Scientist I

PentaBind; Greater London; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

PentaBind, a UK‑based AI‑driven biotechnology startup in London, seeks a Scientist I to advance electrochemical aptamer assays. You will join R&D to translate AI‑discovered aptamers into robust sensor formats, collaborating with discovery, molecular biology, bioinformatics and ML teams.

The role offers exposure to high‑throughput screening, automation, and industry‑leading sensing platforms in a dynamic startup environment at the White City lab, with growth to a larger team over the next year.

Qualifications

• PhD or near completion in biophysics, analytical chemistry, electrochemistry or related field.
• Hands-on experience with electrochemistry, biosensors or sensor assays.
• Experience with nucleic acids, proteins or related systems.
• Strong experimental and analytical problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Design, run, and troubleshoot electrochemical aptamer assays.
• Collaborate with discovery, bioinformatics and ML teams.
• Develop sensor-ready aptamer assets and platforms.
• Characterise sensor performance and surface chemistry.
• Document lab work and contribute to IP/publications.
• Present plans and results to senior management.

Skills

Analytical problem‑solving

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Experiment design

Data presentation

English fluency

Sensor development

Hands-on electrochemistry

Education

Ph.D. in biophysics/analytical chemistry/electrochemistry

Tools

PalmSens

Metrohm

CH Instruments

Ivium

Job description

PentaBind is an AI-driven biotechnology company developing proprietary aptamers, a foundational technology, for targeted therapeutics, diagnostics, biosensing, and continuous molecular monitoring.

Our pioneering platform already improves the experimental search space by 300x, generating aptamers for diagnostics, wellness and urgent clinical needs, across a global partner and client base.

We are a VC-backed startup with a lab in White City, supported by Hoxton Ventures, Twin Path, Entrepreneur First, KQ labs among others. Currently a team of 13, and growing to 21 people in the next 12 months. See our founder video story here . PentaBind has been shortlisted as New Startup of the Year by Cancer Research Horizons, and also as Deep Tech Investment of the Year by the UK Business Angels Association, a prestigious award sponsored by the Royal Academy of Engineering.

Our Vision:

PentaBind envisions a future where AI powers truly personalised and precise healthcare through next-generation aptamer technology. We’re revolutionising medicine, transforming how therapies, diagnostics, and manufacturing are designed to improve lives worldwide. Learn about our vision, our culture and what to expect here .

The Role:

As a Scientist I, you will join our R&D team, and will play a key role in the development of electrochemical aptamer-based assays and sensor-ready aptamer assets. You will work closely with PentaBind’s aptamer discovery, molecular biology, bioinformatics, and machine learning teams to translate aptamer candidates into robust electrochemical sensing formats.

You will help establish PentaBind's next-generation electrochemical sensing platform, translating AI-discovered aptamers into application-ready sensors for diagnostics, wearable technologies and continuous molecular monitoring.

The position will offer outstanding opportunities to work on state-of-the-art high-throughput screening platforms, automation, and work at Imperial, the Translation & Innovation I-HUB and the London Biofoundry. This role is ideally suited for a motivated experimental scientist who has practical experience in electrochemistry and biosensor development, with a passion for understanding how aptamer sequence, structure, electrode surface chemistry, immobilisation strategy and assay conditions influence sensor performance.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design, execute, and troubleshoot electrochemical assays for the evaluation of aptamer candidates
• Perform electrochemical measurements using techniques such as square-wave voltammetry, cyclic voltammetry, and impedance-based methods ( e.g., EIS)
• Interpret electrochemical data and identify factors affecting signal amplitude, sensitivity, stability, and reproducibility
• Optimise electrode surface chemistry, aptamer immobilisation, assay conditions and sensor architecture to maximise analytical performance
• Evaluate analytical performance, including sensitivity, selectivity, dynamic range, response time, reproducibility, and signal drift
• Support the characterisation of aptamer binding, specificity, and kinetics using appropriate biochemical and biophysical techniques ( e.g., SPR, GCI, qPCR)
• Perform established aptamer discovery and next-generation sequencing (NGS) assays
• Analyse and interpret experimental data, providing clear conclusions and recommendations to internal teams
• Suggest your own ideas, formulate plans and strategy proposals to present to the senior management
• Contribute ideas and experimental strategies to advance electrochemical sensing programmes
• Maintain excellent documentation of laboratory work
• Work collaboratively with the ML scientists, R&D, chemistry, and bioinformatics teams
• Support efforts in intellectual property generation, including patents and publications in high-impact journals
• Support the development of PentaBind’s proprietary portfolio of sensor-ready aptamer assets.
• Have obtained, or currently finishing, a Ph.D degree in biophysics, analytical chemistry, electrochemistry, biochemistry, bioengineering or a relevant discipline
• Hands‑on experience in electrochemistry, electrochemical biosensors, or sensor assay development
• Experience with potentiostats ( e.g., PalmSens, Metrohm, CH Instruments, Ivium, or equivalent)
• Experience in molecular biology, biochemistry, and/or assay development
• Experience working with nucleic acids, proteins, small molecules, or related biological systems
• Strong experimental and analytical problem‑solving skills
• Excellent organisational, data‑archiving and presentation skills
• Ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team
• English language speaking, listening and writing fluency.

Desirable Candidate (Non‑Essential):

• 1+ years industry experience in biotechnology, diagnostics, biosensing, or a related industry
• Practical experience developing electrochemical biosensors or affinity‑based sensing assays
• Experienced in biophysical characterisation of nucleic acid‑protein or nucleic acid‑ligand interactions ( e.g., SPR) is a plus
• Knowledge of aptamers, affinity reagents, or nucleic acid‑based technologies.