'Raising the Pulse (RtP)' is a £2.5M UKRI Transforming UK Food Systems project based on the concept that considerable health and environmental benefit would result if we could make it easier for the population to eat more UK grown pulses. The pulse best suited to the UK, the faba bean, is naturally high in protein, micronutrients and fibre, and has the lowest environmental impact of all crops. However, most of the population will not significantly increase their consumption unless they are successfully incorporated into familiar looking and tasting, economic and convenient staple foods, such as bread.
The scope of the RtP project is wide ranging, from sustainable production to nutritional enhancement, to processing and manufacturing innovation to evaluation of health benefits and consumer acceptance together with modelling of all the above. This ambitious project is therefore highly multi-disciplinary and will employ 6x FTE research staff (PDRAs and technicians). One of these posts is for a full-time postdoctoral scientist with relevant training and experience in crop improvement, agronomy or field phenotyping for a period of 3 years from 1st October 2022.
The jobholder will select nutritionally enhanced faba bean genotypes using available genetic and biochemical data, conduct a series of field experiments aimed at co-optimisation of nutritional density and sustainability of production and will liaise closely with a PDRA focusing on preservation of a favourable nutritional and ecological footprint through dehulling and milling processes and with a systems modeller PDRA tasked with mathematically describing how various production variables impact land use and provision of ecosystem services on one hand and nutritional health benefits on the other. The post will sit within the Crop Genetic Improvement research group, led by Prof Donal O’Sullivan, which conducts internationally leading research in the genetic dissection of quantitative agronomic and quality traits underpinning sustainable crop production of Vicia faba (faba bean).
You will have:
- A PhD in a relevant subject area
- Proven ability to design, conduct and statistically analyse complex field experiments
- Analytical laboratory skills relevant to seed quality
- A team-oriented disposition
For further details, see the job description and person specification. Informal queries to either of the contacts given below are welcome.
Informal contact details | Alternative informal contact details |
Contact role: | Professor of Crop Science | Contact role: | Professor of Soil Microbiology and Biochemistry |
Contact name: | Donal O’Sullivan | Contact name: | Liz Shaw |
Contact phone: | 0118 3786729 | Contact phone: | 0118 3786971 |
Contact email: | d.m.osullivan@reading.ac.uk | Contact email: | e.j.shaw@reading.ac.uk |
Interview Date: 18/07/2022
Please note that recent changes in Google Chrome (version 101) and Microsoft Edge (version 101) mean that some users are currently unable to view downloaded PDF documents in those browsers. You can view the downloaded file using Adobe Acrobat Reader. If this remains a problem for you, then please contact hr@reading.ac.uk to request a copy of the Job Description & Person Specification.
Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. By reference to the applicable SOC code for this role, sponsorship may be possible under the Skilled Worker Route. Applicants should ensure that they are able to meet the points requirement under the PBS. There is further information about this on the UK Visas and Immigration Website.
The University is committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce, supports the gender equality Athena SWAN Charter and the Race Equality Charter, and is a Diversity Champion for Stonewall, the leading LGBT+ rights organisation. Applications for job-share, part-time and flexible working arrangements are welcomed and will be considered in line with business needs.