Research Associate: Media Development

Cranleigh STEM, Sustainability & SHEQ Recruitment; England; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a dynamic R&D team as a Research Associate focused on cell culture and bioprocessing innovations in Oxford. This role covers media preparation, cell culture support, and process development, making a meaningful impact in a vibrant scientific environment committed to sustainability and progression.

Benefits

Health benefits

Flexible working hours

Continuous learning opportunities

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years of hands-on experience in mammalian cell culture.
• Experience with chemically defined and serum-free media is essential.
• Strong understanding of lab operations and safety protocols.

Responsibilities

• Prepare media and maintain mammalian cells for experiments.
• Conduct metabolic studies and assist in process optimization projects.
• Ensure compliance with SOPs and manage lab cleanliness.

Skills

Cell Culture

Media Preparation

Data Collection

Documentation

Organization

Communication

Education

BSc in Cell Biology

MSc in Biochemistry

Job description

Are you passionate about hands-on lab work and excited to support scientific innovation in cell culture and bioprocessing? We’re looking for a Research Associate to join a collaborative R&D team based in Oxford. This full-time role is a great fit for someone with experience in media preparation and mammalian cell culture, who’s eager to make a meaningful impact in a fast-paced and evolving field.

About the Role

As part of the Cell Culture Media Development team, you’ll contribute to media formulation, support mammalian cell culture experiments, and assist in process optimization projects. This is an ideal opportunity for a technically skilled and detail-oriented researcher who enjoys working with precision and collaborating across disciplines to support emerging biotechnologies.

What You’ll Be Doing

Media Preparation:

• Prepare chemically defined and serum-free media from powder
• Track media components, batches, and lot numbers with precision
• Manage inventory and ensure traceability of media formulations
• Support experimental media development and optimization workflows

Cell Culture Support:

• Maintain and culture mammalian cells across batch, fed-batch, and perfusion systems
• Conduct metabolic studies and monitor cell health using assays for growth, viability, and productivity
• Contribute to the setup and maintenance of cell-based experiments

Process Development and Analysis:

• Support high-throughput screening for media and process improvements using DoE approaches
• Participate in bioreactor experiments and help ensure consistency across different scales
• Collect and analyze samples for metabolite profiling (HPLC, LC-MS, enzymatic assays)

Lab Operations:

• Maintain lab cleanliness and manage equipment upkeep
• Ensure compliance with SOPs, safety protocols, and documentation standards
• Share responsibility for out-of-hours cell culture maintenance

What We’re Looking For

• BSc or MSc in Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, or a related field
• 2+ years of hands-on experience with mammalian cell culture and media preparation
• Familiarity with chemically defined and serum-free media formulations
• Basic understanding of cell metabolism and bioprocess development principles
• Proficient in data collection, documentation, and laboratory tools
• Strong organizational, time-management, and communication skills

Ideal Traits

• Detail-oriented and committed to accurate record-keeping
• Organized, with the ability to juggle multiple tasks effectively
• Collaborative, thriving in multidisciplinary team environments
• Adaptable and comfortable in a dynamic R&D setting
• Clear communicator, both in lab documentation and team discussions

Salary, Benefits & Location

• Salary: £28,000 – £35,000 (depending on experience)
• Location: Oxford, UK
• Benefits: Health benefits, flexible working hours, continuous learning opportunities
• Work Environment: Inclusive, innovative, and purpose-driven culture focused on scientific advancement and sustainability

Why Apply?

This is your chance to be part of a forward-thinking team focused on developing scalable, science-driven solutions in the field of cell culture and bioprocessing. Your work will contribute to the advancement of emerging technologies that support more sustainable and efficient production systems.