Opportunities by Category
Funding Opportunities: internal and external grant funding opportunities and other sources of funding.
Job Opportunities: a list of current and past postdoc, lecturer and senior academic roles as well as roles in Cambridge-based companies and other members of the SynBio SRI network.
Internships: placements outside of academia in industry, policy organisations and other environments.
Postgraduate studentships: PhD studentships, Masters courses and other postgraduate placement opportunities.
Undergraduate placement opportunities: if you are looking for a summer placement or Part II or Part III project, we can signpost to relevant synthetic biology labs based on your interests. Please email synbio@hermes.cam.ac.uk.
Opportunities with the SynBio SRI
If you are interested in biological engineering and particularly novel forms of IP, open source technologies, regulation of emerging biotechnologies, responsible research and innovation, public engagement and related topics then we have internal opportunities:
- Knowledge Transfer Internships: We are investigating open source approaches to biology, from promoting off-patent technologies to developing new legal tools for material transfers to reviewing potential business models. Internships could be practical e.g. building software solutions or research-driven via literature reviews, surveys and interviews.
- Policy Internships: Current policy foci include topics such as gene drive, de-extinction and conservation,sustainable agriculture and the circular economy. Internships in this area would typically involve developing briefing papers and planning policy fora with key individuals and organisations.
- Public Engagement Internships: We are developing low-cost protocols and open educational materials for use in schools and with adult groups. Interns would lead the development, documentation and design of public engagement activities.
We do not currently have funding for internships, but if you don't have your own source of funding (e.g. PIPS), we are happy to help seek and apply for funding with you.
All Opportunities
[Apply by 3 Feb 2019] Software Sustainability Institute Fellowship Programme
BECOME AN AMBASSADOR FOR GOOD SOFTWARE PRACTICE IN YOUR RESEARCH DOMAIN. Our Fellowship Programme funds researchers in exchange for their expertise and advice. Each Fellow is allocated £3,000 to spend over fifteen months. The funding is flexible to support activities that are beneficial to both the Fellows’ and the Institute’s aims: for instance, to fund travel to conferences, to setup and run workshops, to organise software sustainability sessions at domain conferences, or to host, organise or teach training events.
[Apply by 26 Nov 2018] Fully-funded four-year bioscience PhD studentship: Rewiring Plant Gene Regulatory Networks
Plants have the ability to alter their growth and development in response to changes in their environment. They do this by altering the expression levels of large suites of genes. Previous work has shown that a small network of genes may be responsible for coordinating large-scale changes in gene expression in response to the detection of pathogens. To develop crops with the ability to deliver high yields in changing environments, we need to advance our understanding of how these networks function and how variations in sequences of the key genes that coordinate these networks affect plant responses. This project will investigate the role of candidate key controllers in a pathogen-response network, using a novel approach of designing synthetic genetic controllers to rewire the network. Our aims are to understand how the network is coordinated and to provide insights into how to breed or rationally engineer plants resilient to stress. The student will be based in the Patron Lab (Earlham Institute, Norwich) and will work in close collaboration with the Denby Lab (University of York) and the Morris Lab (John Innes Centre, Norwich). This exciting, collaborative and multidisciplinary project will employ a range of techniques including molecular plant biology, synthetic biology, genome engineering, systems biology and modelling. It would be suitable for a biologist with, or eager to acquire, computational skills. Training will be provided in all areas.
[Apply by 30 Nov 2018] Colorifix - Computational Synthetic Biologist
Colorifix is a startup bringing novel, sustainable and environmentally friendly processes to the textile dyeing industry to eliminate the use of hazardous chemicals, and also give large savings in water and energy use. Colorifix has been recognised by winning awards in both synthetic biology and fashion with our technology on public display in the Victoria and Albert museum’s Future of Fashion section of the Fashioned from Nature exhibition.
[Apply by 30 Nov 2018] Colorifix - Synthetic and Microbial Biologist
Colorifix is a startup bringing novel, sustainable and environmentally friendly processes to the textile dyeing industry to eliminate the use of hazardous chemicals, while saving on water and energy. Colorifix has been recognised by winning awards in both synthetic biology and fashion with our technology on public display in the Victoria and Albert museum’s Future of Fashion section of the Fashioned from Nature exhibition.
[Apply by 31 Oct] Research associate sought to develop open toolkit for molecular biology enzyme production
Are you a highly motivated post-doctoral researcher who wants to increase global access to research and teaching using molecular biology techniques? Join the Open Bioeconomy Lab at the University of Cambridge to create an open source toolkit for local manufacturing of enzymes for molecular biology research in low-resourced contexts, including low and middle income countries and community labs. The project aims to overcome barriers in accessing these important research tools and build capacity to underpin emerging bioeconomies. You'll join an exciting interdisciplinary community with scope to travel for knowledge exchange activities in Africa and Latin America.
[Apply by 20 Sept 2018] University of Toronto PDF for Engineering Applications in Synthetic Biology
The Pardee (www.pardeelab.org) and Sinton Labs (www.sintonlab.com) at the University of Toronto are seeking a postdoctoral fellow with expertise in engineering devices for biological applications. The proposed project aims to develop a novel fluid-handling device to manipulate synthetic biology reactions, control temperature and perform optical monitoring. This position is unique as it emphasizes the confluence of engineering design principles with an understanding of biological systems in order to develop accurate, automated, and commercialization-ready units. This exciting position provides the opportunity to engage with both the design and development stages of the device, as well as with its practical implementation for scaling clinically relevant gene circuit-based reactions.
[Apply by 20 Sept 2018] University of Toronto hiring postdoctoral fellow (synthetic biology and human health)
The Pardee Lab (www.pardeelab.org) at the University of Toronto is seeking a postdoctoral fellow with research experience with molecular biology, biochemistry and microbiology. Our lab specializes in cell-free synthetic biology, which uses freeze-dried biochemical reactions to operate genetically encoded tools outside of the lab in a biosafe format. Our efforts have led to the development of synthetic gene network-based diagnostics (e.g. Ebola and Zika viruses) and a portable platform for the on-site manufacture of protein-based drugs (e.g. vaccines, antibodies). We are now advancing these technologies in new directions and are looking for a postdoctoral fellow that shares our passion for innovation, practical applications and ultimately commercialization of new biotechnologies. The selected candidate will develop synthetic biology applications for human health as part of an interdisciplinary team of researchers.
Job openings for Anaerobic Microbiology team in Paris, France with Eligo Bioscience
Eligo Bioscience is a VC_backed biotech startup, cofounded by professors and scientists from MIT and Rockefeller. The company is developing next-gen therapeutics for precision microbiome engineering and bacteria-associated diseases. Our technology is based on the delivery of genetic circuits to the microbiome via engineers phase particles.
[Apply by 8 Oct 2018] Research Assistant/Associate to investigate rapid coliform identification using low-cost optical microscopy
Applications are invited for a research assistant/associate working at the University of Cambridge together with a University spinout, to develop low-cost solutions to identifying contaminated water for refugee camps in the developing world. The post holder will work between the groups of Dr Mark Holmes and Professor Jeremy Baumberg at the Departments of Veterinary Medicine and Physics and with WaterScope (www.waterscope.org )
[Apply by 16 Oct 2018] International Flexible Interchange Programme (I-FLIP)
BBSRC invites applications for projects of up to 12 months in duration, which involve international people exchanges (Interchanges) between UK academic institutions and user organisations that operate within countries on the DAC list (see external links). Users of research can include private businesses, third sector organisations (for example, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), or public bodies including government departments, local government, and regulatory authorities). The International Flexible Interchange Programme (I-FLIP) aims to increase and accelerate the uptake and impact of previous BBSRC funded research through facilitating knowledge exchange activities that deliver direct tangible and demonstrable benefits to users. I-FLIP will provide funding to directly address challenges faced by developing countries by supporting the movement of people between the UK academic base and user organisations in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMICs).
Cambridge Glycoscience seeking synthetic biologist for R&D programme
Applications are invited from talented and passionate scientists for a position leading Cambridge Glycoscience’s synthetic biology R&D programme. Cambridge Glycoscience is a food technology start-up. Our mission is to tackle the greatest public health crisis of modern times - excessive sugar consumption. We do this by creating functional, nutritional, and economic substitutes for sugar that function across the food industry, using cutting edge synthetic biology approaches. We operate across the value chain from lab bench and industrial production all the way to the kitchen and consumers. We have strong connections to the University of Cambridge’s Biochemistry Department.
[Apply by 1 Oct 2018] Rice University seeks multiple faculty members working in synthetic biology
As part of the Vision for the Second Century (V2C2), which is focused on investments in research excellence, Rice University seeks multiple faculty members, preferable at the assistant professor level, starting as early as July 1, 2019, in the areas of Synthetic Biology. Successful candidates will lead dynamic, innovative, and independent research programs supported by external funding, and will excel in teaching at the graduate and undergraduate levels, while embracing Rice’s culture of excellence and diversity.
Innovate UK launches £400k competition to woo more female innovators [Apply by 3 Oct 2018]
Innovate UK has launched a £400k funding competition to help identify and encourage more female entrepreneurs and has urged Cambridge and East of England women to get involved. The vision is to get more women involved in shaping the future face of innovation to the broader benefit of the economy.
[Apply by 16 Sept 2018] Centre for the Study of Existential Risk: Postdoc Position in Bio-Risk
The Centre for the Study of Existential Risk (CSER) invites applications for a Post-Doctoral Research Associate in bio-risk. CSER's approach to the study of extreme and existential risks emphasises interdisciplinarity and engagement with policy and technology communities.
[Apply by 13 August 2018] Contractor for Microsoft Research Cambridge, UK
The biological computation group at Microsoft Research, Cambridge is building a platform for programming biology by developing the software, hardware, and biological tools required to improve the workflows for engineering biological systems. In our biological wet lab we are performing synthetic biology experiments in order to understand how genetic devices function in bacterial cells. We are looking for an experienced biological laboratory technician to perform biological experiments and support the work of a team of world-leading researchers and engineers.
[Apply by 8 July 2018] Summer internships available! Biomakespace biology and engineering programmes
Biomakespace is a not-for-profit social enterprise establishing a community laboratory for lifelong learning, curiosity driven research, entrepreneurship and public engagement at the interface of biology and engineering. We are offering 10-week paid internships in our Biology and Engineering Programmes to help build the foundations for our work and get involved with technical projects, public engagement, training and business development in this innovative environment. The successful candidate will be highly motivated and proactive with excellent communication skills and have some experience in a biology lab or engineering workshop respectively. Interests in informal science education, maker spaces, open science, DIY science and public engagement are all desirable.
[Apply by 10 July 2018] Post Doc Researcher - Platform Design and Development at Microsoft
Applications are invited for a postdoctoral research position based at Microsoft Research Cambridge, UK, to work on a platform for biological modelling and automated laboratory experimentation. The successful applicant will extend computational methods being developed in the Biological Computation group and collaborate with scientists in leading academic institutions. The goal of the project is to accelerate biological research by integrating automated liquid handling, data tracking and computational modelling, to increase biological understanding through iterative cycles of modelling and experimentation. This methodology will be applied to research on understanding the formation of bacterial biofilms.
[Apply by 1 July 2018] Ensembl Plants Project Leader at EMBL-EBI
The EMBL-EBI is seeking a project leader to join the Non-vertebrate Genomics Team at the European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), located on the Wellcome Trust Genome Campus. The appointee will be responsible for the development of the Ensembl Plants resource.
[Appy by 11 June 2018] Research Associate - CRISPR Genome Editing Development at CRUK CI, University of Cambridge
At CRUK Cambridge Institute, we perform world leading science which focuses on positively impacting cancer patients' lives. In the Pre-Clinical Genome Editing team, our mission is to make meaningful advances to understand and treat cancer. We use cutting edge technologies to create authentic models of disease for study, and to gain novel biological insight. As a Postdoctoral Research Associate, you will expand the capability of our specialised Genome Editing team, allowing us to develop novel technologies and to deliver a broad spectrum of User-driven projects. You will aggressively drive the innovation and application of Genome Editing technologies in translational research. A key focus will be to establish and translate emerging or novel technologies to an in vivo setting, prototyping and working up new methodologies in vitro, and building upon our functional genomics capabilities.
[Apply by 29 June 2018] Unilever Young Entrepreneurs Awards
Entries are now open for the Unilever Young Entrepreneurs Awards, supporting and celebrating inspirational young people from all over the world who have initiatives, products or services that tackle the planet’s biggest sustainability challenges.
Venture Creation Weekend: BIOTECH AND HEALTHCARE 1-3 JUNE
Do you have an idea for a biotech or healthcare venture that you’d like to develop? Would you like to work on that idea with a group of like-minded peers? Are you interested in joining a startup team? The next Venture Creation Weekend (VCW) offers an exciting opportunity to translate your idea, application or innovation into a real venture with the support of mentors from AstraZeneca and industry experts from the Cambridge ecosystem.
[Apply by 28 May 2018] Call for applications! Second Latin American Summit of Young Leaders in Biotechnology
Allbiotech is looking for young Latin American biotechnologists between 18 and 35 years to submit their application to be part of the Second Latin American Summit of Young Leaders in Biotechnology. We are going to select the 100 most outstanding applications to attend the Summit, which will be held in Guanajuato, Mexico in November 2018.
Postdoc Opportunity in Synthetic Biology in the Department of Bioengineering at Imperial College London
This challenging and innovative project aims at manipulating microorganisms in order to create synthetic communities or ecosystems with enhanced capacities for bioproduction and biotechnology. The project will combine the creation of novel synthetic biology tools to generate emergent behaviours at population level as well as their use for industrial applications. The project is BBSRC funded for 36 months, and we are aiming to start by 20th August.
[Call webinar 15 May, Registration deadline 22 June 2018] BBSRC Strategic Longer and Larger grants: Frontier bioscience
The 2018/19 strategic Longer and Larger (sLoLa) call invites proposals focused on frontier bioscience: leading-edge discovery research that addresses significant fundamental questions in bioscience. The indicative budget for this call is up to £16 million, subject to the quality of applications received. Proposals must be over £2 million (100% FEC project value) and can be up to five years in duration.
Cambridge Display Technology seeking life scientist in Godmanchester
CDT currently requires a Scientist to support its technology scouting and innovation team in identifying new research themes and projects within the field of Life Sciences.
[Closes 29 April 2018] Postdoc Fellow position in Pre-Clinical Genome Editing
The CRUK Cambridge Institute performs world leading science which focuses on positively impacting cancer patients' lives. The Pre-Clinical Genome Editing team focuses on making meaningful advances to understand and treat cancer, using cutting edge technologies to create authentic models of disease for study, and gaining novel biological insight.
[Closes 20 May 2018] Applications open for Gathering for Open Science Hardware 2018 in Shenzhen, 10-13 Oct
The Gathering for Open Science Hardware (GOSH) is a diverse, global community working to enhance the sharing of open, scientific technologies. Apply to join the third annual meeting in Shenzhen, China, 10-13 October 2018!
[Closes 17 May 2018] Dear Colleague Letter: Rules of Life (RoL): Design and Engineering of Synthetic Cells and Cell Components (DESYN-C3)
NSF seeks proposals that jump-start the de novo design of complex, synthetic biological components and cells. This DCL intends to engage scientists and engineers in the application of Design-Build-Test-Learn and experiment-modeling cycles to create synthetic cells. It is anticipated that the research will lead to new rules relevant for cell metabolism, epigenetics, interaction networks, and organelle function; molecular components and organelles of cells; and strategies for the design and synthesis of cells.
[Closes 6 June 2018] BBSRC Call: Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy in the Developing World
BBSRC is pleased to announce a total of £5 million for Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy in the Developing World and aims to support a number of collaborative research projects addressing challenges relating to industrial biotechnology and bioenergy in the developing world.
Start-up Opportunity for Recent Engineering Grad
An exciting opportunity for a recent Engineering grad to work with a young and up-and-coming start-up company. As part of research development, POM is interested in creating an IoT demo device for insect tracking an quantification and could use some engineering help.
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