University of Bristol
Research Associate / Senior Research Associate in Microalgae Biocrystallization/Bioinspired Materials
Get notified of more jobs like this · No spam, ever
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
The Role
Microalgae are superabundant unicellular photosynthetic organisms which shape the health of aquatic ecosystems by producing oxygen, capturing carbon dioxide, and forming the basis of marine food webs. Understanding how these microorganisms manage and cycle nutrients is crucial to many important ecological phenomena.
The group of Prof. Benjamin Palmer is seeking 2 ambitious and talented postdoctoral researchers to explore the role of nitrogen storage crystals in microalgae ecology and exploiting this understanding in the development of bio-inspired crystalline materials. The ERC funded (‘CRYST_ALGAE’) project is in collaboration with Profs. Richard Evershed and Ian Bull at the University of Bristol and the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH, Drs. Eleanor Mackay and Joe Taylor).
The Palmer lab is an internationally leading group in biomineralization and have published their work on optically functional biocrystals in top journals (e.g., Science, PNAS, Nat. Biotech., Nat. Photon). The group is now exploring an unexplored frontier in this field – the formation of molecular crystals by microorganisms.
The role holder(s) will lead a strongly multidisciplinary programme to:
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
- Monitor phytoplankton from field sites in the Lake District and perform chemical and biological analyses of specimens coupled with ecological modelling and/or
- Culture microalgae and perform microscopy of cells and nitrogen storage crystals and/or
- Perform in vitro crystallization experiments of bio-inspired crystalline materials.
The role holder(s) will assist Professor Palmer in mentoring his research group, coordinating day-to-day activities and providing support for post-graduate and undergraduate researchers.
If you are interested in high-impact, multidisciplinary science in an environment which will offer multiple avenues for professional development, then please apply!
What will you be doing?
- Performing monitoring of microalgae in collaboration with the UKCEH and carry out chemical, biological and OMICS analyses of cells and bio-crystals.
- Performing optical and electron microscopy investigations of environmentally sampled and cultured phytoplankton.
- Performing investigations of fundamental crystal formation pathways in microalgae.
- Conducting in vitro crystallization experiments for the development of bio-inspired materials.
- Preparing manuscripts in Prof. Palmer’s group.
- Supporting the development of related grant funding applications.
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
You should apply if
- You hold a PhD (or are in final stages of preparing to submit for a PhD) in biology, microbiology, ecology, aquatic/marine biology, chemistry, biochemistry and/or physical sciences.
- Have experience in microalgae ecology and biology and/or microalgae culturing.
- Have experience in bio-imaging techniques including optical microscopy, TEM and cryogenic electron microscopies.
- Have experience in Mass Spectrometry.
- You enjoy collaboration across experimental, computational and data science.
Additional information
- Contract type: Open ended with fixed funding until October 2028
- Work pattern: 1 FTE
- Grade: I/J
- Salary: £39,906 - £44,746 (Grade I) £44,746- £50,253 (Grade J) per annum
- School/Unit: School of Chemistry
- Shift pattern: Monday - Friday
This advert will close at 23:59 on 16/09/2026
For informal queries please contact: Ben Palmer - Benjamin.palmer@bristol.ac.uk
Our strategy and mission
We recently launched our strategy to 2030 tying together our mission, vision and values.
Available documents
ACAD108702 - PDRA - JD.pdf
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills