Postdoctoral Protein Scientist: Nanopore Sensing Tools

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

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.