PDRA in Biochemistry

Location: Oban, Scotland
Organisation: Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS)
Contract Type: Full-time
Salary Range: £31,396 - £34,980 per annum
Closing date: 27th July 2025

The Role

You will play a key role in advancing algal biotechnology by generating high-quality empirical datasets on the metabolic composition and activity of NERC-UKRI CCAP algal strains.

The successful candidate will contribute to expanding the biotechnological potential of these strains, particularly for applications in the agri- and aquaculture sectors, while enhancing SAMS’ research capacity in metabolomics and natural products. The role will focus on three core activities: overseeing untargeted biochemical phenotype screening across the CCAP collection, conducting full-trait characterisation of key sector-relevant strains within CCAP, and optimising bioassays to identify and quantify bioactivity of selected strains.

This post is central to increasing the biotechnological value of the CCAP holdings and strengthening SAMS’ research profile in this growing field. This work will be part of the Natural Products BioHUB project that we have in partnership with Swansea University (lead partner) and CABI.

To see the project details click here.

You will work under the guidance of Lecturer in Algal Biotechnology/CCAP Manager and Associate Professor of Physiological Ecology.

Ideally, SAMS are looking for the successful candidate to start no later than 1st October 2025.

The Ideal Candidate

SAMS are seeking a post-doctoral researcher with a PhD in Phycology, Algal Biotechnology, or Biochemistry, ideally with a strong biochemistry focus.

The ideal candidate will have experience in phycology/algal biotechnology involving either macroalgae and/or microalgae, and a proven ability to work effectively within interdisciplinary teams. A solid foundation in experimental design and method development in analytical biochemistry and biology is essential.

The successful applicant will demonstrate strong written and verbal communication skills to effectively convey scientific findings. Experience with analytical techniques such as GC-MS and HPLC is highly desirable and will be considered a significant advantage.

Find out more and apply here!