Job Description

Job number

ENG03715

Faculties

Faculty of Engineering

Departments

Department of Bioengineering

Salary or Salary range

49,017 - 57,472 per annum

Location/campus

South Kensington and White City Campus - On site only

Contract type work pattern

Annualised Hours - Full time Fixed term

Posting End Date

18 Nov 2025

About the role

------------------


We are seeking to employ a postdoctoral researcher on a 24 month contract, which can be extended, to work in the research group of Dr Ledesma-Amaro in the Imperial College Centre for Synthetic Biology. The selected researcher will join an internationally-regarded, dynamic, friendly, diverse and inclusive team working on the application of cutting-edge synthetic biology tools in pathway and metabolic engineering, addressing current challenges in key areas such as biotechnology and biomedicine.

What you would be doing

---------------------------


This position is open for a research associate (postdoc) to work on engineering biology with food-relevant non-conventional organisms, mainly filamentous fungi (e.g. Rhizopus, Aspergillus, Neurospora, etc). The project combines state-of-the-art technologies, including advanced cloning systems and CRISPR tools, and elements of food science research. The project will run in close collaboration with academic and industrial partners of the Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein.

What we are looking for

---------------------------


The ideal candidate will be experienced with synthetic biology tools and possess relevant expertise in this field. Being familiar with Golden Gate, CRISPR (or equivalent gene editing techniques) would be advantageous. Having experience manipulating filamentous fungi/or yeast strains would be preferred.





This post offers an excellent opportunity for academic career advancement in Europe's number one hub for synthetic biology. Imperial College's synthetic biology facilities are second-to-none, and include a DNA Foundry and SynBiCITE, a dedicated centre for translating lab research.





Applicants must have a PhD in synthetic biology, molecular biology, metabolic engineering, microbial biotechnology (or equivalent) for appointment at Research Associate level. Applicants close to completion of their PhDs will also be considered where experience is directly relevant. Please see the job description and person specification document associated with this advert for the full list of criteria.





You will be part of the newly created Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein. Funded by the Bezos Earth Fund, the $30m Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein will apply cutting-edge Engineering Biology to accelerate the alternative protein revolution and transform global food systems, to make them more sustainable, healthy, resilient and economically viable, by driving a step-change in consumption from conventional meat to alternative proteins.





You will also be involved in one of the six new mission hubs for Engineering Biology funded by UKRI. The first of its kind in the world, the Engineering Biology Hub for Microbial Foods will bring together world-leading academics, industrial partners, food organisations and diverse end-users in a wide-ranging and ambitious programme of work that provides a clear pipeline from fundamental research to commercialisation. The overarching vision of the Hub is to harness the joint potentials of engineering biology and the microbial food revolution to create and deliver a more sustainable, productive, resilient and healthy food system.

What we can offer you

-------------------------


The opportunity to continue your career at a world-leading institution and be part of our mission to continue science for humanity. Grow your career: gain access to Imperial's sector-leading dedicated career support for researchers as well as opportunities for promotion and progression. Sector-leading salary and remuneration package (including 39 days off a year and generous pension schemes). Be part of a diverse, inclusive and collaborative work culture with various staff networks and resources to support your personal and professional wellbeing.

Further information

-----------------------


This position is a fixed-term contract with an anticipated to start as soon as possible.



For further information on the role, please contact Professor Rodrigo Ledesma Amaro, r.ledesma-amaro@imperial.ac.uk

Available documents

-----------------------


Attached documents are available under links. Clicking a document link will initialize its download.

Please note that job descriptions are not exhaustive, and you may be asked to take on additional duties that align with the key responsibilities mentioned above.

We reserve the right to close the advert prior to the closing date stated should we receive a high volume of applications. It is therefore advisable that you submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.



If you encounter any technical issues while applying online, please don't hesitate to email us at support.jobs@imperial.ac.uk. We're here to help.

About Imperial

Welcome to Imperial, a global top ten university where scientific imagination leads to world-changing impact.



Join us and be part of something bigger. From global health to climate change, AI to business leadership, here at Imperial we navigate some of the world's toughest challenges. Whatever your role, your contribution will have a lasting impact.



As a member of our vibrant community of 22,000 students and 8,000 staff, you'll collaborate with passionate minds across nine London campuses and a global network.



This is your chance to help shape the future. We hope you'll join us at Imperial College London.

Our Culture

We work towards equality of opportunity, to eliminating discrimination, and to creating an inclusive working environment for all. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries, and are committed to employing a team that has diverse skills, experiences and abilities. You can read more about our commitment on our webpages.



Our values are at the root of everything we do and everyone in our community is expected to demonstrate respect, collaboration, excellence, integrity, and innovation.