Scientist I

Yourgene Health is a leading integrated technologies and services business, enabling the delivery of genomic medicine. The group works in partnership with global leaders in DNA technology to advance diagnostic science. Yourgene primarily develops, manufactures, and commercialises simple and accurate molecular diagnostic solutions for reproductive health, precision medicine and infectious diseases.

The Group's flagship in vitro diagnostic products include non-invasive prenatal tests (NIPT) for Down's Syndrome and other genetic disorders, Cystic Fibrosis screening tests, invasive rapid aneuploidy tests and DPYD genotyping. Yourgene has a range of innovative DNA sample preparation platforms, powered by Ranger® Technology, the Yourgene LightBench® and Yourgene QS250, ideal for cell free DNA applications in NIPT and oncology including liquid biopsy.

Yourgene also has a global laboratory service network equipped to be a full life-cycle partner for clinical, research and pharmaceutical organisations to support partners at the preclinical, clinical, and post market stage to develop, manufacture, obtain regulatory approval and commercialise new products and services. In addition, Yourgene offers an NIPT and high throughput Covid testing service.

Yourgene Health is headquartered in Manchester, UK with facilities in Taipei, Singapore, the US and Canada.

Our Culture: Yourgene is a growing, vibrant and exciting place to work, we are looking for committed driven individuals to be part of our next growth journey. Our culture is described by our employees as collegiate, friendly, professional, innovative, open and fast paced. We have many social and well-being initiatives run by our Social Huddle that keep our sense of community alive during challenging times that the pandemic has thrown our way. At Yourgene we focus on putting values led programmes in place to ensure that we can attract, retain and develop our people. We want our people to have a career with Yourgene and we ensure that they are recognised and rewarded for their achievements and commitment; everyone plays a critical role in our growth journey.

Description of role: Yourgene Health, part of the Novacyt Group, are recruiting for a Scientist I to join our genomic services team based at Manchester Science Park. The role of the Scientist I is to support high-quality and regulatory compliant Genomic Research, Clinical and Validation Services offered by Yourgene Genomic Services and to ensure that the laboratory environment is operating effectively and safely in accordance with instruction provided by the Laboratory Manager.

Key areas of responsibility:

• Sample Processing
• To contribute in providing a profitable routine scientific and applications service in line with the regulatory, quality and scientific expectations.
• To perform genomic services using a wide range of relevant methods and technologies including but not limited to, nucleic acid extraction, gene expression, sequence analysis (NGS and Sanger), SNP genotyping, microarrays, copy number and structural variation assessment, fragment analysis and methylation in accordance with written procedures.
• To follow standard operating procedures and appropriate quality control measures as found in the QMS.
• To liaise directly with the Senior Scientists and Laboratory Manager to support delivery of the current program of work in accordance with business needs.
• To ensure minimum stock levels of all reagents and consumables are maintained according to forecasts provided by the Laboratory Manager.
• To generate client/patient reports as directed by the Laboratory Manager.
• Training and assessing the competence of Technicians in carrying out standard procedures.
• Quality
• To carry out all activities in accordance with the relevant quality standard.
• To ensure that all project folders and documentation are maintained appropriately in accordance with regulatory and business requirements.
• To review SOPs and technical documents as required and contribute to the drafting of new procedures.
• To liaise with the Quality Department and be familiar with the Quality Manual to ensure correct documentation and SOPs are in place and report non-conformances to ensure continual improvement.
• To comply with all health and safety and COSHH systems.
• To conduct audits as required under the audit schedule.
• Process Improvement
• To actively participate in process improvement programs.
• To perform as directed, method development and assay design in collaboration with internal and external Stakeholders.
• Actively interact with internal and external scientific community ensuring an up-to-date scientific knowledge in line with company strategy.
• Communication
• To communicate effectively, professionally, and promptly so that all relevant information is forwarded to the appropriate personnel on a regular and timely basis.
• To participate in internal meetings, visits, and audits as and when appropriate and communicate any information back to the appropriate personnel.
• Troubleshooting
• To effectively liaise internally with appropriate personnel and externally with Tech Support and Engineering Teams to provide technical support, resolve technical issues and carry out all associated troubleshooting activities as directed by the Laboratory Manager.
• Other
• To undertake any other task that may be reasonably asked by the management which is consistent with the skill base or previous employment history of the employee.

Education & Experience:

• Essential – BSc Degree in a Biological Science.
• Essential - Practical experience of working in an ISO 15189 accredited laboratory processing clinical samples.
• Essential – Evidence of excellent communication and organisational skills.

Equal opportunities: Yourgene Health and the Novacyt Group of companies provides equal employment opportunities for all current employees and applicants for employment. This policy means that no one will be discriminated against because of race, religion, creed, color, national origin, nationality, citizenship, ancestry, sex, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity, military or veteran status, genetic predisposing characteristics or any other basis prohibited by law.