Scientific Officer (Open Science & Bioengineering)

University of Sussex; Brighton; On-site; GBP 54,000 - 63,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK university is seeking a skilled Scientific Officer to manage a Bioengineering Facility, enabling high-quality neuroscience research. The ideal candidate will have expertise in bioengineering and related fields, and a collaborative mindset for supporting training and experimental design. This role involves ensuring the facility operates at a high scientific standard and contributes to ongoing development. A dynamic research environment awaits, along with a commitment to equality and inclusivity.

Qualifications

• Expertise in bioengineering, instrumentation, and imaging required.
• Collaborative approach essential for supporting research.
• Comfortable advising on experimental design and best practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Bioengineering Facility.
• Ensure facility operates safely and efficiently.
• Support training and contributions to technical development.

Skills

Bioengineering

Instrumentation

Imaging

Collaborative work

Technical support

Prototyping

Electronics

3D printing

Education

Relevant degree in bioengineering or related field

Tools

Multiphoton microscopy

Job description

About The Role

We are seeking a skilled and motivated Scientific Officer to lead and develop a state‑of‑the‑art Bioengineering Facility supporting cutting‑edge neuroscience research. The role enables the quantitative analysis of animal behaviour and advanced imaging of neural processes in both vertebrate and invertebrate systems, building on established strengths in multiphoton microscopy and behavioural and circuit‑level neuroscience. Working closely with academic staff, researchers and postgraduate students, you will ensure the facility operates safely, efficiently and to a high scientific standard, while contributing to its ongoing technical and strategic development.

About You

This role will suit a technically confident and research‑engaged specialist who enjoys working at the interface of science and technology. You will bring expertise in bioengineering, instrumentation, imaging or related areas, alongside a collaborative approach and enthusiasm for enabling high‑quality research. You will be comfortable advising on experimental design and best practice, motivated by developing research infrastructure and keen to support training and open science approaches, including prototyping, electronics and 3D printing. Proactive, adaptable and forward‑looking, you will act as a trusted technical and scientific partner within a dynamic research environment.

About Our School

In the School of Life Sciences we strive to understand the mechanisms that drive biological and chemical processes and to develop innovative and diverse approaches to enhance human health, technology and the environment. We undertake multidisciplinary research, teaching and engagement across a wide range of subjects, from Chemistry through Cellular and Molecular Biosciences to Conservation Biology.

The School comprises five Departments: Biochemistry & Biomedicine, Genome Damage and Stability Centre, Neuroscience, Ecology & Evolution and Chemistry. We also house the Sussex Drug Discovery Centre which works to deliver the bench‑to‑bedside translation of our discoveries. The breadth and depth of our cutting‑edge research and innovative teaching practice is delivered by a diverse community who work across boundaries to deliver excellence, engage with real world problems and produce impact.

We pride ourselves on our world‑leading research and have a strong research economy, with approximately 50% of our income stemming from research and an active grant portfolio of over £50 million. We host or form part of three University Centres of Excellence: the Genome Damage and Stability Centre, Sussex Neuroscience and Sussex Sustainability Research Programme. In the 2021 Research Excellence Framework, 90.6 % of our Biological Sciences outputs and 84.8% of our Chemistry outputs were rated as world‑leading or internationally excellent. We are proud that in both areas, 100% of our Impact cases were rated as world‑leading or internationally excellent.

The School is committed to the University’s core values of kindness, integrity, inclusion, collaboration and courage. We believe that equality, diversity and inclusion is everyone’s responsibility and aim to provide a friendly and supportive environment for all who work, study and visit the School of Life Sciences.

Please find further information regarding the School of Life Sciences on our website.

The School of Life Sciences is proud to hold a Silver Athena Swan Award.

Why work here

Our university is situated off the A27, next to the beautiful South Downs where you will enjoy everything that our 150‑acre campus has to offer. We are accessible by public transport; Falmer train station is a five‑minute walk to campus and several bus stops are located within campus. We also have dedicated cycling paths and encourage our staff to use these with our offering of a cycle to work scheme.

Sussex is a renowned, multi‑accredited, research‑led International University and this is only possible because of the people that work here. Whether you are a member of Faculty, part of a Professional Services team or a Student, it’s our people that make us great and we want you to be part of that.

Find Out More About Our Reward And Benefits Package

Find out about our equality, diversity and inclusion.

Further Key Information

Please contact Dr. Rob Fowler, [e-mail] for informal enquiries.

For full details and how to apply see our vacancies page.

The University is committed to equality and valuing diversity, and applications are particularly welcomed from women and black and minority ethnic candidates, who are under‑represented in academic posts in Science, Technology, Engineering, Medicine and Mathematics (STEMM) at Sussex.

Please note that this position may be subject to ATAS clearance if you require visa sponsorship.

The University requires that work undertaken for the University is performed in the UK.

This role may be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route. The assigned SOC code is 2161 Research and development (r&d) managers, and the going rate is £54,400. Eligibility for sponsorship will depend on the salary offered, whether a candidate can make use of tradeable points to meet the salary offered, and/or whether the candidate holds an existing Skilled Worker sponsorship which began before 4 April 2024.