Scientist - Applications Team (Pathogen) Pathogen Oxford, England, United Kingdom

Ellison Institute, LLC; Oxford; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary package

Travel allowance

Bonus

Pension

Private Medical Insurance

Life Assurance

Income Protection

Electric Car Scheme

Job summary

Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT) in Oxford seeks an experienced Scientist to join the Pathogen Applications Team and support microbiology, molecular biology and sequencing activities.

The role involves receipt and processing of clinical samples, qPCR and sequencing workflows, data generation with traceability, and collaboration across the team in a fast-paced R&D environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in microbiology, biomedical science, molecular biology, biological sciences, biotechnology or another relevant scientific discipline.
• Practical laboratory experience gained through employment in a diagnostic, clinical, industry, research, high-throughput or similar laboratory environment.
• Hands-on experience with routine laboratory techniques including pipetting, aseptic technique and SOPs.

Responsibilities

• Receive, log, process and track clinical and laboratory samples with accuracy.
• Perform microbiology workflows including culture preparation and QC.
• Perform molecular biology workflows including nucleic acid extraction and quantification.
• Prepare samples and libraries for sequencing and support sequencing run setup.
• Maintain laboratory records, sample tracking and experimental documentation.
• Assist with inventory, reagents, and equipment maintenance.
• Adhere to safety, SOPs, risk assessments and HTA requirements.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in microbiology, biomedical science, molecular biology, biological sciences, biotechnology or another relevant scientific discipline

Master’s degree in microbiology or related field

Practical laboratory skills

Attention to detail

Organisational skills

Teamwork & collaboration

Written and verbal communication

Laboratory IT systems & documentation

Pipetting & sterile technique

Sequencing and QC workflows

LIMS experience

Tools

LIMS

Job description

At the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT), we’re on a mission to translate scientific discovery into real world impact. We bring together visionaryscientists, technologists, engineers, researchers, educators and innovatorsto 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 Pathogen Project:

Within this ecosystem, the Pathogen Mission exemplifies EIT’s commitment to transformative science. It aims to revolutionise the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases by leveraging whole genome sequencing (WGS)-based metagenomic and pathogen-specific analytical tools. This remit includes the development of a decentralised, sample-to-answer sequencing diagnostic platform for infectious diseases, enabling rapid and accurate analysis of patient samples without prior assumptions. Supported by Oracle Inc.’s cloud-computing scale and security infrastructure, the Pathogen Mission is progressing towards certified diagnostic products for deployment in laboratories, hospitals, and public health organisations worldwide.

Your Role:

At EIT we are seeking an experienced and detailed orientated Scientist to join the Pathogen Applications Team and support microbiology, molecular biology, sample processing and sequencing activities.

This is a hands-on laboratory role supporting the receipt, processing and tracking of clinical and laboratory samples; preparation of quantified microbial cultures; qPCR and sequencing workflows. You will work closely with scientists across the Pathogen Applications Team to generate high-quality, traceable samples and data for research and development projects.

We are particularly interested in candidates who have developed strong practical laboratory skills in a diagnostic, clinical, industry, high-throughput or similarly structured laboratory environment. Previous experience as a Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA), Associate Practitioner, laboratory technician, research technician, or in a comparable industry laboratory role would be highly relevant.

This role would suit an early-career scientist with a relevant undergraduate degree and practical laboratory experience who is looking to broaden their skills across microbiology, molecular biology and sequencing technologies within a fast-paced research and development environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Receive, log, process and track clinical and laboratory samples, maintaining accurate sample identification and traceability.
• Perform routine laboratory processing of clinical and laboratory samples using established procedures.
• Perform microbiology workflows as required, including culture preparation, plating, colony counting, culture enumeration, and preparation of isolates or cultures for downstream applications.
• Perform molecular biology workflows, including nucleic acid extraction, quantification and preparation of samples for downstream analysis.
• Perform routine sample and assay quality control, including microbiological and molecular QC.
• Perform qPCR assays and support the interpretation and documentation of routine QC results.
• Support the preparation of samples and libraries for sequencing.
• Assist with sequencing run set-up and routine sequencing operations following established protocols.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date laboratory records, sample tracking information and experimental documentation.
• Prepare reagents, media, buffers and other laboratory materials according to established procedures.
• Support inventory management, including stock checks, consumable management, reagent monitoring and ordering.
• Perform routine laboratory housekeeping, equipment checks, cleaning and maintenance activities.
• Work in accordance with laboratory health and safety requirements, SOPs, risk assessments and HTA requirements where applicable.
• Identify and elevate laboratory, sample, QC or sequencing issues to appropriate senior team members.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across the Pathogen Applications Team to support changing laboratory priorities and workflows.

Essential Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in microbiology, biomedical science, molecular biology, biological sciences, biotechnology or another relevant scientific discipline.
• Practical laboratory experience gained through employment in a diagnostic, clinical, industry, research, high-throughput or similar laboratory environment.

Hands-on practical experience in microbiology and/or molecular biology techniques.

• Hands-on experience with routine laboratory techniques, including accurate pipetting, aseptic technique and following established procedures or SOPs.
• Experience processing, labelling, tracking or managing samples.
• Experience performing laboratory workflows accurately, consistently and to defined quality standards.
• Good understanding of laboratory quality control and the importance of sample traceability.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to maintain accurate laboratory records.
• Good organisational skills and ability to manage multiple samples or laboratory activities.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a laboratory team and elevate issues appropriately.
• Competence with standard laboratory IT systems, spreadsheets and electronic documentation.

Desirable Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Master’s degree in microbiology, biomedical science, molecular biology, biological sciences, biotechnology or another relevant scientific discipline.
• Previous experience working as a Medical Laboratory Assistant, Associate Practitioner, laboratory technician, research technician, or in a comparable diagnostic, clinical or industry laboratory role.
• Experience processing clinical specimens or other complex biological samples.
• Experience with microbiology workflows, including bacterial culture, colony isolation, culture enumeration and preparation of microbial cultures.
• Experience with molecular biology techniques, including nucleic acid extraction, quantification and PCR or qPCR.
• Experience preparing samples for downstream molecular analysis, library preparation or sequencing.
• Exposure to next-generation sequencing workflows or sequencing technologies.
• Experience working in a regulated, accredited, diagnostic, quality-controlled or high-throughput laboratory environment.
• Familiarity with laboratory information management systems (LIMS) or other electronic sample tracking systems.
• Experience working with human-derived samples and an understanding of associated sample handling and traceability requirements.
• Experience preparing microbiological media, reagents, buffers and laboratory consumables.

Previous sequencing experience is advantageous but not essential. Training in sequencing-specific workflows will be provided.

Key Attributes

• Practical and comfortable working at the bench.
• Meticulous, with strong attention to detail.
• Organised and reliable, particularly when handling and tracking multiple samples.
• Able to follow established procedures accurately and consistently.
• Comfortable working across microbiology and molecular laboratory workflows.
• Willing to learn and develop skills across microbiology, molecular biology and sequencing.
• Team-oriented and collaborative.
• Able to work effectively in a fast-paced laboratory environment where priorities may change.
• Proactive in identifying problems and seeking guidance when appropriate.
• Positive and willing to contribute to the wider operation of the laboratory.

Our Benefits:

• Salary: £Competitive + travel allowance + bonus
• Enhanced holiday pay
• Pension
• Life Assurance
• Income Protection
• Private Medical Insurance
• Hospital Cash Plan
• Therapy Services
• Perk Box
• Electric Car Scheme

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).
• This is an fully onsite role in Oxford.