites from plants and quantification of primary metabolites including amino acids and lipids in pollen and subsequent biological studies on the effects of these compounds on beneficial (including bees) and pest insects.  You will be expected to have experience in the use of LC-MS, GC-MS and other separation techniques  and in biological activity testing of plant materials on insects.

The salary will be £30,000 per annum pro rata.  We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a generous annual leave entitlement for new starters, family friendly policies, a choice of competitive pensions and flexible benefits scheme.

If you are interested in this position, please submit your application through the online portal, by clicking “Apply Now”.

We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from all sections of the community. We guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post. No agencies please.