Scientist-Pathology

Part of the Forestry Commission family, Forest Research (FR) is a world leader in applied forest science, providing evidence and practical solutions to policy makers, forestry professionals, land managers and anyone with green space, across Great Britain. With climate and biodiversity in crisis, and an increasing number of pests and diseases, our research is more vital than ever before. We advise on how woodlands can help combat climate change. We’re identifying tree species that will thrive in the future and seeking ways to safeguard those species at risk. Our research supports UK timber production because fewer imports reduce carbon emissions. We provide robust data on forests in Scotland, Wales and England, and provide evidence of the societal benefits of woodland. We do all this utilising the latest technology while working collaboratively with academia, partners and industry, nationally and internationally.

The Tree Health research group’s role is to sustain the forestry and tree sector in Britain through three main activities:

• Provision of rapid diagnosis of tree health problems and advice via FR’s Tree Health Diagnostic and Advisory Service (THDAS).
• Undertaking relevant and topical research on the pest and pathogen threats that affect British trees to inform appropriate management and future proofing.
• Conducting analyses and evaluations of specific tree health issues to underpin government policy.

Members of the group who carry out work on forest pathology typically undertake field and laboratory-based investigations and research into a range of tree pathogens including bacterial, fungal and Phytophthora species.

Key Work Areas

Diagnostician within the Tree Health Diagnostic and Advisory Service (THDAS)

• Providing advice and examining samples submitted to the THDAS for diagnosis, applying classical morphological and molecular diagnostic techniques as required.
• Undertaking basic bio-informatic processing of sequence reads, BLAST analysis and producing phylogenetic trees of species and taxa.
• Communicating to stakeholders at a variety of events, explaining pathogen threats, good biosecurity practice and the diagnostic services that THDAS offers.
• Provision of assistance with projects researching specific tree pathogens
• Contributing to the development and application of methodologies for detecting pathogens and investigating their biology including interactions with their hosts.
• Undertaking interpretation of biological data and collaborating in the writing of scientific and technical publications as well as research proposals
• Planning and carrying out field visits and sampling activities to achieve specific goals.
• Participating in knowledge exchange by presenting results to audiences with varying levels of technical expertise.

General research group & centre responsibilities

• Assisting in the continued smooth operation of the laboratory facilities at NRS
• Writing and reviewing Standard Operating Procedures and contributing to the laboratory accreditation processes.
• Contributing to the wider activities of the Tree Health research group including the fulfilment of professional duties.

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

Please apply at Civil Service Jobs - GOV.UK. You will be asked to:

• Complete a CV setting out your career history, highlighting specific responsibilities and achievements that are relevant for this role
• Submit a Personal Statement (limited to 250 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience meet the essential criteria as outlined in the person specification
• Provide a 250-word statement for the following Behaviour: Working Together

We will use this information to assess your application against the essential criteria in the person specification.

Shortlist

The panel will select a shortlist of candidates whose applications best demonstrate suitability for the role, by considering the evidence provided against the Essential Criteria set out in the Person Specification. Failure to address any or all of these may affect your application.

Sift & Interview

Sift will take place on 22 October 2026.

Interviews are planned to take place in person week commencing 2nd November 2026 at Northern Research Station, Roslin, EH25 9SY.

At interview, you will be assessed against your experience and the Civil Service behaviours of Working Together, Delivering at Pace, and Managing a Quality Service.

At interview, candidates will be given a Pathology Tree Enquiry containing images and asked to explain how they would identify a potential causal agent. This exercise is designed to assess your approach rather than your existing knowledge. You will be evaluated on your analytical and problem-solving skills, and the methodology you use to work through the task.

If we receive a large volume of applications, then we will sift on CV (Experience) and Lead Behaviour (Working Together). However, candidates will be expected to answer questions on all behaviours listed at the interview stage.

Candidates who are judged to be a near miss at interview may be considered for other positions in Forest Research which may be at a lower grade but have a potential skills match.

Diverse perspectives and experiences are critical to our success and we welcome applications from all people from all backgrounds with the experience and skills needed to perform this role.

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Visa Sponsorship

FR holds a licence to sponsor Skilled Workers under the Home Office points-based immigration system. Candidates wishing to apply should note that the likelihood of obtaining sponsorship would depend on an assessment of this role against defined criteria, which include:

o Whether the Job role has been identified as being a Critical Role in FR, which has been identified in the Workforce Plan, and / or

o Whether the Job role is a known Capability gap, which has been identified in the Workforce Plan for the relevant Centre, and

o Evidence of significant recruitment challenges in filling the Job role previously

Skilled Worker sponsorship may be available, subject to an application and assessment process and the Home Office points-based system.

For further details, please refer to the Sponsorship for Skilled Workers – guidance for applicants and managers on our website.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.