Senior Research Associate in Control Engineering/Engineering Biology

Location: Department of Engineering Science, Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PJ

About the role

We are seeking a full-time senior researcher to work with the group of Prof Antonis Papachristodoulou at the Department of Engineering Science in central Oxford. The post is funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and is fixed-term for up to thirty six months.

This position is part of the recently funded EPSRC Programme Grant "EEBio: Efficient engineering and control of predictable and reliable biotechnologies", a collaboration between the universities of Oxford, Bristol, and Imperial College as well as several industry and academic partners. The research project will develop new technologies underpinning Synthetic/Engineering Biology, with the goal of transforming the field to add reliability, robustness, and predictability throughout the biological design process.

About you

For this post, candidates with experience in the intersection of Control Engineering, mathematical modelling and Engineering Biology are being sought. The successful candidate will work in collaboration with our interdisciplinary team that includes experts in synthetic biology, mathematics, robotics, control, AI, and biotechnology more broadly, and also interface with EEBio team members at Imperial College and the University of Bristol.

You should hold a PhD/DPhil together with relevant experience at the intersection of control engineering, mathematical biology and Engineering/Synthetic Biology, and strong computational skills. You should have excellent written and oral communication skills and a strong ability to work as part of an interdisciplinary team.

How to apply

Applications for this vacancy are to be made online via our e-recruitment system and should include the covering letter/supporting statement (describing how you meet the criteria), a CV, and names of two academic references.

The position is a full-time post, fixed term for 36 months.

The closing date for applications is 12.00 noon on Friday 18 September 2026. 

Informal enquiries may be addressed to Professor Antonis Papachristodoulou:  antonis@eng.ox.ac.uk

Further information can be found at https://eng.ox.ac.uk/jobs

Applications are particularly welcome from women and black and minority ethnic candidates who are under-represented in academic posts in Oxford. The Department is committed to equality and valuing diversity and holds an Athena Swan Bronze award, highlighting its commitment to promoting gender equality in academia. The University is a Living Wage Employer, holds an Athena Swan Silver Award, an HR Excellence in Research and a Race Equality Charter Bronze Award and is a Stonewall Diversity Champion. Our staff and students come from all over the world, and we seek to create a friendly and inclusive culture. Diversity is positively encouraged, through our EDI Committee, working groups and networks, for example eng.ox.ac.uk/women-in-engineering, as well as a number of family friendly policies.