Scientist - Plant Physiology

At Wild Bio we are radically enhancing crops to feed the world sustainably and promote a wilder planet. Wild plants have had half a billion years to evolve natural solutions for thriving in almost every environment on Earth. Our proprietary genetics platform harnesses these wild innovations to enhance the world’s most important crops. Wild-enhanced crops would simultaneously boost farm yields and promote gigaton-scale carbon mitigation strategies. If you’re looking for a start-up that has enormous potential for impact on growers, consumers, and the planet, please read on. Wild Bio is a well-funded, fast-paced Oxford University spin-out working from state-of-the-art labs and offices at Milton Park, Oxfordshire. We are about to enter an exciting phase of growth and are looking for a driven and curious scientist to join us and significantly contribute to delivering the change we believe in. Our Values Our work is guided by three core values that define who we are and how we approach our mission: Curiosity: We fuel our desire to explore the unknown, pushing the boundaries of knowledge and sparking innovation. We ask questions, seek answers, and embrace lifelong learning. Community: We believe in the strength and support gained through collaboration and inclusion. As part of a global community, we nurture connections to drive meaningful impact for both people and planet. Courage: We face challenges head-on, take calculated risks, and stand up for our beliefs. Our bravery propels us to take action, even in the face of adversity. If these values resonate with you, we invite you to join our team of passionate scientists and innovators working at the cutting edge of bioscience. Location We’re headquartered in Milton Park, a business and technology park in Oxfordshire. This is an on-site role, though we offer flexibility and hybrid working when possible. Requirements PhD in Plant Physiology, Plant Biology, or a related field, or equivalent experience (typically 5+ years) in plant science research. Proven track record in Plant Physiology research, including experimental design across controlled environments and/or field trials, as well as data analysis and statistical interpretation. Experience using gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence systems (e.g. LICOR, Walz), and/or other mechanistic approaches for dissecting photosynthetic performance. Deep theoretical and practical understanding of photosynthesis; you are comfortable interpreting complex physiological data to generate biological hypotheses. Understanding of the genetic mechanisms that govern plant phenotypes, and of the factors that influence gene expression. Experience contributing to the technical delivery of research projects, with the ability to manage experimental workflows and timelines. A growth-oriented mindset focused on continuous improvement – evaluating new tools and sparking innovation within the team. Responsibilities We are looking for a motivated Plant Physiology Scientist to drive our R&D initiatives, combining strong theoretical and practical understanding of photosynthesis. At Wild, we are building proprietary and “new-to-science” datasets that we use to discover new yield traits. This role will focus on planning and developing methods to screen physiological processes in plants. You will play a key role in designing experiments and performing comprehensive analysis of the resulting datasets, helping to drive the future direction of this discovery work. We are looking for a motivated Plant Physiology Scientist with a strong theoretical and practical understanding of photosynthesis to help drive our R&D initiatives. Alongside phenotyping new traits, you will be central to generating the proprietary, "new-to-science" datasets we use to discover new yield traits. You will plan and develop methods to screen physiological processes in plants, design data collection experiments, and perform comprehensive analysis of the resulting datasets, helping to shape the future direction of our discovery work. Detailed responsibilities: Design and execute large-scale phenotyping studies across multiple diverse species, developing robust methods and scalable pipelines for both controlled environments and field settings. Analyse and interpret the resulting photosynthetic and phenotyping datasets, delivering actionable insights into the physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying performance, and translating these into recommendations. Support trait design discussions and apply the latest advances in photosynthesis research to strengthen experimental strategies and innovation. Maintain accurate experimental records and communicate findings through clear reports, presentations, and scientific discussions. Collaborate with scientists, agronomists, construct engineers, and bioinformaticians to guide research priorities and progression decisions. Mentor and train colleagues in experimental techniques and best practices, fostering high-quality data collection and a collaborative, high-performing research environment. Benefits Work with incredibly rich and growing photosynthetic datasets Training and development opportunities Group life cover x 4 of base salary Pension scheme with a 5% company contribution Private medical insurance including dental and optical Enhanced maternity and paternity leave Regular company socials Complimentary refreshments throughout the week Team meals including breakfast on a Monday and lunch each Friday, creating opportunities for informal networking and team bonding Flexible working opportunities