Science and Technology Lead - Living Architecture

ARIA empowers scientists to pursue breakthroughs at the edge of the possible.

From climate change to AI, society faces enormous challenges and opportunities that can be uniquely addressed through science and technology. ARIA was created to activate the UK’s world-class R&D in new ways, so we can meet these head on.

Our success is shaped by one question: how will ARIA transform the lives of the UK’s future generations? Whether that is a life-changing new technology or a burgeoning new industry, it should be obvious that ARIA played a catalytic role.

If you want to help make breakthroughs like these possible, come and build ARIA with us.

Learn more here.

Role Summary

As an ARIA Science and Technology Lead, you will have the rare chance to catalyse breakthroughs that could change the world. You'll sit alongside Programme Director Angie Burnett and their Programme Specialist to help define, shape and deliver an ambitious new programme exploring how living organisms can be harnessed as functional engineering materials. By bringing together expertise across engineering, architecture, biology, materials science, social science and design, the programme seeks to unlock radically new approaches to creating infrastructure that can grow, adapt, repair itself and respond to its environment, with the potential to transform how we design, build and maintain the built environment.

You’ll be exposed to every aspect of the programme's technical management, from programme design and technical strategy through project selection, delivery and evaluation. Working alongside the Programme Director, you’ll identify emerging scientific opportunities, engage world-leading researchers, challenge and refine technical ideas, and help build a portfolio capable of delivering transformative breakthroughs.

Your impact will extend beyond a single programme; you will play a key role in strengthening the wider Abundant Manufacturing opportunity space, with a deep, evolving understanding of programmes and projects over time. As Programme Directors join the opportunity space and new programmes are launched, you will surface insights that build on existing ARIA-funded technologies, accelerate discovery, and turn past lessons into future breakthroughs, maximising impact across the portfolio.

We’re looking for an adaptable technical professional who’s strongly motivated by the opportunity to catalyse a technological step change. You’ll be working in a bold, talented, and agile team, funding projects (‘Creators’) across the entire R&D ecosystem, from startups to universities, in the pursuit of groundbreaking advancements that will shape the future of science and technology.

Meet Angie Burnett

Angie is a member of ARIA’s first cohort of Programme Directors. Angie trained as a plant physiologist and leads ARIA’s Synthetic Plants programme. She is passionate about harnessing the power of plants to create a sustainable future.

Angie is now developing a second ARIA programme to explore the use of living organisms as functional engineering materials.

Find out more about what they’re working on here.

“I’m passionate about building a world-changing programme that harnesses the power of plants to help people. I’m looking for a technical professional with deep expertise in the disciplines of architecture and engineering to complement my background in plant biology and join my enthusiastic programme team. The Science + Technology Lead on my programme will be a key thought partner helping to drive success - I can’t wait to meet you.”
Angie Burnett, Programme Director