Are you passionate about exploring the social and ethical implications of emerging technologies? 

Do you want to contribute to an internationally significant research project shaping global conversations on the future governance of genome synthesis?

We are looking to appoint two researchers to join the Wellcome Discovery Award-funded project, Care-full Synthesis: Advancing Global Engagement on the Socio-Ethical Implications of Synthesising Human Genomes. Working closely with principal investigator Professor Joy Y. Zhang, you will contribute to pioneering research that brings together diverse global perspectives to explore the ethical, legal, social and governance challenges of genome synthesis and engineering biology.

Successful candidates will be appointed to either Research Associate at Grade 7 or Research Fellow at Grade 8 depending on current expertise, skills and experience, as assessed by the recruitment panel against the essential criteria for each role.

As a Research Associate/Research Fellow you can expect to be involved in:

• Conducting research into the socio-ethical, economic and political implications of genome synthesis and engineering biology.
• Collaborating with international partners, stakeholders and research participants to support data collection, analysis and dissemination activities.
• Contributing to the development of governance, ethics and public engagement approaches that reflect diverse global perspectives.
• Supporting the communication and dissemination of research findings through publications, events and other project activities.

What will you bring to the role?

• A PhD or equivalent in a relevant field within the social studies of science, such as sociology, anthropology, political sciences, bioethics, science communication, or other related disciplines 
• Knowledge of the ethical, social and policy dimensions of emerging biomedical sciences.
• Experience of conducting and communicating high-quality research and publishing in internationally recognised journals.
• The ability to collaborative and engage effectively with a range of stakeholders and partners.

What we can offer in return:

As a member of our team, you can expect a friendly, open and collaborative working environment and support in your development and wellbeing. You'll enjoy a range of great staff benefits including:

• Hybrid working options allowing a flexible blend of office and home working (to be agreed in line with business needs - for this role, remote work may be supported, however there will be a need to attend the Canterbury campus regularly)
• 43 days' leave per year (personal leave, bank holidays and additional days allocated for the Christmas period, pro rata for part-time staff)
• Excellent pension scheme with generous employer contributions
• Corporate employee-funded healthcare plan, in partnership with Benenden Health

For more information about what you can look forward to if you join us, visit our dedicated webpage: Working at Kent

This role is based at the School of Social Sciences and the university-level research centre, the Centre for Global Science and Epistemic Justice (GSEJ). The School has been ranked 3rd in the UK for overall research quality, with 100% of its environment classified as world-leading in the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021). GSEJ serves as a hub for transdisciplinary and international collaboration on major research programmes. It has co-hosted a G20 India-UK dialogue on science diplomacy, and its policy recommendations on global biodata governance were included in the formal Think 7 communiqué to the G7 presidency in 2024. 

We are ambitious for our people, our communities and the region we serve – join us in making the world a better place. Visit our website for more on who we are: http://www.kent.ac.uk/about/

Please see the links below to view the full job descriptions for each post and to apply.

For enquiries about the roles, please contact Joy Y. Zhang via email at y.zhang-203@kent.ac.uk. For further information regarding the application process, please contact peopleserviceshr@kent.ac.uk quoting reference number SSS-036-26

Closing Date: 19 Jul 2026

Section: Research

Salary: £39,906 to £54,893 per annum

How can the UK shape the future of synthetic plants in ways that foster innovation, sustainability, and meaningful public participation? Join the ARIA-funded project Futuring Biological Commons, which aims to advance the UK’s governing approach on synthetic plants, support a sustainable research and industrial ecosystem, and promote meaningful public deliberation.

In this fixed term research post, you will work closely with Professor Joy Y. Zhang and a transdisciplinary research team comprising experts from the social sciences, synthetic biology, industrial biotechnology, and civil society. You will contribute to the development of an empirically grounded, future-oriented approach to relational plant ethics, exploring care for techno-lifeforms and ‘symbiodiversity’, while identifying practical strategies to address structural and cultural barriers to the responsible development and adoption of synthetic plant technologies.

As Research Associate (Sociology of Emerging Science) you can expect to be involved in:

•    Ensure the successful and timely delivery of the Futuring Biological Commons project, fostering a collaborative, collegial, and interdisciplinary research environment.

•    Actively contribute to the research culture and intellectual community of the Centre for Global Science and Epistemic Justice and the School of Social Sciences, engaging in knowledge exchange and academic development initiatives.

What will you bring to the role?

•    Proven ability to independently design and conduct rigorous empirical social research, demonstrating methodological excellence

•    Strong research track record, evidenced by publications in internationally recognised peer-reviewed journals and presentations at academic conferences

•    Comprehensive knowledge of emerging applications in engineering biology and their socio-environmental implications, particularly in areas such as agriculture, food            systems, and ecological sustainability

•    Experience in collaborative research and interdisciplinary teamwork, with a demonstrated ability to engage diverse stakeholders across academic, policy, industry and public  sectors

What we can offer in return:

As a member of our team, you can expect a friendly, open and collaborative working environment and support in your development and wellbeing. You'll enjoy a range of great staff benefits including:

•    Hybrid working options allowing a flexible blend of office and home working (to be agreed in line with business needs) (remove this bullet for ACADEMIC roles)

•    43 days' leave per year (personal leave, bank holidays and additional days allocated for the Christmas period, pro rata for part-time staff)

•    Excellent pension scheme with generous employer contributions

•    Corporate employee-funded healthcare plan, in partnership with Benenden Health

For more information about what you can look forward to if you join us, visit our dedicated webpage: Working at Kent

The role is based within the School of Social Sciences and the Centre for Global Science and Epistemic Justice (GSEJ), a university-wide research centre dedicated to advancing innovative and internationally connected research. The School was ranked 3rd in the UK for overall research quality in REF 2021, with 100% of its research environment assessed as world-leading. GSEJ serves as a hub for transdisciplinary collaboration on major global challenges, having co-hosted the G20 India–UK Dialogue on Science Diplomacy and contributed recommendations on biodata governance to the Think 7 communiqué for the 2024 G7 presidency. 

We are ambitious for our people, our communities and the region we serve – join us in making the world a better place. Visit our website for more on who we are: http://www.kent.ac.uk/about/

Please see the links below to view the full job description and to apply for this post. For further information regarding the application process, please contact peopleserviceshr@kent.ac.uk quoting reference number SSS-037-26.

Closing Date: 23 Jul 2026

Section: Research

Salary: £39,906 to £44,746 per annum