Postdoctoral Protein Scientist - MDLS

Ellison Institute of Technology; Oxford; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Travel Allowance

Pension - Employer contribution 7.5%

Life Assurance

Private Medical Insurance

Cycle to Work Scheme

Job summary

Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT) in Oxford seeks a Postdoctoral Protein Scientist to advance nanopore sensing technology. You will design, engineer and prepare protein tools, including nanopores and enzymes, and work across chemistry, biology and engineering to deliver device-ready proteins.

The role requires strong protein engineering, expression and purification skills, with independent, proactive working style and a commitment to rigorous documentation and safety.

Qualifications

• PhD in Protein Science, Structural Biology, Protein Biochemistry, Chemical Biology, or related field.
• Proven expertise in protein engineering, preparation, and molecular biology.
• Proficient in cloning techniques (Gibson/Golden Gate, site-directed mutagenesis, plasmid design).
• Hands-on recombinant protein expression in bacterial, mammalian (e.g., HEK293), or cell-free systems.
• Protein purification by FPLC (IMAC, ion exchange, size-exclusion).
• Technically excellent, reliable, and able to deliver proteins on demand with urgency.
• Able to communicate across multidisciplinary teams and translate requirements.

Responsibilities

• Carry out molecular cloning and plasmid design, including Gibson/Golden Gate and site-directed mutagenesis.
• Express proteins using bacterial, mammalian, or cell-free systems.
• Purify proteins by FPLC (IMAC, ion exchange, size-exclusion).
• Characterise protein preparations using SDS-PAGE, Western blot, mass spectrometry, DLS, and CD/DSF.
• Apply protein engineering approaches to optimise nanopore tools for sensing applications.
• Maintain group inventory of plasmids and protein stocks with accurate records.
• Establish SOPs for protein engineering workflows to aid reproducibility.
• Train and mentor junior team members in protein engineering and expression.

Skills

Protein engineering

Molecular biology

Protein preparation

Cloning (Gibson/Golden Gate)

Expression systems

Protein purification

Analytical QC

Independent work

Cross-disciplinary communication

Education

PhD in Protein Science/Structural Biology/Protein Biochemistry or related

Tools

Gibson/Golden Gate assembly

Site-directed mutagenesis

FPLC

SDS-PAGE

Western blot

Mass spectrometry

CD spectroscopy

DSF/nanoDSF

Job description

Description

At the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT), we're on a mission to translate scientific discovery into real world impact. We bring together visionary scientists, technologists, engineers, researchers, educators and innovators to tackle humanity's greatest challenges in four transformative areas:

• Health, Medical Science & Generative Biology


• Food Security & Sustainable Agriculture


• Climate Change & Managing CO₂


• Artificial Intelligence & Robotics

This is ambitious work - work that demands curiosity, courage, and a relentless drive to make a difference. At EIT, you'll join a community built on excellence, innovation, tenacity, trust, and collaboration, where bold ideas become real-world breakthroughs. Together, we push boundaries, embrace complexity, and create solutions to scale ideas from lab to society. Explore more at www.eit.org .

Welcome to the Institute of Materials & Devices for Life Sciences (MDLS):

The vision for the Institute of Materials & Devices for Life Sciences (MDLS) at the Ellison Institute of Technology is to advance human health by scaling interdisciplinary science at the interface of chemistry, biology and engineering. Led by Professor Hagan Bayley, it will house more than 100 researchers engaging in three interrelated endeavors; Nanopore Sensing and Sequencing, 3D Tissue Construction, and Device Engineering. The MDLS Institute will expand nanopore science to detect a wider range of biological molecules, including volatiles in human breath. While in parallel, pioneering novel methods that integrate synthetic and living tissues into structures for organ repair. All the research will be underpinned by the development of new devices capable of serving as powerful tools in clinical settings.

Your Role:

At EIT we are seeking an experienced and detail orientated Postdoctoral Protein Scientist to join a multidisciplinary research group developing nanopore technology for single-molecule sensing, based at the MDLS EIT (first 6 months based at the Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford). The role will design, engineer, and prepare protein tools, including protein nanopores and enzymes, to support the group's technology development programme.

The postholder will bring strong protein engineering, protein preparation, and molecular biology skills, and be technically excellent and reliable, with the ability to deliver proteins on demand and work with a genuine sense of urgency. They will engage directly with colleagues from physical and engineering science backgrounds, translating protein and biological requirements into device-ready tools, and should be comfortable working at this interface. The ideal candidate is a self-starter who works well independently, is open to learning and adopting new protein techniques, and is proactive in bringing new methods into the team.

Key Responsibilities:

• Carry out molecular cloning and construct design, including plasmid design, Gibson/Golden Gate assembly, and site-directed mutagenesis.


• Express proteins using bacterial-, mammalian-cell-based (e.g., E. coli, HEK293), and cell-free protein expression systems, selecting the appropriate route for each project.


• Purify proteins by FPLC, including affinity (IMAC), ion exchange, and size-exclusion chromatography.


• Characterise and quality-control protein preparations (e.g. SDS-PAGE, Western blotting, mass spectrometry, DLS, thermal stability assays, CD spectroscopy) and set acceptance criteria before proteins are used in functional assays.


• Apply protein engineering approaches (rational, structure-guided, and/or directed evolution) to optimise nanopore and related protein tools for specific sensing applications.


• Manage, update, and maintain the group's inventory and library of in-house plasmids and protein preparations, ensuring records are accurate, well organised, and easily retrievable.


• Establish and document clear protocols and SOPs for protein engineering and preparation workflows, to support reproducibility and knowledge transfer within the team.


• Train and mentor junior team members (DPhil students, technicians, and new starters) in protein engineering, expression, purification, and characterisation techniques.


• Liaise with suppliers and manufacturers to support procurement and essential maintenance of equipment relevant to protein work (e.g. FPLC systems, expression and QC equipment).


• Keep accurate, well-organised records of experiments and protein preparations (electronic lab notebook), and contribute to manuscripts, IP disclosures, and grant applications arising from the work.


• Present progress and findings at group meetings.


• Maintain relevant risk assessments (e.g. GM, COSHH) for protein and molecular biology work, and ensure compliance with laboratory safety standards.


• Be open to learning and adopting new protein science techniques as the group's technology needs evolve, and support their introduction into the team.


• Work closely with colleagues from physical and engineering science backgrounds, translating protein requirements into specifications for device and technology development.

Requirements

Essential Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

• PhD in a relevant field such as Protein Science, Structural Biology, Protein Biochemistry, Chemical Biology, or a closely related discipline.


• Demonstrated expertise in protein engineering, protein preparation, and molecular biology.


• Proficient in molecular cloning techniques (e.g. Gibson/Golden Gate assembly, site-directed mutagenesis, plasmid design).


• Hands-on experience with recombinant protein expression, using bacterial-cell-based (e.g., E. coli), mammalian-cell-based (e.g., HEK293), or cell-free (in vitro transcription-translation) expression systems.


• Practical experience with protein purification by FPLC (IMAC, ion exchange, size-exclusion chromatography).


• Experience with protein characterisation and QC techniques (e.g. SDS-PAGE, Western blotting, mass spectrometry, DLS, thermal stability assays such as DSF/nanoDSF, CD spectroscopy).


• Technically excellent, reliable, and able to work with a strong sense of urgency to deliver proteins on demand.


• A self-starter who works well independently, with the initiative to plan and progress their own work.


• Open-minded and adaptable, with a willingness to learn and adopt new protein science techniques.


• Comfortable working in a multidisciplinary environment and communicating effectively with colleagues from physical and engineering science backgrounds.

Desirable Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

• Exposure to structural biology methods and/or computational protein modelling tools (e.g. cryo-EM, X-ray crystallography, AlphaFold).


• Experience with insect or mammalian cell expression systems.


• Experience with bioconjugation chemistry.

Key Attributes:

• Self-starter who is independent, proactive, and solution-oriented.


• Strong sense of urgency and reliability, with the ability to deliver protein tools on demand to support fast-moving technology development.


• Technically able and detail-oriented, with high standards for protein quality and documentation.


• Open to learning and adopting new techniques, and proactive about bringing new methods into the team.


• Comfortable working at the interface of biology and engineering, able to translate protein and biological requirements for colleagues without a biological background.


• Strong communication skills and a collaborative, team-oriented approach, including mentoring and training junior colleagues.


• Good organisational skills, able to manage multiple concurrent projects and priorities.

Benefits

Our Benefits:

• Travel Allowance


• Annual Bonus


• Pension - Employer contribution 7.5%, minimum employee contribution 5%


• Life Assurance.


• Income Protection


• Private Medical Insurance as standard for you, your partner and any dependents. Including hospital Cash Plan


• Employee discounts


• Electric car scheme
  
• Nursery Salary Sacrifice scheme


• Cycle to Work Scheme


• Family Planning


• Neurodiversity support including advise and assessments


• Coaching & Therapy services

Working Together - What It Involves:

• You must have the right to work permanently in the UK with a willingness to travel as necessary. In certain cases, we can consider sponsorship, and this will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.


• You will live in, or within easy commuting distance of, Oxford (or be willing to relocate).