Scientist - Synthetic/Molecular Biology/Microbiology

Company Introduction

CC Bio is an award-winning synthetic biology company, which has been a subsidiary of a global parent company, Precisio Biotix Inc., since 2024. While CC Bio is primarily London-based, this advertised role will be embedded within the laboratory of our long-term academic collaborators at Glasgow Caledonian University.

At CC Bio, we design and build precision peptides which control bacterial growth. These peptides are suitable for use as therapeutics, as modulators of the microbiome, and as consumer products. By leveraging the combined power of synthetic biology, systems biology and microbiology, we are engineering a new class of efficacious products to improve patient outcomes worldwide.

Description of Your Role

We are seeking a highly motivated, curious, and self-driven synthetic / microbiologist to join the CC Bio team in May 2025 for a nine-month, Scottish Enterprise-funded project. This role is Glasgow-based.

You will conduct experiments as part of a new project, in which we aim to develop a novel class of peptide therapeutic. These peptides are hypothesised to disrupt the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Your time will largely be based in the wet lab, where you will conduct our previously developed assays to test a range of candidate proteins that we believe selectively target this challenging bacterium.

What You’ll Do in This Role

– You will be responsible for implementing our 9-month Scottish Enterprise-funded project programme within our academic collaborator’s laboratory in Glasgow Caledonian University.

– You will test the bioactive properties of new anti-Pseudomonas aeruginosa candidates that we have previously identified. Specifically, this work will first involve the recombinant production/purification of these candidates, and subsequent testing of their ability to bind to cultures of P. aeruginosa using a previously developed assay.

– After completion of this initial production and binding assessment, you will also test the ability of these candidates to recruit eukaryotic immune cells for P. aeruginosa destruction. This element of the project will be conducted in partnership with a Glasgow Caledonian-employed colleague.

– You will interpret the results of these studies to help the wider team to design novel derivatives of these peptides with enhanced properties.

– You will keep excellent experimental/data records to convey project results accurately, and facilitate publication upon project completion.

Requirements

What We’re Looking For

– You have PhD degree, or are close to finishing a PhD in synthetic biology, molecular biology, microbiology, biochemistry or similar.

– You have experience with molecular biological procedures including PCR, DNA extraction, plasmid preparation, SDS-PAGE, Western blotting and recombinant protein purification.

– You have routinely cultured and genetically modified Escherchia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

– You have previously conducted routine assays to assess bactericidal or bacteriostatic activity of small molecules, peptides or proteins.

– You have previously utilised plate readers to monitor gene expression / microbial growth rates.

– You can independently curate literature and design experiments in an autonomous fashion.

Additional, But Not Essential, Skills: “Nice to Haves”

– You have experience culturing and manipulating eukaryotic cells.

– You have previously worked in a commercial biotechnology environment.

How You Enjoy Working

– You enjoy conceiving interesting ideas, discussing them, and then putting them into action yourself.

– You actively seek to collaborate to solve problems, and have no problem working with people who have different viewpoints and backgrounds.

– You don’t take constructive criticism personally and understand that in scientific research, the results of your work do not always represent your efforts.

– You like to work on meaningful projects, and more generally, be part of businesses which are focused on human health research.

– You enjoy working independently but seek out guidance where appropriate.

– You’re not afraid of defending your ideas and approach and are happy to appropriately and constructively challenge viewpoints of your peers.

– You enjoy working in a shared laboratory with colleagues working on different projects.

Benefits

– You will receive a fixed, competitive salary for the duration of your 9-month project. This is based upon annual full-time salary of £40,521.00 (£30,390.75 project salary) with associated pension benefits.

– You will be embedded in a fully equipped laboratory at Glasgow Caledonian University, within a vibrant academic community.

– You will work within an organisation with a generally flexible working culture and will receive a generous leave allowance.

Our company culture is, and will always be, inclusive: we will not discriminate based upon gender identity, race, nationality, skin colour, age, disability, relationship status, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected right or status.

If this job role is a good fit for your skillset, please get in touch with Matthew@ccbio.co.uk before April 15th, 2025 including the term “SMART” in your email subject title. Don’t be discouraged from applying if your skills do not exactly align with the requirements, but you feel that you would still succeed in the role. In your application, please include your CV alongside a cover letter which outlines why you’d love to join us.