Job Description

Grade UE06: 34,610 to 39,906 per annum pro rata

CSE / School of Biological Sciences / Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences

Part time: 21 hours per week

Fixed Term: 1

st

November 2028

We are looking for a research assistant to lead efforts to generate 3D reconstructions of fossil plants to characterise the evolution of phyllotaxis. The project is based in the lab of Dr Sandy Hetherington (The Molecular Palaeobotany and Evolution Group https://www.ed.ac.uk/biology/groups/hetherington ) in the Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences.

The Opportunity:

The aim for the project is to characterise the evolution of phyllotaxis in Early Carboniferous fossil plants from Scotland. This will require creating new 3D reconstructions of fossil plants from CT data and manipulating these datasets to investigate leaf arrangement. Alongside this role the candidate will also work closely with other lab members who are generating 3D reconstructions to provide advice, support and training on computer software for 3D segmentation.

Your skills and attributes for success:

A degree in appropriate subject area or experience of 3D segmentation and visualisation. Experience of generating 3D digital reconstructions of plants. Experience manipulating 3D reconstructions for phyllotaxis analysis. A passion for working in a team, providing advice, support and training for digital segmentation and visualisation.

Click to view a copy of the full

job description

(opens new browser tab)

As a valued member of our team you can expect:

A competitive salary. An exciting, positive, creative, challenging and rewarding place to work. To be part of a diverse and vibrant international community. Comprehensive Staff Benefits, such as a generous holiday entitlement, competitive pension schemes, staff discounts, and family-friendly initiatives. Check out the full list on our

staff benefits page

(opens in a new tab) and use our reward calculator to discover the total value of your pay and benefits.

Championing equality, diversity and inclusion

The University of Edinburgh holds a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance gender equality in higher education. We are members of the Race Equality Charter and we are also Stonewall Scotland Diversity Champions, actively promoting LGBT equality.



Prior to any employment commencing with the University you will be required to evidence your right to work in the UK. Further information is available on our

right to work webpages

(opens new browser tab).



On this occasion the University will not consider applicants requiring sponsorship for this role. International workers will therefore only be able to take up this role if they can demonstrate an alternative right to work in the UK.

Key dates to note

The closing date for applications is

20th October 2025.

Unless stated otherwise the closing time for applications is 11:59pm GMT. If you are applying outside the UK the closing time on our adverts automatically adjusts to your browsers local time zone.