Research And Development Scientist

Avanc; West of England; Vor Ort; GBP 35.000 - 40.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

Avanc is an early-stage deep-tech company in Bristol building novel optical sensing instrumentation to visualise biological risk in real time. We are hiring our first R&D Scientist to shape the core optical sensing platform and drive early prototypes and sensor deployments.

You will report to the CTO/Lead Engineer and collaborate with a ML engineer to build the analytical layer. This role offers real ownership in a high-risk, high-reward environment at the frontier of biosensing, with

Qualifikationen

• PhD or Master’s in physics, materials science, engineering biology, medical engineering, chemistry, or related field.
• Hands-on research background in spectroscopy or optical measurement techniques (nanophotonics, plasmonics or related).
• Practical experience with optical instrumentation and experimental design.
• Comfortable building and troubleshooting lab hardware/jigs.
• Methodical, well-documented approach to experimentation and data quality.

Aufgaben

• Support instrument design, calibration, optical alignment and integration work.
• Design and execute experiments to evaluate signal quality and reproducibility.
• Work with biological samples safely under standard lab protocols.
• Collect and process data for downstream analysis.
• Contribute to reports, presentations and grant applications.

Kenntnisse

Spectroscopy

Optical instrumentation

Experimental design

Lab troubleshooting

Ausbildung

PhD or Master’s in physics or related

Tools

Python

MATLAB

Jobbeschreibung

Avanc is an early-stage deep-tech company based in Bristol, UK. Co-founded by a biologist, Dr Eleanor Jaskowska and an engineer, Lizzie Melhuish, we are a multidisciplinary team building novel optical sensing instrumentation that makes biological risk in the environment visible in real time. Avanc is currently funded by grants and investment from Zinc VC. We are about to open our pre-seed fundraising round. This is an exciting time to join us as one of two first hires.

About the Role

We are hiring our first R&D Scientist to work on the core biological optical sensing platform.

This is a role with real ownership. You will shape a research direction and see your work translated into a platform that generates novel capabilities. The role involves working with a high degree of technical risk and ambiguity. The reward is seeing your work translate into early prototypes and sensor deployments in the real world.

You'll be reporting to the CTO/Lead Engineer with input from the CEO/Lead Biologist and working alongside a Machine Learning Engineer building the analytical layer. This is a fantastic opportunity for a commercially curious and self-motivated scientist who also wants to develop their knowledge of how an early stage startup works.

About Us

Avanc is an early-stage deep-tech company based in Bristol, UK. Co-founded by a biologist, Dr Eleanor Jaskowska and an engineer, Lizzie Melhuish, we are a multidisciplinary team building novel optical sensing instrumentation that makes biological risk in the environment visible in real time. Avanc is currently funded by grants and investment from Zinc VC. We are about to open our pre‑seed fundraising round. This is an exciting time to join us as one of two first hires.

About the Role

We are hiring our first R&D Scientist to work on the core biological optical sensing platform.

This is a role with real ownership. You will shape a research direction and see your work translated into a platform that generates novel capabilities. The role involves working with a high degree of technical risk and ambiguity. The reward is seeing your work translate into early prototypes and sensor deployments in the real world.

You'll be reporting to the CTO/Lead Engineer with input from the CEO/Lead Biologist and working alongside a Machine Learning Engineer building the analytical layer. This is a fantastic opportunity for a commercially curious and self‑motivated scientist who also wants to develop their knowledge of how an early stage startup works.

What you'll do

• Support instrument design, calibration, optical alignment and integration work
• Design and execute experiments to evaluate signal quality and reproducibility
• Work with biological samples safely under standard lab protocols
• Collect and process data for downstream analysis
• Contribute to reports, presentations, grant applications

About you

Essential

• PhD or Master's in physics, materials science, engineering biology, medical engineering, chemistry, or a related discipline.
• Hands‑on research background in spectroscopy or optical measurement techniques, ideally in nanophotonics, plasmonics or a related field
• Practical experience with optical instrumentation and experimental design
• Comfortable building and troubleshooting lab hardware/jigs
• Methodical, well‑documented approach to experimentation, with attention to data quality

Desirable

• Some experience handling biological samples in a lab setting
• Familiarity with software tools for data processing/analysis (e.g. Python, MATLAB)
• Prior work in a fast‑paced startup or short‑cycle R&D environment
• Exposure to nanomaterials or colloidal chemistry

You are

• Entrepreneurially minded, a self‑starter who takes initiative
• Hands on and practical
• Comfortable with ambiguity and the pace of an early‑stage startup
• Keen to build something real

Practical details

• We are open to discussion with regards to a remuneration combining equity and salary. Salary range £35-40,000 depending on experience and equity package.
• Reports to: CTO/Lead Hardware Engineer
• Location: Bristol, access to lab facilities is required
• Full time, permanent contract
• You must have the right to work in the UK, we are unable to sponsor visas at this time

What you can expect from the hiring process

• Application comprising CV + questions
• Successful candidates invited to 2 interviews
• 1st interview will assess cultural fit and motivation with CEO
• 2nd interview will be a technical assessment with CTO
• Final stage: visit our lab in Bristol for final interview and practical challenge