Senior Protein Scientist

ZipRecruiter; London; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

An early-stage biotech company is seeking a Senior Protein Scientist to lead innovative protein expression projects. This role offers the chance to work in a collaborative environment, tackling complex protein challenges and contributing to groundbreaking research in epigenetic reprogramming. With a focus on enhancing immune cell function for therapeutic applications, this position is perfect for those passionate about making a significant impact in the field of longevity science. Join a mission-driven team where your contributions will directly shape the future of biotechnology and therapeutic solutions.

Benefits

Equity options

28 days holiday + public holidays

Private healthcare

Company-matched pension

Voice in early-stage team decisions

Qualifications

• PhD in relevant field or equivalent experience required.
• First-author publication in a high-impact journal is essential.

Responsibilities

• Lead recombinant expression projects in mammalian and bacterial systems.
• Design and troubleshoot protein constructs and purification pipelines.

Skills

Protein Biochemistry

Molecular Biology

Synthetic Biology

Recombinant Protein Expression

Protein Purification

Molecular Cloning

Communication Skills

Problem Solving

Education

PhD in Protein Biochemistry

Equivalent Experience

Tools

His-tag

SEC (AKTA)

qPCR

NGS Prep

Electronic Lab Notebooks (ELNs)

Job description

Job Description

We’re Hiring: Senior Protein Scientist

London | Full-time | £55,000 – £65,000 + stock options | Early-stage biotech

Are you passionate about cutting-edge reprogramming protein science and ready to make a big impact? We’re looking for a Senior Protein Scientist to lead our recombinant protein expression program as part of our molecular biology team. If you’ve tackled a range of protein expression challenges—and have the first-author publications to prove it—we’d love to hear from you.

You’ll be a key contributor to our discovery efforts and central to understanding and engineering our newly identified reprogramming factors. This is a high-impact role with scope to shape strategy and build capabilities in a fast-moving and well-resourced biotech environment.

About Us

We’re a VC-backed biotech spun out of a Nobel lab at the University of Cambridge, focused on using epigenetic reprogramming to rejuvenate immune cells. Our mission is to restore function in HSCs and T cells for therapeutic applications in transplantation and cancer immunotherapy. Our platform is built around a novel and powerful reprogramming mechanism that we believe could redefine what’s possible in longevity science.

What You’ll Do

\t•\tLead recombinant expression projects across unusual proteins in mammalian and bacterial systems

\t•\tDesign and troubleshoot protein constructs, purification pipelines, and characterisation workflows

\t•\tPurify proteins using His-tag, SEC (AKTA), and other systems

\t•\tOptimise expression for a variety of protein types (secreted, cytoplasmic, nuclear, etc.)

\t•\tDrive protein engineering and screening strategies to enhance function

\t•\tContribute to strategic decisions on expression platforms and discovery pipeline acceleration

\t•\tWork closely with a cross-functional team of 12 scientists in a collaborative, ideas-first culture

We’re Looking For

\t•\tPhD (or equivalent experience) in protein biochemistry, molecular biology, synthetic biology, or related

\t•\tFirst-author publication in a high-impact journal in protein science or molecular biology

\t•\tReal-world experience in recombinant protein expression and purification across diverse systems

\t•\tFamiliarity with construct design, molecular cloning (Golden Gate, Gibson, etc.), and troubleshooting

\t•\tAbility to manage complex, multi-step expression workflows with attention to detail

\t•\tComfortable expressing and optimising a range of protein types and characteristics

\t•\tStrong communication and collaboration skills—team-first mindset with scientific independence

\t•\tIntellectually curious, proactive, and driven to solve hard biological problems

Bonus Skills

\t•\tProtein engineering or structural modelling

\t•\tExperience with stem cells or cellular reprogramming

\t•\tLentiviral or transposon-based delivery

\t•\tFamiliarity with qPCR, NGS prep, and data-driven workflows

\t•\tUse of electronic lab notebooks (ELNs) and modern lab management tools

What We Offer

\t•\tCompetitive salary: £55,000–£65,000, based on experience

\t•\tEquity options in a rapidly growing biotech

\t•\t28 days holiday + public holidays

\t•\tPrivate healthcare

\t•\tCompany-matched pension

\t•\tA voice in an early-stage team where your work will shape the science

\t•\tA mission-driven culture with scientific excellence, creativity, and integrity at its core

How to Apply

If this sounds like you, get in touch—we’d love to share more about the science and hear about your experience.

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and encourage candidates who are early in their careers but have demonstrated excellence to apply. Your impact matters more than your years in industry.