Postdoctoral Research Associate in Genomic Analyses of Elms and Dutch Elm Disease Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in United Kingdom

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is advertising a Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA) position focused on the genomics of elms affected by Dutch elm disease. The project combines genome assembly, genome annotation, phylogenomic analyses, RNA-seq analysis, and pangenome work, with additional fieldwork, sample preparation, and large-scale sequence data analysis using computing clusters.

This opportunity sits within Kew’s plant science environment and is well suited to candidates with a strong background in biology, bioinformatics, genomics, population genetics, and computational analysis. The role explicitly asks for a PhD or equivalent in a relevant subject area, plus experience in de novo genome assembly, genome annotation, phylogenomic analyses, coding in Python or R, and shell/Unix scripting. Experience publishing in peer-reviewed journals and presenting research to scientific audiences is also expected.

The appointment is fixed term for 2 years, with a provisional start date in September 2026. The salary is £39,243–£42,153 per annum (Band D). The role is based at Kew Gardens, Richmond, with the option of regular home working subject to operational requirements.

Applicants should submit their materials through Kew’s online application portal. The post is led by Richard Buggs, Senior Research Leader at Royal Botanic Gardens Kew and Professor of Evolutionary Genomics at Queen Mary University of London.