Senior Scientist - Toxicology

Evotec WD; Macclesfield; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Private health insurance

25 days holiday

Cycle-to-work

Training and development

Job summary

Cyprotex, part of Evotec, is recruiting a Senior Scientist to drive the Toxicology capability and assay development. The role blends hands-on lab work with scientific leadership across projects and client collaborations.

You will lead high/low throughput in vitro toxicology assays, contribute to innovation, and mentor junior staff within a dynamic CRO environment at Alderley Park.

Qualifications

• BSc, MSc, PhD or equivalent industrial experience in a Life Sciences discipline.
• Significant CRO/pharma/biotech/research experience.
• Strong practical experience in cell culture and in vitro toxicology assays.
• Expertise in assay troubleshooting, optimisation and scientific problem-solving.
• Experience supporting assay development or research projects.
• Strong experimental design and data analysis skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate across multidisciplinary teams.
• Passion for scientific innovation and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Run high- and low-throughput in vitro toxicology assays for commercial and research projects.
• Perform routine cell culture activities using diverse cellular models and assay systems.
• Generate, analyse and interpret high-quality scientific data for client studies.
• Support delivery of routine and complex client projects to agreed timelines and quality standards.
• Act as a technical lead for designated assays, technologies or platforms.
• Provide troubleshooting support for complex scientific challenges.
• Support assay development, optimisation and validation activities.
• Design and conduct feasibility and proof-of-concept studies.
• Evaluate new technologies and methodologies.
• Support implementation of innovative workflows to improve capability and client value.
• Work with IS and Automation to improve processes and data handling.
• Contribute scientific expertise to client discussions, proposals and meetings.
• Support preparation of posters, presentations and publications.
• Coach and mentor colleagues on scientific development projects.

Skills

Cell culture

In vitro toxicology assays

Data analysis

Scientific communication

Collaborative work

Problem solving

Experimental design

Education

BSc/MSc/PhD or equivalent in Life Sciences

Tools

High Content Imaging

High Content Screening

Flow cytometry

Seahorse assays

Job description

We are looking for an experienced Senior Scientist to help drive the development of future Toxicology capabilities at Cyprotex. Are you passionate about assay development, scientific innovation, and external collaboration? Do you enjoy solving complex scientific challenges and working at the forefront of emerging technologies? If so, we'd love to hear from you. Role: Senior Scientist Role Type: Permanent Hours: Full time, 37.5 hours per week Salary: Competitive salary plus excellent company benefits Location: Alderley Park, Macclesfield, SK10 4TG

Our Company Cyprotex, part of the Evotec Group, is a leading provider of in vitro and in silico ADME-Tox services supporting discovery and development programmes globally. As our business continues to expand, we are investing in new scientific capabilities and innovative technologies. We are therefore seeking a Senior Scientist who will help drive scientific excellence, assay development, external collaborations, and capability growth within our Toxicology group.

The Role and Responsibilities of a Senior Scientist

As our Senior Scientist, you will combine hands-on laboratory delivery with responsibility for scientific development, assay improvement and technical leadership within the Toxicology group. A substantial proportion of the role will remain focused on routine client work, whilst also providing opportunities to contribute to scientific innovation and capability development. The role will involve:

• Running high- and low-throughput in vitro toxicology assays for commercial and research projects.
• Performing routine cell culture activities using a range of cellular models and assay systems.
• Generating, analysing and interpreting high-quality scientific data for client studies.
• Supporting delivery of routine and complex client projects to agreed timelines and quality standards.
• Acting as a technical lead for designated assays, technologies or scientific platforms.
• Providing troubleshooting support for complex scientific challenges.
• Supporting assay development, optimisation and validation activities.
• Designing and conducting feasibility and proof-of-concept studies.
• Evaluating new technologies, methodologies and scientific approaches.
• Supporting implementation of innovative workflows that improve scientific capability and client value.
• Working closely with Information Systems and Automation to improve processes and data handling.
• Contributing scientific expertise to client discussions, proposals and technical meetings.
• Supporting the preparation of scientific posters, presentations and publications.
• Coaching and mentoring colleagues undertaking scientific development projects.
• Maintaining awareness of emerging scientific advances and regulatory developments within in vitro toxicology.

Skills & Competencies

We Look For Essential

• BSc, MSc, PhD or equivalent industrial experience in a Life Sciences discipline.
• Significant experience within a CRO, pharmaceutical, biotechnology or research environment.
• Strong practical experience in cell culture and in vitro toxicology assays.
• Expertise in assay troubleshooting, optimisation and scientific problem-solving.
• Experience supporting assay development or research projects.
• Strong experimental design and data analysis skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across multidisciplinary teams.
• Passion for scientific innovation and continuous improvement.

Desirable

• Experience in High Content Imaging (HCI), High Content Screening (HCS), flow cytometry, Seahorse or advanced cell-based assays.
• Experience presenting scientific work internally or externally.
• Publication record within a relevant scientific field.
• Experience implementing new technologies or laboratory workflows.
• Experience supporting client-facing scientific discussions.
• Previous employment within a contract research organisation.

Why Join Us?

At Cyprotex, you'll work alongside talented and passionate scientists in a collaborative environment where innovation, development and scientific excellence are encouraged. Whether your strengths lie in people leadership and operational delivery or scientific innovation and capability development, you'll have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on both our team and our clients' drug discovery programmes.

Company Benefits

• Pension on completion (but not subject to) of your 3-month probationary period.
• Contributions 5% for employees (salary sacrifice) and 5% for the employer. The employee can opt to increase their contribution, and the employer will match the increase up to a maximum of 7.5%.
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays and additional length of service days awarded on the anniversary, up to a maximum of 30 days.
• Private health insurance with BUPA for the employee and their partner/family under the company scheme.
• Well being support 24/7 and counselling services.
• Permanent health insurance provides 75% of the base salary after the qualifying period.
• Private dental cover, on completion (but not subject to) of your 3-month probationary period.
• Eligibility to participate in the Company Bonus Scheme. This is a discretionary benefit.
• Career progression within the company, we have excellent training and support and continuing professional development opportunities.
• Cycle-to-work scheme.
• Refer a friend scheme, team and annual events, recognition awards and many more!
• Onsite Facilities at Alderley Park The company pays for secure onsite parking Restaurant, Café, and Gastro pub Gym and workout studio, running, walking, and cycling routes Good public transport links with the shuttle bus service.

***Closing date for applications will be Friday 20th November 2026. We may close the advert earlier than this date depending on the response that we receive***

FR : Dans le cadre de sa politique Diversité, Evotec étudie, à compétences égales, toutes les candidatures dont celles des personnes en situation de handicap.

EN: In the frame of our Diversity policy, Evotec considers, with equal competences, all applications including people with disabilities.

IT: In compliance with fundamental ethical and professional principles and with Legislative Decree 198/2006, Evotec is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to fostering a safe, diverse, and inclusive workplace built on mutual respect.

We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified candidates and employees based on their skills, experience, and professional qualifications. In line with our ethical and professional principles, all employment-related decisions, including recruitment and selection processes, are made fairly and without any form of discrimination. All qualified candidates will be considered for employment regardless of race, color, sex, age, disability, genetic information, gender expression, gender identity, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law.

Established in 1999, Cyprotex has over 150 staff based at its sites in the UK (Alderley Park in Cheshire) and in the USA (Watertown, MA). We operate as a contract research organisation and we have over 1700 customers worldwide within industries such as the pharmaceutical, cosmetics and personal care and the chemical and agrichemical markets. Outstanding customer service excellence and quality are key focuses of the business.

In addition to our customer projects, we invest heavily in Research and Development of new techniques – many of these projects are exploring new in vitro or in silico methods to understand how chemicals or new pharmaceuticals may behave in humans in terms of their safety or efficacious effects.

Cyprotex is a growing and successful business and we are constantly recruiting for motivated and hardworking staff who thrive within a dynamic and vibrant organisation. We are committed to providing an environment where employees can learn and develop their skills and are recognised and rewarded for the contribution they make to the Company.

Much of our work is performed in multi-disciplinary project teams that enables exchange of ideas and knowledge, enabling people to develop and take on additional responsibility either within the team or across teams in the business.

Please click on the link below to access and review our Privacy Information for Applicants: Privacy Information for Applicants