Development Scientist

Oxford Nanopore Technologies; Oxford; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Attractive bonus

Generous pension contributions

Private healthcare

Excellent starting salary

Job summary

Oxford Nanopore Technologies in Oxford is seeking a Development Scientist to join the Sample Technology team. You will work on the design, development, and performance optimisation of nucleic acid sample preparation workflows, closely aligned with sequencing platforms.

The role involves characterisation, troubleshooting and performance improvements across DNA and RNA workflows, with collaboration across Research and Production. A hands-on lab background is essential.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience working with nucleic acids, proteins or biomolecular complexes in a laboratory setting.
• Familiarity in executing experiments and troubleshooting with documented results.
• Practical knowledge of chromatographic methods for analysis/purification of biomolecules.
• Expertise with at least one analytical or sequencing-based assay method.
• Ability to maintain accurate experimental records and communicate results clearly.

Responsibilities

• Initial design, iteration and characterisation of biomolecular components within sample prep kits.
• Developing biochemical and sequencing-based assays and method development for chromatography-based assays.
• Protein/DNA complex formation and chromatography-based purification.
• Routine use of nanopore-based single molecule assays.
• Data analysis of experiments and reporting to the team.

Skills

Nucleic acids handling

Troubleshooting experiments

Record keeping

Data analysis

Education

BSc or MSc in Biochemistry, Chemistry or a related field

Tools

HPLC/LC-MS

RT-qPCR

Python/R

NGS platforms

Job description

Development Scientist

About Oxford Nanopore Technologies: 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. The company’s goal is to bring the widest benefits to society through enabling the analysis of anything, by anyone, anywhere.

Job Description

Our Sample Technology team is responsible for the specification, development and performance of the company’s suite of nucleic acid sample preparation kits, and the development of end-to-end sample-to-answer workflows, all intimately associated with our sequencing platforms (e.g. MinION/GridION and PromethION). We are seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented individual with relevant lab-based skills to join the team as a Development Scientist. The role is based at our Oxford headquarters and involves laboratory-based development, characterisation, troubleshooting and performance improvement across DNA and RNA sample-preparation workflows. Formally reporting to the Sequencing Kit Development Associate Director, the successful candidate will work across multiple projects and be responsible for helping to deliver continuous improvement to the sample preparation kits, focussing on characterising, troubleshooting, and improving the performance of the biomolecular components contained within. In a highly collaborative role, you will work with various stakeholders, from the Research division through to Production.

Key Responsibilities

• Initial design, iteration and characterisation of various biomolecular components within ONT’s sample preparation kits for various applications.
• Developing biochemical, biophysical and sequencing-based assays as well as method development for chromatography-based assays.
• Protein/DNA complex formation and chromatography-based purification.
• Routine use of our nanopore-based single molecule assays.
• Robust and thorough data analysis of any conducted experiments and accurate reporting to the wider team and division.

Essential Experience and Skills

• Hands-on experience working with nucleic acids, proteins or biomolecular complexes in a laboratory setting.
• Familiarity in executing, troubleshooting and interpreting experiments accurately and effectively, with support n experimental design as needed
• Practical working knowledge of chromatographic (HPLC/LC-MS) methods for analysis or purification of DNA/RNA, proteins, small molecules or complex mixtures.
• Expertise with at least one relevant analytical or assay method, such as electrophoresis, RT-qPCR, fluorescence-based assays or sequencing-based assays.
• Ability to maintain accurate experimental records and communicate results clearly to technical and non-technical colleagues.

Desirable Experience

• Knowledge of chromatography method development.
• Experience with assay optimisation, oligonucleotide design, library preparation, ONT platforms or other NGS technologies.
• Ability to analyse and visualise experimental data using Python, R, command-line tools or equivalent methods.

Qualifications

• BSc or MSc in Biochemistry, Chemistry or a related field, with 1–2 years' relevant industrial or applied research experience; or equivalent experience.

Benefits and Environment

• We offer outstanding benefits to include an attractive bonus, generous pension contributions, private healthcare and an excellent starting salary.

Based within beautiful, landscaped surroundings with tree-lined walks, water features and a lake, all of which make for a wonderful working environment.

Please note that no terminology in this advert is intended to discriminate on the grounds of a person's gender, marital status, race, religion, colour, age, disability or sexual orientation. Every candidate will be assessed only in accordance with their merits, qualifications and abilities to perform the duties of the job.

Oxford Nanopore Technologies: Our goal is to bring the widest benefits to society through enabling the analysis of anything, by anyone, anywhere. The company has developed a new generation of nanopore-based sensing technology for faster, information rich, accessible and affordable molecular analysis. The first application is DNA/RNA sequencing, and the technology is in development for the analysis of other types of molecules including proteins. The technology is used to understand and characterise the biology of humans and diseases such as cancer, plants, animals, bacteria, viruses, and whole environments. With a thriving culture of ambition and strong innovation goals, Oxford Nanopore is a UK headquartered company with global operations and customers in more than 125 countries.