by Ellen » Tue Mar 08, 2005 9:14 am
Most universities in England have plant sciences departments - Oxford, Cambridge, Reading are all closer than 150 miles from London (and I am sure horrified to hear they are not doing decent plant science research) and then there are universities within London. Why not approach a few places with ideas for postdoc fellowships. You write the grant and apply for the fellowship (to NERC, BBSRC) with the support of an institution nearby. I belive NERC do fellowships that are given to the fellow, who can then choose where to hold their fellowship. That would make you very attractive to any potential institution.
I was also given the impression from a US lecturer that a US PI could apply for an NSF grant and then transfer the money to you, for you to work in a UK instition. I don't know whether you have to have a post at a UK place first. If you have good supporting PI in the US perhaps you could try this route. All these things take time but its better to be doing something proactive while at home.
Also, living in London is quite expensive (and not to everyones taste) and the transport links are designed to faciliate commuting. You may wish to live outside London and both commute (perhaps in opposite directions). I know couples where one works in London and the other in Bristol (1.5 hours by train from London). They live somwhere in between. You caouls try Sussex, Liecester, Nottingham, even Leeds. If you are on a main "artery" like the M1 or M4 or the main train lines, commuting is usually less than two hours each way. Not ideal but also not impossible either, especially if its only short term until you get your own funding. There are also other plant science research institutes that off the top of my head I can't remember.
Best of Luck and I hope you find what your after,
Ellen