This project addresses the problem of how to overhaul the taxonomy of large genera in a short time. Any attempt to monograph a large genus faces a number of serious problems relating to generic circumscription, the sheer number of species and their distribution worldwide, the number of specimens and their dispersal in numerous herbaria, the volume of bibliographic references, the quantity of unknown or wrongly named material and the level of synonymy.
The 'Foundation Monograph', will deal with these difficulties by prioritising the delimitation of species focussing on the diagnostic characters needed to distinguish them. In this approach no attempt will be made to cover areas such as anatomy, chromosomes, pollen and similar areas which form part of the traditional monograph although findings from some of these areas may be made use of where available.
We are producing a Foundation Monograph for Ipomoea. This is the largest genus in Convolvulaceae with in excess of 600 species distributed in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide although with major centres of diversity in Africa and the Americas. Several taxa are cultivated as ornamentals and the genus includes the important food crops. The monophyly of Ipomoea has been questioned, with molecular phylogenetic data indicating that several segregate genera, notably Argyreia with about 100 species and at least eight smaller genera, should be included within a more broadly circumscribed genus. As with many large genera, the last global treatment dates from the 19th century and there are clearly many undescribed species, particularly in tropical America.
We identify three overlapping elements in the preparation of a Foundation Monograph that are essential elements within the overall framework being developed. These include examination of specimens, studies of the relevant literature and limited amounts of field work. As well as preparing descriptions and keys as in traditional monographs, we aim to make use of electronic resources to manage data and results making full use of digital imagery and carrying out DNA barcoding. We are also interested in evaluating the process with a view not only to producing a monograph of Ipomoea but also to developing a methodology which will simplify and speed up the traditional botanical monographic approach.
We are looking for a research associate to work with the project from April 2012 or soon as possible after for 33 months. Our ideal candidate will have a track record in one or more of the key elements in the project outlined above and availability until the end of 2014. Specific skills in plant taxonomy, computer applications, photography etc. are very welcome but the most important qualities we are looking for are enthusiasm, strong self-motivation, adaptability, ability to work in a team and meet deadlines. We believe that it might suit someone considering studying for a PhD after the end of the project. The post-holder will be based in Oxford but the project is collaborative and involves the Natural History Museum, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh so some travel within the U.K. and to other countries should be expected.
Project Title: Foundation monograph for Ipomoea
Further Details
Responsibilities/duties
1. Participation in detailed planning of project work.
2. Joint responsibility for everyday project administration: search for literature and literary references including online references, cataloguing and storing literature and data, selection of specimens for loan, correspondence, acquisition of images etc.
3. Species delimitation including specimen sorting, analysis, dissection etc.
4. Preparation of descriptions and keys.
5. Review and revision of manuscripts.
6. Generating DNA barcodes for Ipomoea species.
7. Liaison with botanists in other countries including possible work in the field.
Selection Criteria
Essential
1. Excellent organisation skills and attention to detail.
2. Able to work on own initiative and also effectively as part of a team.
3. Ability to organise and prioritise own work to meet tight deadlines.
4. Excellent interpersonal skills and a willingness to support students.
5. Computer skills.
6. Experience in plant taxonomy.
7. Willingness to travel.
Desirable
1. Good working knowledge of a range of office software (excel, word processing, etc).
2. Molecular systematic experience ideally in the use of DNA barcodes in plants.
3. Databasing and imaging of specimens.
4. Skills equivalent to those derived from a degree.
General Conditions
The successful applicant will be expected to have a high level of general education; excellent organisation skills and attention to detail; able to work on own initiative and also effectively as part of a team; experience of working in a research or technical laboratory; ability to organise and prioritise own work to meet tight deadlines; excellent interpersonal skills and a willingness to support students; and computer skills.
The appointment will be on grade 5 of the scale for support and technical staff at a starting salary within the range £22,971 - £27,428. For a full-time appointment, the annual holiday entitlement is 38 days (including 5 days to be taken on fixed dates at Christmas, and 8 public holidays). The appointment is subject to satisfactory completion of a six-month probationary period, during which the notice period will be one week on either side. Once the appointment has been confirmed the notice period will be one month on either side. The appointment of the nominated candidate will be subject to the satisfactory completion of a medical questionnaire and evidence of the eligibility to work in the UK.
The successful applicant will have the option of becoming or remaining a member of the University or Oxford Staff Pension Scheme (OSPS), a contributory pension scheme that provides a pension and lump sum based on length of service and final salary. All new staff are automatically treated as members unless they give notice in writing to say they do not wish to take part in the scheme. All staff joining the pension scheme are also automatically enrolled in the University’s Salary Exchange scheme for pension contributions from three months after the date of joining the pension scheme. A new employee may opt out of Salary Exchange (by giving notice in writing at least one month before being automatically enrolled). The University also offers a Stakeholder pension scheme which most employees may join either instead of, or in addition to, the main scheme. The University has a generous maternity leave scheme and also offers paternity leave to expectant fathers and partners, and adoption leave. It offers subsidised nursery places, and tax and National savings schemes. The University has a no-smoking policy and smoking is not permitted within the Department.
All University staff may use the study facilities provided by university libraries and museums; join the University Club, a sports and social club which has its own bar, café, and reading room; and make use of the University Sports Complex and the Pulse fitness centre. A number of discounts are available to university staff e.g. for insurance, holiday travel, and computer equipment.
How To Apply
If you consider that you meet the selection criteria, click on the Apply Now button on the ‘Job Details’ page and follow the on-screen instructions to register as a user. You will then be required to complete a number of screens with your application details, relating to your skills and experience. When prompted, please provide details of two referees and indicate whether we can contact them at this stage. You will also be required to upload a curriculum vitae and supporting statement. The supporting statement should describe what you have been doing over at least the last 10 years. This may have been employment, education, or you may have taken time away from these activities in order to raise a family, care for a dependant, or travel for example. Your application will be judged solely on the basis of how you demonstrate that that you meet the selection criteria outlined above and we are happy to consider evidence of transferable skills or experience which you may have gained outside the context of paid employment or education. Informal enquiries should be directed to Robert Scotland at robert.scotland@plants.ox.ac.uk .
Please save all uploaded documents to show your name and the document type.
All applications must be received by noon on Friday 24th February 2012 as stated in the online advertisement.
Should you experience any difficulties using the online application system, please email recruitment.support@admin.ox.ac.uk .
To return to the online application at any stage, please click on the following link www.recruit.ox.ac.uk .
Please note that you will be notified of the progress of your application by automatic e-mails from our e-recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk mail regularly to ensure that you receive all e-mails.
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to take up this post.
Meiosis is responsible for generating the greater part of genetic variation, and thus diversity in plants, animals and eukaryotic microbes. In meiosis chromosomes pair up and ‘recombine’ to exchange genetic information and the mechanics of meiotic recombination and segregation are well understood at a molecular level. We know little of the factors regulating the siting and number of the recombination events, but it is clear that recombination can vary massively between organisms, and often between the male and female germlines of individuals.
Over the past few years it has emerged that the availability of DNA for transcription is controlled by a series of epigenetic pathways. These pathways modify the DNA and the nucleosomal histones around which the DNA is wound, resulting in a chromosome that is condensed or relaxed, and affecting thereby the access of transcription factors. Recent studies showing the relationship between recombination initiation and chromosome condensation have revealed recombination to take place only in relaxed or ‘open’ chromatin. In an important breakthrough, in 2009 a French group demonstrated that recombination sites were associated with a region of a specific histone modification.
While both exciting and important, this information is restricted to a single-cell microorganism and it is now important to discover whether recombination is regulated in the same way in plants and animals. There is thus an urgent need to move this research into a model multicellular system which good cytology, and defined lines of reproductive cells for which transcriptomic data are available, and in which transgenic systems enabling elements of epigenetic pathways to be modified. The model plant Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) is just such an organism, and has the advantage that it is taxonomically close to a key crop plant family (the Brassicas).
The aim of this short programme of preliminary work is to analyse meiotic recombination in new Arabidopsis lines to be developed in the applicant’s laboratory, in which a range of epigenetic pathways are disabled in the reproductive cells.
Project Title: Epigenetic control of meiotic recombination in plants
Further Details
This is a 12-month project financed by the the Leverhulme Trust, with an immediate start date. This grant is held by Professor Hugh Dickinson and the work is to be conducted in his lab in the Department of Plant Sciences, Oxford.
Professor Dickinson’s lab is part of a broader research group in Plant Sciences with strengths in comparative developmental genetics; see the Department of Plant Sciences website (http://dps.plants.ox.ac.uk/plants/) for further details.
The successful applicant will be expected:
1. To plan, troubleshoot, and expertly execute the research work involved in this project.
2. To actively foster the intellectual environment of the research group through interaction with colleagues and discussion of data and relevant literature at Lab meetings and journal clubs.
3. To contribute to the daily organisation and management of the research laboratory.
To prepare data and contribute to preparation of manuscripts for publication.
Selection Criteria
Essential
· Extensive experience in plant cell and molecular biology.
· Practical skills in fluorescence and/or confocal microscopy.
· Practical experience in plant genetics, and in executing plant breeding programmes.
· High motivation with intellectual curiosity and rigour.
· Relevant PhD and publication record.
· Ability to work independently and manage multiple tasks.
· Ability to assimilate and evaluate the relevant literature and its implications.
· Ability to manage the day to day running of a research project, including assisting the work of junior researchers and technicians, and managing resources effectively.
· Excellent oral and written communication skills, including ability to present research at national and international symposia.
Desirable
· Practical experience in plant cytology, particularly of meiotic cells.
· Extensive experience in confocal microscopy.
· Skill in bioinformatics, statistical and data analysis.
General Conditions
The appointment will be on the postdoctoral Grade 7 scale for academic-related staff on a starting point within the range £29,099 - £35,788. The annual holiday entitlement will be 38 days (including days taken on fixed dates at Christmas and Easter and 8 public holidays). The appointment is subject to satisfactory completion of a six-month probationary period, during which the notice period will be one week on either side. Once the appointment has been confirmed the notice period will be one month on either side. The appointment of the nominated candidate will be subject to the satisfactory completion of a medical questionnaire and evidence of their eligibility to work in the UK.
The successful applicant will have the option of becoming or remaining a member of the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS), a pension scheme that provides a pension and lump sum based on length of service and final salary. All new staff are automatically treated as members unless they give notice in writing to say they do not wish to take part in the scheme. The University also offers a Stakeholder pension scheme, which most employees may join either instead of, or in addition to, the main scheme. The University has a generous maternity leave scheme and also offers paternity leave to expectant fathers and partners, and adoption leave. It offers subsidised nursery places, and tax and National savings schemes. The University has a no-smoking policy and smoking is not permitted within the Department.
All University staff may use the study facilities provided by university libraries and museums; join the University Club, a sports and social club which has its own bar, café, and reading room; and make use of the University Sports Complex and the Pulse fitness centre. A number of discounts are available to university staff e.g. for insurance, holiday travel, and computer equipment.
How To Apply
Working at the University of Oxford
For further information about working at Oxford, please see:
http://www.ox.ac.uk/about_the_university/jobs/research/ .
How to apply
If you consider that you meet the selection criteria, click on the Apply Now button on the ‘Job Details’ page and follow the on-screen instructions to register as a user. You will then be required to complete a number of screens with your application details, relating to your skills and experience. When prompted, please provide details of two referees and indicate whether we can contact them at this stage. You will also be required to upload a curriculum vitae and statement of research interests and a list of principal publications. Informal enquiries should be directed to Professor Hugh Dickinson, hugh.dickinson@plants.ox.ac.uk.
Please save all uploaded documents to show your name and the document type.
All applications must be received by 12.00 noon on Monday, 20 February 2012 as stated in the online advertisement.
Should you experience any difficulties using the online application system, please email recruitment.support@admin.ox.ac.uk .
To return to the online application at any stage, please click on the following link www.recruit.ox.ac.uk .
Please note that you will be notified of the progress of your application by automatic e-mails from our e-recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk mail regularly to ensure that you receive all e-mails.
**** Please state clearly whether or not you would require a work permit ****
to take up this post.