Richard Buggs

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.