Plant Science Research Associate/Scientist

Who they are

At Wild Bio they are radically enhancing crops to feed the world sustainably and promote a wilder planet. Wild plants have had half a billion years to evolve natural solutions for thriving in almost every environment on Earth. Their proprietary genetics platform harnesses these wild innovations to enhance the world’s most important crops. Wild-enhanced crops would simultaneously boost farm yields and promote gigaton-scale carbon mitigation strategies. If you’re looking for a start-up that has enormous potential for impact on growers, consumers, and the planet, please read on.

Wild Bio is a well-funded, fast-paced Oxford University spin-out working from state-of-the-art labs and offices at Milton Park, Oxfordshire. Wild Bio are about to enter an exciting phase of growth and are looking for a driven, and curious Research Associate or Scientist depending on experience to join us and significantly contribute to delivering the change we believe in.

Wild Bio Values

Their work is guided by three core values that define who we are and how we approach our mission:

Curiosity: Wild Bio fuel their desire to explore the unknown, pushing the boundaries of knowledge and sparking innovation. They ask questions, seek answers, and embrace lifelong learning.
Community: Wild Bio believe in the strength and support gained through collaboration and inclusion. As part of a global community, they nurture connections to drive meaningful impact for both people and planet.
Courage: Wild Bio face challenges head-on, take calculated risks, and stand up for our beliefs. Their bravery propels them to take action, even in the face of adversity.

If these values resonate with you, Wild Bio invite you to join their team of passionate scientists and innovators working at the cutting edge of bioscience.

Location

Wild Bio are headquartered in Milton Park. While they do offer flexible and hybrid working, they are also a small, fast-paced team working on cutting-edge science, and they believe the relationships forged and the work they do in-person will be crucial for our success. For this reason, they are asking that applicants be able to work on-site at least four days a week.

The successful candidate will be required to provide proof of eligibility to work in the UK.

Benefits

– Group life cover x4 of base salary
– Pension scheme with a 5% Company contribution
– Private medical insurance including dental and optical
– Enhanced maternity and paternity leave
– Regular company socials
– Complimentary refreshments throughout the week
– Team meals including breakfast on a Monday and lunch each Friday, creating opportunities for informal networking and team bonding
– Training and development opportunities
– Flexible working opportunities
– Opportunity to work with cutting edge science

Job Description

Wild Bio are seeking a skilled and highly motivated Research Associate or Scientist (depending on experience) to join the Wild Carbon Team. This role will support the translation of Wild innovations from laboratory research to real-world application, contributing to the development of gigaton-scale carbon removal strategies.

This is a highly cross-disciplinary position operating at the interface of molecular biology, crop transformation, and trait validation. If you’re excited by biochemical assays, plant biology (particularly root physiology) and developing scalable crop technologies for carbon sequestration, this role is for you.

– Design, execute, and analyse above- and below- ground crop physiology experiments to address specific research questions.
– Conduct, analyse, and optimise enzymatic and biochemical workflows to deliver actionable insights.
– Collaborate with cross-functional teams to design and deploy trait constructs via stable or single-cell transformation systems.
– Conduct plant genetic transformations and assist with optimisation of protocols for target crops.
– Collaborate with the plant care team to support optimal crop development and monitoring.
– Troubleshoot and optimise trait-testing workflows while maintaining accurate records in Electronic Lab Notebooks (ELN).
– Contribute to SOPs, databases, technical reports, and presentations.
– Support and mentor colleagues, fostering a collaborative, innovative, and knowledge-sharing environment.
– Work closely with scientists and agronomists to integrate data and implement improvements in carbon-related crop traits to drive measurable progress.

The ideal candidate

– MSc with practical experience, or a PhD (or equivalent industry experience) in plant biology, plant science, biochemistry, or a related field.
– Experience in analysing plant physiology of non-model species with emphasis on characterising root physiology.
– Experience monitoring soil and/or water carbon is a plus.
– Experience conducting, analysing, and optimising enzymatic assays in vitro, preferably also on plant material. Experience with protein expression and surface display assays is a plus.
– Hands-on experience in plant genetic transformation, preferably in Brassica crops or other non-model crops.
– End to end experience from designing genetic constructs to validating traits.
– Strong experimental design, data analysis, and problem-solving skills.
– Ability to work independently while contributing effectively within a multidisciplinary team.
– Proactive in taking initiative where needed with tasks that have not been assigned.