Senior Laboratory Research Scientist - Molecular Microbiology

Mars; Waltham on the Wolds; Remote; GBP 55,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Mars University

Company bonus

Best-in-class learning & development

Job summary

Mars is seeking a Senior Laboratory Research Scientist to lead a small team of Laboratory Research Scientists and act as a subject matter expert within the laboratory. You will collaborate with peers and the Research team to generate insights and methods that support product innovation and Mars Petcare R&D.

You will oversee day-to-day operations, manage up to three scientists, and ensure compliance with Mars policies while delivering high-quality, robust research outputs for the WPSI and Mars

Qualifications

• PhD in Microbiology or Molecular Biology or equivalent with substantial experience.
• Hands-on experience with laboratory instruments and techniques incl. culturing and characterising novel species, competition assays, PCR, qPCR and RT-PCR.
• Experience handling bacterial genome data, building genome sequences from Illumina or long-read data.
• Desirable: host-microbe-nutrition interactions; experience with low biomass samples.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership and day-to-day management for the designated laboratory area.
• Line manage up to 3 Laboratory Research Scientists.
• Collaborate with other experts to develop and implement analytical methods.
• Oversee lab operations and coordinate third-party equipment maintenance.
• Ensure activities follow Mars policies and maintain safety and quality standards.
• Maintain records using ELN and data systems.
• Contribute to knowledge sharing within the team and broader research community.

Skills

PCR

qPCR

RT-PCR

Culturing

Characterising

Assays

Education

PhD in Microbiology or Molecular Biology

Relevant degree with substantial experience

Tools

Illumina sequencing

Long-read sequencing

ELN software

Job description

Job Description:

The Senior Laboratory Research Scientist role provides expert guidance, operational oversight and day-to-day leadership for a small team of Laboratory Research Scientists. You will act as a subject matter expert and key contributor within the laboratory team, collaborating closely with peers and in partnership with the Research team to generate insights and key methods that directly support product innovation, research and development for Mars Petcare.

What will be your key responsibilities?

• Provide technical leadership and day-to-day management for their designated laboratory area, ensuring effective delivery of research activities and alignment with WPSI and Mars Petcare priorities.
• Line manage up to 3 Laboratory Research Scientists, fostering a high-performing, motivated and collaborative team environment.
• Collaborate with other technical experts and cross-functional teams to develop, validate and implement analytical methods that deliver robust scientific insights.
• Oversee operational aspects of the assigned laboratory area, including coordination of third-party contractors for equipment maintenance and repair.
• Ensure all laboratory activities are conducted in accordance with Mars’ policies, and champion a culture of safety, quality and compliance in the laboratory.
• Maintain accurate and timely records of laboratory activities using Electronic Laboratory Notebooks (ELN) and other data management systems.
• Contribute to knowledge sharing and capability building within the laboratory team and the broader WPSI research community.

What are we looking for?

• PhD in a relevant scientific discipline such as, Microbiology, Molecular Biology etc. or a relevant degree with substantial, proven experience in the field.
• Considerable hands‑on experience with laboratory instruments and techniques relevant to the scientific discipline, including: culturing and characterising novel species, competition assays, PCR, qPCR and RT-PCR.
• Experience handling bacterial genome data, to build genome sequences of novel isolated bacteria, from Illumina or long read sequencing data.
• Experience in host-microbe-nutrition interactions (desirable).
• Experience working with low biomass samples (desirable).

What can you expect from Mars?

• Work with diverse and talented Associates, all guided by the Five Principles.
• Join a purpose driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.
• Best-in-class learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.
• An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.