Job profile

KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER PARTNERSHIP

A Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) is a three-way project between a company, a university and a graduate (known as an Associate), which enables the transfer of knowledge, technology and skills to which the company currently has no access.  Supported by the university, KTP Associates manage strategic projects within the company.

A KTP can help graduates to enhance their career prospects by providing them with an opportunity to manage a challenging project, which allows them to use their degree, and is central to an organisation’s strategic development and long-term growth.

Whilst the Associate leads the KTP project, they are supported by experienced staff from the company and university. They are also assigned a KTP Adviser, who supports them in maintaining good working relationships within the partnership and in planning their professional development in broad terms.

For more information visit http://ktp.innovateuk.org.

THE PROJECT

The University of Essex in partnership with Vertical Future limited offers an exciting opportunity to a graduate with the relevant skills and knowledge to undertake research and development to apply the latest theories in plant physiology to optimise light conditions in totally controlled vertical farms. Benefits include savings in costs and time through shortened growing cycles and reduced energy use.

This post is fixed term for 24 months and is based at Vertical Future’s R&D site in London. 

DUTIES OF THE POST

The duties of the post will include:

• Create, conduct, run and monitor experiments and research trials on a range of species & light regimes at our advanced vertical farm R&D site
• Work closely with senior members of the Plant R&D Team to select varieties for production based on consumer and producer relevant evidence
• Work alongside the Engineering and Software Tech Teams to integrate plant science with engineering
• Positively contribute towards improving growing practises on VF’s growing system
• Perform data analysis and interpret findings, prepare reports to support the companies scale up agenda, and share internally with senior management and where relevant, clients
• Produce results and collaborate with the software engineering team to build results into data packages to support Vertical Future’s software solution
• Support the Plant R&D Team with the operations of the farm & delivery of research, including other trials that may be taking place
• Ensure safe and sustainable company operations
• Maintain production facilities in a clean and hygienic state and keep a laboratory notebook
• Develop new environmental control protocols for VF research farm and clients
• Share information, insights, knowledge, and skills, and be open to feedback to develop and learn from company staff

     KEY REQUIREMENTS

• BSc in Plant Sciences, Biochemistry, Biological Sciences, or similar degrees
• MSc in Agronomy, Plant Physiology, Plant Pathology, Plant Biotechnology or a similar field, or equivalent industry experience
• Experience in R&D in vertical farms or CEA
• Experience designing and running plant science experiments with multiple factors
• Extensive knowledge and experience in biochemical assays
• Extensive experience or knowledge of plant physiological techniques and protocols 
• Experience carrying out empirical trials as part of a plant sciences discipline
• Experience analysing large data sets
• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to lead a complex project with competing deadlines and priorities
• Ability to present highly technical information to non-technical colleagues and customers

LOCATION

3 Creekside

London

SE8 4SA

With travel to the Head Office at London Bridge:

First floor

3 More London

Riverside

London SE1 2RE

And the Manufacturing site in Bishop’s Stortford:

Units 4 & 5

Raynham Road

Bishop’s Stortford

CM23 5PD

At the University of Essex, internationalism and diversity is central to who we are and what we do. We are committed to being a cosmopolitan, internationally oriented university that is welcoming to staff and students from all countries, faiths and backgrounds, where you can find the world in one place.

To support this commitment we have our Global Forum, a staff-led network that promotes and celebrates the rich cultural diversity among Essex staff, and our Colchester campus based Faith Centre, which hosts regular services, meetings and events organised by our chaplains and faith representatives.

Please see the attached job pack, which contains a full job description and person specification which outlines the full duties, skills, qualifications and experience needed for this role plus more information relating to the post. We recommend you read this information carefully before making an application.  Applications should be made on-line, but if you would like advice or help in making an application, or need information in a different format, please contact resourcing@essex.ac.uk

*More information: Working at the University