Senior Scientist – Diagnostic Laboratory Sciences (DLS)

Avantor; Milton; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Avantor in Cambridge is seeking a Senior Scientist – Diagnostic Laboratory Sciences (DLS) to lead diagnostic development, validation and operationalization in a CAP/CLIA‑accredited laboratory.

You will drive histopathology, IHC, assay development, validation and digital pathology workflows, ensuring quality, regulatory compliance and successful delivery of diagnostic programmes that advance precision medicine and patient outcomes.

Qualifications

• BSc degree (or equivalent) in Biomedical Science, Pathology, Molecular Biology or a related scientific discipline.
• Minimum 5 years' experience within a diagnostic histopathology and/or immunohistochemistry laboratory.
• Proven experience performing microtomy and handling a wide range of human tissue samples.
• Strong understanding of immunohistochemistry and its application within diagnostics and patient care.
• Experience working within regulated laboratory environments such as CAP/CLIA, ISO15189, HTA or GCP.
• Experience using Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS).
• Demonstrated ability to manage projects, prioritise workloads and work effectively within matrix teams.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong commitment to quality, compliance and data integrity.

Responsibilities

• Provide scientific leadership and day‑to‑day operational oversight of laboratory activities.
• Independently perform and supervise technical laboratory work in accordance with SOPs and quality standards.
• Lead assay development, optimisation, characterisation, verification and validation activities.
• Act as Project Lead for design control and assay validation programmes.
• Design and execute studies to establish assay performance characteristics including sensitivity, specificity, precision and linearity.
• Analyse experimental data using statistical approaches and design of experiments (DOE) methodologies.
• Develop and optimise sample preparation workflows, including microtomy across a range of human tissue types.
• Operate, maintain and troubleshoot automated histology and IHC platforms including Ventana, Leica and Dako systems.
• Support and oversee digital pathology workflows including image scanning, quality control and issue resolution.
• Ensure compliance with CAP/CLIA, ISO, HTA, GCP and other applicable regulatory frameworks.
• Support quality management activities including design controls, supplier controls, change controls, risk management and CAPA processes.
• Manage laboratory data and documentation using Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS).
• Collaborate closely with scientists, project managers and cross‑functional stakeholders to communicate findings and project progress effectively.
• Support staff training and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives within the laboratory.

Skills

Scientific leadership

Project management

Communication skills

Stakeholder management

Data integrity

Quality/compliance

Education

BSc in Biomedical Science, Pathology, Molecular Biology or related

Tools

LIMS

Ventana/Leica/Dako platforms

Job description

The Opportunity:

Location: Cambridge

Contract: 12-month contract

About the Role

We are recruiting a Senior Scientist – Diagnostic Laboratory Sciences (DLS) to join our client's highly regulated, CAP/CLIA-accredited laboratory environment in Cambridge. This is a senior, hands‑on laboratory role embedded within AstraZeneca's Precision Diagnostics Development (PDD) group, supporting the development, optimisation, validation and operationalisation of cutting‑edge diagnostic solutions.

Working within a collaborative scientific environment, you will provide scientific leadership and operational oversight across histopathology, immunohistochemistry (IHC), assay development, validation, and digital/computational pathology workflows. You will play a key role in ensuring laboratory quality, regulatory compliance and the successful delivery of diagnostic development programmes that contribute directly to precision medicine and improved patient outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide scientific leadership and day‑to‑day operational oversight of laboratory activities
• Independently perform and supervise technical laboratory work in accordance with SOPs and quality standards
• Lead assay development, optimisation, characterisation, verification and validation activities
• Act as Project Lead for design control and assay validation programmes
• Design and execute studies to establish assay performance characteristics including sensitivity, specificity, precision and linearity
• Analyse experimental data using statistical approaches and design of experiments (DOE) methodologies
• Develop and optimise sample preparation workflows, including microtomy across a range of human tissue types
• Operate, maintain and troubleshoot automated histology and IHC platforms including Ventana, Leica and Dako systems
• Support and oversee digital pathology workflows including image scanning, quality control and issue resolution
• Ensure compliance with CAP/CLIA, ISO, HTA, GCP and other applicable regulatory frameworks
• Support quality management activities including design controls, supplier controls, change controls, risk management and CAPA processes
• Manage laboratory data and documentation using Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS)
• Collaborate closely with scientists, project managers and cross‑functional stakeholders to communicate findings and project progress effectively
• Support staff training and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives within the laboratory

About You

Essential:

• BSc degree (or equivalent experience) in Biomedical Science, Pathology, Molecular Biology or a related scientific discipline
• Minimum 5 years' experience within a diagnostic histopathology and/or immunohistochemistry laboratory
• Proven experience performing microtomy and handling a wide range of human tissue samples
• Strong understanding of immunohistochemistry and its application within diagnostics and patient care
• Experience working within regulated laboratory environments such as CAP/CLIA, ISO15189, HTA or GCP
• Experience using Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS)
• Demonstrated ability to manage projects, prioritise workloads and work effectively within matrix teams
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
• Strong commitment to quality, compliance and data integrity

Desirable:

• HCPC registration as a Biomedical Scientist or Clinical Scientist
• Experience in diagnostic product development, design controls and analytical validation
• Hands‑on experience operating and maintaining automated IHC and histology platforms (e.g. Ventana BenchMark, Leica BOND RX, Dako Omnis, Leica Spectra ST)
• Experience leading assay development and optimisation projects
• Experience within CAP/CLIA or ISO15189 accredited diagnostic laboratories
• Experience with digital pathology, whole‑slide imaging and image quality control
• Interest in advancing computational pathology and innovative diagnostic technologies

Why Join AVANTOR?

• Contribute to cutting‑edge precision diagnostics and translational research programmes
• Take ownership of scientifically complex and high‑impact projects
• Work alongside world‑leading scientists and diagnostics experts
• Develop expertise across diagnostics, assay validation, digital pathology and regulated laboratory operations
• Join a collaborative environment that encourages innovation, continuous improvement and scientific excellence

Benefits Package

• 25 days annual leave, plus an additional day off for your birthday
• Competitive pension scheme
• Private healthcare
• Ongoing training and professional development opportunities

Disclaimer:

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of employees assigned to this position. Avantor is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

Why Avantor?

Dare to go further in your career. Join our global team of 14,000+ associates whose passion for discovery and determination to overcome challenges relentlessly advances life‑changing science. The work we do changes people's lives for the better. It brings new patient treatments and therapies to market, giving a cancer survivor the chance to walk his daughter down the aisle. It enables medical devices that help a little boy hear his mom's voice for the first time. Outcomes such as these create unlimited opportunities for you to contribute your talents, learn new skills and grow your career at Avantor. We are committed to helping you on this journey through our diverse, equitable and inclusive culture which includes learning experiences to support your career growth and success. At Avantor, dare to go further and see how the impact of your contributions set science in motion to create a better world.

EEO Statement:

We are an Equal Employment/Affirmative Action employer and VEVRAA Federal Contractor. We do not discriminate in hiring on the basis of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religious creed, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state/province, or local law.

If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us by email at [e-mail] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Requests for accommodation will be considered on a case‑by‑case basis. Please note that only inquiries concerning a request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this email address.

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By submitting candidates without having been formally assigned on and contracted for a specific job requisition by Avantor, or by failing to comply with the Avantor recruitment process, you forfeit any fee on the submitted candidates, regardless of your usual terms and conditions. Avantor works with a preferred supplier list and will take the initiative to engage with recruitment agencies based on its needs and will not be accepting any form of solicitation.