Senior Scientist - Functional Genomics

Relation Therapeutics Limited; London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a pioneering biotech firm as a Senior Scientist in Functional Genomics, where your expertise will drive groundbreaking research in drug discovery. This role offers a unique chance to work at the intersection of experimental and computational science, contributing to the understanding of complex diseases through innovative approaches. Collaborate with a dynamic team in state-of-the-art labs, leveraging cutting-edge machine learning techniques to identify disease-relevant genes and pathways. Your contributions will not only advance scientific knowledge but also have a direct impact on patient lives. If you are passionate about transforming healthcare through science, this opportunity is made for you.

Qualifications

• PhD with 3+ years in academia, biotech, or pharma.
• Expertise in high throughput cell assay development and CRISPR/Cas.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute large-scale molecular genetic experiments.
• Biological interpretation of screen hits and data analysis.

Skills

High throughput cell assay development

CRISPR/Cas genome-editing

Analytical skills

Team-working skills

Attention to detail

Education

PhD in relevant field

Tools

Liquid handling automation

FACS

Automated high-content microscopy

Job description

Senior Scientist – Functional Genomics

London

About Relation

Relation is an end-to-end biotech developing transformational medicines, with technology at our core. Our ambition is to understand human biology in unprecedented ways, discovering therapies to treat some of life’s most devastating diseases. We leverage single-cell multi-omics directly from patient tissue, functional assays, and machine learning to drive disease understanding, from cause to cure.

This year, we’ve embarked on an exciting double collaboration with GSK to tackle fibrosis and osteoarthritis, alongside advancing our own internal osteoporosis programme. By combining our cutting-edge ML capabilities with their deep expertise in drug discovery, this partnership underscores our commitment to pioneering science and delivering impactful therapies to patients.

We are rapidly scaling our technology and discovery teams, offering a unique opportunity to join one of the most innovative TechBio companies. Be part of our dynamic, interdisciplinary teams, collaborating closely to redefine the boundaries of possibility in drug discovery. Our state-of-the-art wet and dry laboratories, located in the heart of London, provide an exceptional environment to foster interdisciplinarity and turn groundbreaking ideas into positive impact for patients.

We are committed to building diverse and inclusive teams. Relation is an equal opportunities employer and does not discriminate on the grounds of gender, sexual orientation, marital or civil partner status, gender reassignment, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, disability, or age. We cultivate innovation through collaboration, empowering every team member to do their best work and develop to their highest potential.

By joining Relation, you will be part of an exceptionally talented team, with extraordinary leverage to advance the field of drug discovery. Your work will shape our culture, strategic direction, and, most importantly, impact patients’ lives.

Opportunity

RelationRX has an excellent opportunity for a Senior scientist to join an interdisciplinary, highly collaborative team of experimental and computational drug discovery researchers in our newly built state-of-the-art functional genomics lab in London.

Large-scale genetic studies, including genome-wide association studies (GWAS), have discovered thousands of variants and loci associated with complex diseases, yet it is difficult to draw disease insight as the vast majority of loci lie in non-coding regions of the genome and have unknown function. At RelationRX, we are generating proprietary large-scale datasets to accelerate the prediction of disease genes from these loci using state-of-the-art machine learning methods. We will identify the key effector genes, cells and pathways involved in the pathophysiology of disease to build disease-relevant assays and proceed to validate ML platform predictions to identify candidate targets for further validation.

We have an exciting opportunity for a talented Senior Scientist to contribute intellectually to this endeavor. By joining Relation, you will be part of an exceptionally talented team, learn a broad range of skills within and outside your area of expertise, help us to shape our culture and strategic direction and ultimately, make a positive impact in patients’ lives. As the company is growing rapidly, there may be opportunities to supervise a small team.

Your responsibilities

1. To contribute intellectually and experimentally to the design and timely execution of all elements of large-scale molecular genetic experiments. This includes cell model characterisation, assay optimisation, high-throughput screening and working closely with data scientists to develop a data analysis pipeline.
2. To contribute to the biological interpretation of screen hits.
3. To stay abreast of new gene editing technologies and methodologies.
4. To perform additional duties, alongside your colleagues, necessary for the smooth operation of a “start-up” laboratory, for example, by assisting with our tissue culture cleaning rota and the upkeep of equipment.

Professionally, you have

1. A PhD and at least 3 years additional experience with an outstanding track record in academia, biotech or pharma.
2. Expertise in all aspects of high throughput cell assay development, including adherent and suspension cells.
3. Experience in leading the day-to-day operations of large-scale, genetic or chemical screens in arrayed and/or pooled format.
4. At least two years of hands-on research experience applying the latest CRISPR/Cas genome-editing approaches, including nucleofection and/or lentiviral transductions.
5. A proven ability to deliver to tight timelines.

Desirable knowledge or experiences

1. Experience with T cell, fibroblast, endothelial or epithelial cell assays.
2. Experience in liquid handling and/or automation and/or FACS and/or automated high-content microscopy.
3. Experience of interdisciplinary team-working, especially with computational scientists to enable efficient data analyses and data interpretation.
4. Broad expertise in molecular biology including molecular cloning.

Personally, you have

1. Excellent attention to detail, analytical and critical thinking skills.
2. An ability to build effective working relationships with proven team-working skills.
3. An ability to communicate effectively with scientists from multiple disciplines.
4. An inquisitive nature are self-motivated and eager to learn.
5. A desire to work within a data science-first environment.
6. A willingness to operate within start-up environments, including delivering to tight timelines, the ability to react to changing priorities or plans and to help with laboratory operations.

Join us in this exciting role where your contributions will have a direct impact on advancing our understanding of genetics and disease risk, supporting our mission to get transformative medicines to patients. Together, we're not just doing research; we're setting new standards in the field of machine learning and genetics. The patient is waiting!

Relation is a committed equal opportunities employer.