Senior Group Leader (Nitrogen Fixation) - Plant Biology Institute, Ellison Institute of Technology, GB

About EIT:

The Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT) purpose is to have a global impact by fundamentally reimagining the way science and technology translate into end-to-end solutions and delivering these solutions in programmes and platforms that respond to humanity’s most challenging problems. Led by a faculty of world experts, EIT seeks to solve the world’s most challenging problems across four high-risk, high-reward, high-impact humane endeavours: Health, Medical Science and Generative Biology; Food security and Sustainable agriculture; Clean Energy Generation and Storage; and Artificial Intelligence and Robotics.

A cornerstone of EIT mission is its upcoming 300,000-square-foot research facility at the Oxford Science Park, set to open in 2027. This cutting-edge campus will feature advanced labs, an oncology and preventative care clinic, and collaborative spaces to strengthen its partnership with the University of Oxford. It will also host the Ellison Scholars, driving innovation for societal benefit.

EIT fosters a culture of collaboration, innovation, and resilience, valuing diverse expertise to drive sustainable solutions to humanity’s enduring challenges.

About The Plant Biology Institute

The Plant Biology Institute, headed by Professor Steve Kelly, is a key part of the Ellison Institute of Technology. The institute aims to develop impactful and commercially sustainable solutions for improving global food production and planetary health through pioneering plant science research.

The Plant Biology Institute will unite world-class researchers who are focused on expanding the frontiers of plant science. Our research is focused on enhancing our ability to feed the planet while simultaneously improving the climate and ecosystem outcomes of food production. By embedding cutting-edge plant science research within an organisation that is focused on solving global challenges at scale, we aim to accelerate the timeline from discovery to global impact.

Areas of exploration include:

• Improved plant productivity, both indoors and outside.
• Reduced reliance on inputs including water, fertilisers, pesticides, and herbicides.
• Novel decarbonised plant-based production platforms for food and medicines.
• Advanced technologies that speed up discovery and deployment in plants. 

Researchers will have access to state-of-the-art laboratory and plant growth facilities and have opportunities to collaborate with experts at the forefront of research on AI, automation, and generative biology across the EIT ecosystem. They will also work with global leaders in market development, commercialisation, and impact creation. The Plant Biology Institute has long-term substantial funding to support the unique scale and ambition of its vision.

EIT is seeking an inspiring and strategic Senior Group Leader in Nitrogen Fixation to lead a flagship research programme within its rapidly expanding Plant Biology Institute. This senior leadership position offers a unique opportunity to shape the scientific and operational foundations of a world-class research team dedicated to developing innovative, purpose-driven solutions in biological nitrogen fixation. You will play a central role in establishing EIT’s global leadership in plant science by recruiting and managing top-tier talent, forging impactful collaborations, and driving translational research from lab to field. With a clear focus on scientific excellence, commercial viability, and global impact, this role is ideal for a recognised thought leader ready to pioneer transformative science aligned with EIT’s values and mission to tackle humanity’s greatest challenges.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership

• To take a leading role in the establishment and growth of the institute ensuring that it delivers on its vision to achieve scientific excellence, real world impact and commercial sustainability.
• Develop and lead a world-class research program in engineering biological nitrogen fixation in plants.
• To understand the path to impact for the research program. To design and execute programs that consider user feedback and market research in developing research experiments to ensure that all research programs are value and purpose-driven.
• To recruit and lead a top talent team of research scientists including group leaders, post docs and PhD candidates. To hire based on competency, experience and values. To manage based on clear performance targets and with accountability. To maintain a positive, engaged culture, in line with EIT Oxford values.

Collaboration and Communication

• Generate, maintain and manage collaborations with key teams across EIT Oxford and in the wider scientific and commercial ecosystem to accelerate the path to scientific discovery and impact. To maintain key stakeholder relationships.
• Work, where appropriate, with translational teams to translate the results of research into commercial opportunities consistent with EITs humane endeavours. 
• Publish the work of the group in appropriate internationally visible scientific journals and other relevant media. 
• Present the results of the research at national and international meetings and conferences. 
• Plan the scientific direction of the research programme aimed at key questions within the institute. 

Research Designed for Impact

• Direct the activities of the research group by supervising some projects personally and overseeing projects delegated to group members. You will be expected to provide the intellectual energy and independent thinking necessary to lead a programme of cutting-edge research and to shape the overall aims and success of the group. 
• Determining, obtaining and managing the resource requirements. Including staffing, to sustain the programme. Managing research program through stage gated milestones, with active, no/no-go decisions on based on validated lab data/field research.
• Recognising and acting on opportunities for the creation of intellectual property and cooperating in patent protection and in impact delivery. 
• Ensuring the research is conducted in accordance with good practice and in compliance with EIT's policies and legal requirements.