Senior Bioprocessing Scientist

Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult; Fisher's Pond; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the Cell and Gene Therapy sector is seeking a Senior Bioprocessing Scientist to spearhead Upstream Processing and Characterisation efforts. This role requires strong expertise in bioprocessing, automation, and collaboration within multidisciplinary teams, with responsibilities extending to project management and stakeholder engagement. Ideal candidates will possess a PhD or extensive industrial experience in life sciences or bioengineering, with a focus on delivering innovative solutions for advanced therapeutic medicinal products.

Qualifications

• Experience in bioprocessing and scaling, particularly upstream processing.
• Experience with AAV and lentiviral bioprocessing.
• Demonstratable experience in independent research execution.

Responsibilities

• Lead on Upstream Processing and characterisation using PAT.
• Collaborate with various teams across multiple locations.
• Provide leadership and mentoring to junior scientists.

Skills

Bioprocessing

Collaboration

Data Analysis

Automation

Communication

Education

PhD in life sciences or bio-engineering

BSc with at least 4 years of industrial experience

Tools

PLC and SCADA systems

Delta V

Lucullus

Job description

Application Deadline: 2 August 2025

Department: Scale Enabling Technologies

Location: London (Guy's hospital)

Description

The purpose of this role is to lead on Upstream Processing (USP) and characterisation using innovative process analytical technologies (PAT) for ATMPs manufacture at the CGT Catapult by working within a commercial framework. The role itself will be high profile, both within the organisation and outward facing to the Company’s stakeholders and Collaborators. As an active member of the CGT Catapult Scale Enabling Technology (SET) London team, the Senior Bioprocessing Scientist will work closely with the Edinburgh and Stevenage SET teams as well as the CGT Catapult Manufacturing sites at Stevenage and Braintree to, plan and deliver on commercial, collaborative and in-house process development projects to drive the USP development work, automation and control within the CGT Catapult portfolio.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide subject matter expertise in bioprocessing.
• To engage and collaborate with CGT Catapult teams across different sites and disciplines
• The use of in-depth knowledge of USP bioprocessing PAT and data analysis techniques to enable the delivery of USP development projects
• Drive towards USP automation and digitalisation by working with data, analytical, and IT teams
• Providing subject matter expertise in the planning and execution of laboratory work, the review of ATMP related products and processes, and the preparation of technical reports
• Leadership/ownership of laboratory activities associated with assigned USP development projects, including stock control, experimental design/planning/reporting, compliance with onsite procedures
• Support, engage and communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders to disseminate newly established innovative USP and PAT capabilities to the wider UK industry
• Agreeing resource requirements and budgets with project sponsors, project managers and Lead Scientists.
• Producing, reviewing experimental plans, witnessing completed experiments in the ELN, ensuring raw data is processed according to data integrity guidelines and stored according to company policies, producing and reviewing study reports
• Presenting data at conferences and meetings where appropriate
• Provide line management and leadership to junior team members and mentoring of upstream process scientists within the team
• Working with technology providers and organisations to ensure that the CGT Catapult is a leader in its USP and PAT technology development capability

Experience:

• Experience in bioprocessing and scaling, including upstream processing using STR and other cell culture technologies is essential, including DASbox, BioBLU, ambr250, Univessel bioreactor systems
• Excellent practical experience of automation solutions such as Delta V, Lucullus or other PLC and SCADA system
• Excellent practical experience of AAV and lentiviral bioprocessing and/or iPSC cell bioprocessing and 3D cell expansion
• Experience in standard analytical assays such as flow cytometry, PCR, metabolite and cell counting is essential
• Demonstrable experience of executing agreed research independently with minimal supervision is essential
• Proven experience of effectively delivering training and developing other team members is required
• Experience of statistical tools such as method validation and/or Design of Experiments to drive efficient and robust experimental design is desirable
• Experience of process scale up and tech transfer to/from commercial and research organisations is desirable
• Experience of integrating PAT technologies into bioprocessing development workflows is desirable
• Experience of data handling and formatting is essential
  
  

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• Highly motivated, pragmatic and practical to support the mission of the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult to accelerate the development of a commercial cell and gene-based therapy industry in the UK
• Desire to establish a high-profile career within cell and gene sector and the personal drive to help push the sector to be a commercial success. Ambitious, collaborative, driven
• Delegates work appropriately to others (considering their abilities and the resources available to them). Balances workloads across the team, ensuring that there are no barriers from individuals, or people being underutilised
• Provides direction and coordinates action: Provides the team with clear direction at the beginning and consistently throughout a project lifecycle. Ensures each team member understands their role and what is expected of them to deliver
• Encourages close attention to quality even at a very detailed level. Is consistent across a project and acts as a role model for maintaining quality standards
• Communicates proactively: Shares information widely with others, including ‘upwards’ as well as ‘downwards’. ensures that this information is understood and makes others aware of information that may be useful to them, follows up to ensure it has been received and is open to any feedback they may receive
• Encourages others to share their views, thoughts, and feelings, and listens to what they have to say
• Develops relationships at all levels and uses these to the benefit of their work. Understands other points of view and uses this to gain agreement
• Identifies and takes responsibility for decisions and can be relied upon to get things done. Balances the strategic and the operational requirements when making decisions, consistently supporting the purpose of the CTG Catapult
• Is not afraid to make decisions quickly when necessary, even when they may not have all the information they would like. Risks failure when the potential rewards justify it and is able to make that calculation effectively
• Understand others: Demonstrates an interest in, and understanding of, the attitudes, views, capabilities, limitations and motivations of others. Considers how colleagues’ perceptions of a situation may influence the way they behave and is able to adapt their style accordingly
• Takes the time to inform and seek out the opinions of others in the team and across the division. Encourages the team to be involved in the decision-making process while empowering them to deliver
• Recognises others’ abilities and offers appropriate support, especially in developing people. Helps others to deal with challenging circumstances by coaching them through effective strategies
• A positive attitude towards learning, personal and professional development
• Keeps up to date with professional knowledge, expertise and best practice
• Willingness to travel

Education/Qualifications

• PhD plus a minimum of 2 years’ industrial experience or BSc with a minimum of 4 years industrial experience in the life sciences or bio-engineering field (or equivalent experience/qualifications)
  
  

CGT Catapult is committed to providing an equal, diverse, and inclusive work environment where everyone’s contributions are valued. We celebrate differences, empower, and inspire everyone, because when everyone is included, everyone wins. In 2024, we received bronze accreditation from Inclusive Employers.