Senior Automation Scientist

Ellison Institute of Technology; Oxford; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Enhanced holiday pay

Pension

Life Assurance

Income Protection

Private Medical Insurance

Hospital Cash Plan

Therapy Services

Perk Box

Electric Car Scheme

Job summary

The Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT) is building the next generation of AI-driven, autonomous laboratories where experimental science, robotics, and machine learning integrate to design, execute, and optimise experiments dynamically.

A critical purpose of our Autonomous Labs (AutoLabs) programme is to generate self driving workflows, particularly in workflows and deployment environments without automation scientists readily available.

Qualifications

• PhD in a STEM discipline or equivalent industry experience.
• Hands-on wet-lab experience with bench work.
• Ability to independently execute and troubleshoot lab workflows.
• Experience translating experimental goals into structured, reproducible protocols.
• High attention to detail and commitment to data quality.
• Scientific curiosity across science areas beyond biology.
• Can-do, hands-on, build-it-yourself attitude in a fast-evolving lab.

Responsibilities

• Execute, optimise and design wet-lab workflows
• Translate scientific objectives into structured, reproducible automation-ready protocols
• Read literature and independently attempt, execute and troubleshoot protocols in the wet lab
• Operate and support laboratory automation platforms, including liquid handling systems
• Lead the design, development, and deployment of a deployable automation platform
• Collaborate closely with automation engineers, AI researchers, and interdisciplinary scientific teams
• Maintain rigorous documentation, quality control, and biosafety compliance standards

Skills

Wet-lab experience

Troubleshooting

Experiment design

Attention to detail

Scientific curiosity

Bench work

Hands-on attitude

Education

PhD in STEM or equivalent

Tools

Hamilton

OpenTrons

Liquid handling systems

Job description

Job Summary:

The Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT) is building the next generation of AI-driven, autonomous laboratories where experimental science, robotics, and machine learning integrate to design, execute, and optimise experiments dynamically. A critical purpose of our Autonomous Labs (AutoLabs) programme is to generate self driving workflows, particularly in workflows and deployment environments without automation scientists readily available.

We are seeking a highly capable, hands-on Senior Automation Laboratory Scientist to play a central role in this transformation.

Key Responsibilities

• Execute, optimise and design wet-lab workflows
• Translate scientific objectives into structured, reproducible, automation-ready protocols
• Read scientific literature and independently attempt, execute and troubleshoot protocols found in the literature in the wet lab
• Operate and support laboratory automation platforms, including liquid handling systems
• Lead the design, development, and deployment of a deployable automation platform, increasing robustness and reliability and enabling use by lab techs and scientists without a lab automation scientist in the loop
• Collaborate closely with automation engineers, AI researchers, and interdisciplinary scientific teams
• Maintain rigorous documentation, quality control, and biosafety compliance standards

Essential Knowledge, Skills, and Experience

• A PhD in a STEM discipline or equivalent industry experience
• Strong hands-on experience from a wet-lab environment, with a genuine desire to do hands-on work at the bench
• Demonstrated ability to independently execute and troubleshoot laboratory workflows
• Experience translating experimental goals into structured, reproducible protocols
• High attention to detail and commitment to experimental quality
• Scientific curiosity that is open to any area of science (beyond just biology)
• A can-do, build-it-yourself attitude and comfort working in a fast-evolving, technology-driven laboratory environment

Desirable Knowledge, Skills, and Experience(in rough order of desirability)

• Operating automated laboratory systems (e.g., liquid handlers; experience with Hamilton and OpenTrons is particularly useful)
• Strong familiarity and hands-on experience with molecular biology workflows, particularly sequencing and antimicrobial resistance testing
• Familiarity with structured data capture
• Exposure to programming (e.g., Python) and machine learning concepts
• Team lead experience

You must be able to commute to Oxford 5 days a week for this role.

We offer the following salary and benefits:

Enhanced holiday pay

Pension

Life Assurance

Income Protection

Private Medical Insurance

Hospital Cash Plan

Therapy Services

Perk Box

Electric Car Scheme

–

Why work for EIT:

At the Ellison Institute, we believe a collaborative, inclusive team is key to our success. We are building a supportive environment where creative risks are encouraged, and everyone feels heard. Valuing emotional intelligence, empathy, respect, and resilience, we encourage people to be curious and to have a shared commitment to excellence. Join us and make an impact!