Cereal Pathology Senior Technician
| Posting date: | 19 March 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £24,494 to £29,946 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 09 April 2026 |
| Location: | Cambridge, Cambridgeshire |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | NIAB |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | SV/A1147 |
Summary
Job Title: Cereal Pathology Senior Technician
Location: Park Farm, Cambridge, CB24 9AT
Starting Salary: £24,494 to £29,946 per annum, depending on experience
Contract: permanent
Working Hours: 37 hours per week (Monday to Friday)
Closing Date: 9 April 2026
Help Advance Crop Science Through Practical Plant Pathology Research
Are you interested in plant science, field trials and laboratory research? Join Niab’s Plant Pathology team and play a key role in delivering high-quality cereal disease trials that support the evaluation of crop varieties and improve agricultural resilience.
At Niab, we pioneer crop science for the benefit of society. Our research helps farmers, breeders and policymakers make informed decisions that improve crop productivity, sustainability and food security.
In this varied and hands-on role, you will contribute to cereal pathology trials across the laboratory and field. Your work will support national variety evaluation programmes while helping to develop new insights into plant diseases affecting wheat, barley and oats.
What the role involves:
Plan and Set Up Cereal Pathology Trials: Dive into the heart of research by planning and setting up exciting cereal pathology trials for Variety and Recommended Lists purposes.
Multiply Plant Pathogens: In our microbiology lab, you will multiply wheat, barley, and oat pathogen isolates for inoculating trials.
Apply Pathogen Inoculum: Get hands-on with plants as you produce, prepare, and apply pathogen inocula.
Assess Trials: Be the detective - score diseases, process results, and interpret data from our inoculated trials as well as from natural disease observation plots.
Host Visits from Funders and Breeders to the Field Trials.
Contribute to Research Projects: Your expertise will drive our research forward.
Screen Field Samples for the Presence of Pathogens: You will occasionally carry out molecular diagnostic and marker work to accurately diagnose plant pathogens.
Organise our Microbiology Lab: Keep the microbiology laboratory and key equipment in top shape.
Why join us?
Motivated Team: Our Plant Pathology team is a vibrant community of over 20 staff, PhD students, and visiting workers. We are passionate about our work.
State-of-the-Art Facilities: Access extensive walk-in growth rooms, glasshouses, and well-equipped laboratories.
Field Trials Across Cambridgeshire and Norfolk: Explore different sites as you contribute to high-quality field trials.
Variety: Your work will span the laboratory, field, and office, adapting to the seasons
Challenge: Embrace occasional weekend work and unsociable hours – we are tackling real-world problems so sometimes we need to work outside core hours.
Physical Engagement: From standing and walking in the field to occasional manual handling, you will stay active.
Location
The role is based at Niab Park Farm, Histon, Cambridge, CB24 9AT, 4 miles from Cambridge city centre. Free on-site parking and linked by cycle ways and regular buses to Cambridge city centre and railway station. Close to Junction 32 of A14, with easy access to M11, A10 and A11.
Informal enquiries are welcome, please contact Lesley Boyd, (lesley.boyd@niab.com)
Click link below for the full Job Description.
ABOUT US
Niab is the UK’s leading crop science organisation, with research capabilities in plant genetics, agronomy, farming systems and data science, the largest national field trials capability, and strong research links with industry, Government and academia. With headquarters in Cambridge, and regional offices across the country, employing more than 400 people across the UK, NIAB advances the role of plant genetic resources through research services and training. Niab’s position at the interface of academic research and commercial breeding offers opportunities for strong collaborations across the plant sciences sector.
Benefits include 25 days holiday plus public holidays and 3 days off during the Christmas period, generous sick pay, attractive pension scheme, income protection, life assurance, employee discount scheme and a comprehensive training program.
NIAB actively promotes equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society. As a Disability Confident Employer, we have a positive approach to employing people living with a disability.
About the Application Process
Apply by clicking the Apply button above, please read the Job Description, which provide full details about the role, application process and what to expect.
Important Information
This is a UK-based role. You will be required to demonstrate your right to work in the UK as part of the recruitment process.
Where the role meets the relevant criteria, we are able to consider Skilled Worker visa sponsorship in line with Home Office requirements. Any offer of sponsorship will be subject to the role meeting the skill and salary thresholds and to the individual meeting the Home Office eligibility criteria.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities and do not discriminate on the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected under the Equality Act 2010.
Niab reserves the right to withdraw or close this vacancy at any time
Location: Park Farm, Cambridge, CB24 9AT
Starting Salary: £24,494 to £29,946 per annum, depending on experience
Contract: permanent
Working Hours: 37 hours per week (Monday to Friday)
Closing Date: 9 April 2026
Help Advance Crop Science Through Practical Plant Pathology Research
Are you interested in plant science, field trials and laboratory research? Join Niab’s Plant Pathology team and play a key role in delivering high-quality cereal disease trials that support the evaluation of crop varieties and improve agricultural resilience.
At Niab, we pioneer crop science for the benefit of society. Our research helps farmers, breeders and policymakers make informed decisions that improve crop productivity, sustainability and food security.
In this varied and hands-on role, you will contribute to cereal pathology trials across the laboratory and field. Your work will support national variety evaluation programmes while helping to develop new insights into plant diseases affecting wheat, barley and oats.
What the role involves:
Plan and Set Up Cereal Pathology Trials: Dive into the heart of research by planning and setting up exciting cereal pathology trials for Variety and Recommended Lists purposes.
Multiply Plant Pathogens: In our microbiology lab, you will multiply wheat, barley, and oat pathogen isolates for inoculating trials.
Apply Pathogen Inoculum: Get hands-on with plants as you produce, prepare, and apply pathogen inocula.
Assess Trials: Be the detective - score diseases, process results, and interpret data from our inoculated trials as well as from natural disease observation plots.
Host Visits from Funders and Breeders to the Field Trials.
Contribute to Research Projects: Your expertise will drive our research forward.
Screen Field Samples for the Presence of Pathogens: You will occasionally carry out molecular diagnostic and marker work to accurately diagnose plant pathogens.
Organise our Microbiology Lab: Keep the microbiology laboratory and key equipment in top shape.
Why join us?
Motivated Team: Our Plant Pathology team is a vibrant community of over 20 staff, PhD students, and visiting workers. We are passionate about our work.
State-of-the-Art Facilities: Access extensive walk-in growth rooms, glasshouses, and well-equipped laboratories.
Field Trials Across Cambridgeshire and Norfolk: Explore different sites as you contribute to high-quality field trials.
Variety: Your work will span the laboratory, field, and office, adapting to the seasons
Challenge: Embrace occasional weekend work and unsociable hours – we are tackling real-world problems so sometimes we need to work outside core hours.
Physical Engagement: From standing and walking in the field to occasional manual handling, you will stay active.
Location
The role is based at Niab Park Farm, Histon, Cambridge, CB24 9AT, 4 miles from Cambridge city centre. Free on-site parking and linked by cycle ways and regular buses to Cambridge city centre and railway station. Close to Junction 32 of A14, with easy access to M11, A10 and A11.
Informal enquiries are welcome, please contact Lesley Boyd, (lesley.boyd@niab.com)
Click link below for the full Job Description.
ABOUT US
Niab is the UK’s leading crop science organisation, with research capabilities in plant genetics, agronomy, farming systems and data science, the largest national field trials capability, and strong research links with industry, Government and academia. With headquarters in Cambridge, and regional offices across the country, employing more than 400 people across the UK, NIAB advances the role of plant genetic resources through research services and training. Niab’s position at the interface of academic research and commercial breeding offers opportunities for strong collaborations across the plant sciences sector.
Benefits include 25 days holiday plus public holidays and 3 days off during the Christmas period, generous sick pay, attractive pension scheme, income protection, life assurance, employee discount scheme and a comprehensive training program.
NIAB actively promotes equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society. As a Disability Confident Employer, we have a positive approach to employing people living with a disability.
About the Application Process
Apply by clicking the Apply button above, please read the Job Description, which provide full details about the role, application process and what to expect.
Important Information
This is a UK-based role. You will be required to demonstrate your right to work in the UK as part of the recruitment process.
Where the role meets the relevant criteria, we are able to consider Skilled Worker visa sponsorship in line with Home Office requirements. Any offer of sponsorship will be subject to the role meeting the skill and salary thresholds and to the individual meeting the Home Office eligibility criteria.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities and do not discriminate on the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected under the Equality Act 2010.
Niab reserves the right to withdraw or close this vacancy at any time