Associate Experimental Biologist - 1 year fixed term contract

CoSyne Therapeutics; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A biotech innovator is seeking an Associate Experimental Biologist to contribute to drug discovery efforts. This role involves developing cell biology assays, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, and maintaining cell lines. The ideal candidate has a degree in Cell Biology/Molecular Biology and experience in cell culture and molecular biology methods. Join a passionate team at the Milner Therapeutics Institute in Cambridge.

Benefits

Private health insurance

Company Life Insurance Policy

Enhanced holiday package (25 days + Christmas/New Year closure)

Flexible working and team socials

Qualifications

• Experience in cancer biology and/or neurobiology preferred.
• Thrive in a fast-paced environment and be unafraid to address challenges.
• Creative, curious, and inventive approach to work with scientific rigour.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and passage cell lines including various models.
• Assist in drug screening pipeline and follow-up assays.
• Accurately record all experimental procedures in an ELN system.

Skills

Cell culture techniques

Molecular biology methods (DNA/RNA extraction, qPCR)

Organisational skills

Education

Bachelors or Masters degree in Cell Biology/Molecular Biology

Tools

ELN system

Lentiviral techniques

Job description

CoSyne Therapeutics is a biotech innovator operating at the intersection of biology, AI and finance to unlock and rapidly advance overlooked treatments for patients with rare neurological disorders. Our multidisciplinary team spanning computational biology, AI, cellular science, and clinical expertise is united by a shared mission to bring hope to patients with unmet medical needs. Our current focus spans neuro-oncology focusing on low- and high-grade gliomas, genetic epilepsies, neuropathic pain, and demyelinating diseases.

We are seeking a motivated Associate Experimental Biologist to join our team on a 1 year fixed term contract. They will play a key role within the Experimental Biology team, contributing to the development of novel cell biology assays, advancing cutting-edge screening strategies, and supporting our drug discovery efforts. They will also have the opportunity to collaborate closely with the Computational Biology teams to drive an integrated, cross-disciplinary approach to target discovery and validation.

The successful candidate will join an enthusiastic and collaborative team based at the Milner Therapeutics Institute in Cambridge, an exciting multidisciplinary scientific environment on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus. The role offers the resources needed to drive impactful science, excellent opportunities for skill development, and the chance to work alongside a passionate and collaborative team dedicated to developing therapeutics for currently incurable diseases.

Responsibilities

Cell Culture and Maintenance

• Maintain and passage cell lines, including oligodendroglioma and astrocytoma tumourspheres, neural progenitor cells, and induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived models
• Support 3D culture systems including neurospheres and organoids
• Perform routine quality control (e.g. mycoplasma testing)
  
  

Drug Screening and Validation

• Assist in execution of our high-throughput drug screening pipeline and follow-up assays
• Support validation experiments for candidate hits using cell viability (CellTiter-Glo), imaging, molecular assays, and dose-response formats
  
  

Preparation of lentiviral libraries and vectors

• Conduct molecular assays including RNA/DNA extraction, qPCR and basic cloning workflows.
  
  

Data Collection and Documentation

• Accurately record all experimental procedures and outcomes in an ELN system
• Prepare reports and summaries for research meetings
  
  

Laboratory Organisation

• Take ownership of lab organisation and inventory management, including: maintaining sample and reagent inventories, restocking consumables, tracking reagent usage, placing routine orders and processing laboratory invoices
  
  

Requirements

• Bachelors or Masters degree in a related field e.g. Cell Biology/Molecular Biology or equivalent industry experience
• Experience in cell culture techniques, ideally with a background in cancer biology and/or neurobiology
• Experience in molecular biology methods such as DNA/RNA extraction, qPCR and basic cloning workflows
• Familiarity with lentiviral techniques
• Excellent organisational skills
• Thrive in a fast-paced environment and be unafraid to address challenges
• A creative, curious and inventive approach to work combined with scientific rigour
• Embrace diverse viewpoints, value the strengths of others, and understand that teamwork is essential for success
• Be kind
  
  

Benefits

Our team brings together diverse technical backgrounds with varied perspectives, creating a much richer solution space for any given problem. We are an inclusive workplace and Equal Opportunity Employer; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of age, disability, sex, race, religion or belief, gender reassignment, marriage/civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity, or sexual orientation.

• Private health insurance
• Company Life Insurance Policy
• Enhanced company holiday package (25 days + Christmas/New Year closure).
• All the perks of a start-up - team dinners/socials, flexible working, and a dynamic work environment.
  
  

Our offices are in Soho London, with lab operations based at the Milner Therapeutics Institute in Cambridge. For this role, we expect you to be based in the Cambridge area and to work primarily onsite from the lab.

This role is offered on a fixed-term basis for 12 months. Applicants must already have the right to work in the UK, as we are unable to sponsor visas for this position. All applicants will be required to provide evidence of their right to work in the UK as part of the recruitment process.

By applying for a CoSyne position you understand that even if unsuccessful in your application, the personal documentation and information you supply will be held in our recruitment system for a 6-month period, after which it will be permanently deleted.