Development Scientist

Oxford Nanopore Technologies Ltd.; Oxford; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in nanopore technology is seeking a Development Scientist to enhance sequencing products. The role involves designing and purifying protein components essential for RNA and DNA sequencing, with a focus on improving performance metrics. Ideal candidates will have a PhD in biochemistry or related fields and experience in protein handling.

Benefits

Bonus

Generous pension contributions

Private healthcare

Competitive salary

Qualifications

• Experience with DNA/RNA handling enzymes and membrane proteins.
• Ability to troubleshoot during protein purification.
• Strong attention to detail and effective communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Designing and iterating protein variants to improve nanopore sensing performance.
• Expressing and purifying protein variants at appropriate scales.
• Analyzing data and reporting findings accurately.

Skills

Biochemical properties of proteins

Recombinant protein expression

Lab-scale purification of proteins

Experimental design

Programming skills in Python

Targeted chemical modification of proteins

Education

PhD in biochemistry, chemistry, or related field

Job description

Job Description

Oxford Nanopore Technologies is headquartered at the Oxford Science Park outside Oxford, UK, with satellite offices and a commercial presence in many global locations across the US, APAC, and Europe.

Oxford Nanopore employs experts from multiple subject areas including nanopore science, molecular biology and applications, informatics, engineering, electronics, manufacturing, and commercialization. The management team, led by CEO Dr. Gordon Sanghera, has a track record of delivering disruptive technologies to the market.

Oxford Nanopore’s sequencing platform is unique, offering real-time analysis in fully scalable formats from pocket to population scale, capable of analyzing native DNA or RNA and sequencing any length of fragment to achieve short to ultra-long read lengths. Our goal is to enable the analysis of any living thing, by anyone, anywhere!

The Role

Our Biologics Development team is responsible for improving the performance of all biological components within our sample preparation kits and flowcells. We are seeking a highly motivated individual with excellent lab skills to join as a Development Scientist. As part of the wider R&D division, we collaborate to deliver new chemistries from conception to customers.

This role, based at our Oxford headquarters, will support the development of new nanopore sequencing products, focusing on enhancing fundamental performance metrics to improve outcomes and utility for users of the ONT platform.

The successful candidate will be responsible for designing, purifying, and analyzing key protein components that form the backbone of RNA and DNA sequencing chemistries, as well as future nanopore sensing applications. You will interact with various stakeholders across R&D and product divisions in a multidisciplinary environment.

What We're Looking For

We seek a motivated and detail-oriented candidate with experience in:

• Biochemical properties of proteins, especially DNA/RNA handling enzymes and membrane proteins.
• Recombinant protein expression from bacterial systems.
• Lab-scale purification of proteins using chromatographic methods with AKTA or similar systems.
• Experimental design and execution focusing on protein function.
• Targeted chemical modification of proteins.
• Programming skills in Python, R, or command line for data science.

Additional experience in one or more of the following is a plus:

• Nanopore sensing experiments.
• Computational tools for protein variant design.

Responsibilities

• Designing and iterating protein variants to improve nanopore sensing performance.
• Expressing and purifying protein variants at appropriate scales, troubleshooting as needed.
• Characterizing proteins using biochemical techniques and nanopore-based assays.
• Analyzing data thoroughly and reporting findings accurately to the team.

The ideal candidate will hold a PhD in biochemistry, chemistry, or a related field, or equivalent industrial experience. We value strong attention to detail, organization, and effective communication skills. This role is suited for a dedicated individual eager to learn and grow, with extensive training and mentorship provided.

We offer excellent benefits, including a bonus, generous pension contributions, private healthcare, and a competitive salary. Our workspace is in a beautiful environment with landscaped surroundings, water features, and a lake, providing a pleasant working atmosphere.

If you want to make a difference through your skills, consider joining our team. Apply today!

We are committed to diversity and equal opportunity, assessing all candidates based on merit, qualifications, and ability to perform the job.