Scientist - Cell Processing in Melbourn

Cell therapies are already changing what is possible for patients with devastating diseases, by reprogramming their own immune cells to fight conditions like cancer. To reach every patient who could benefit, these therapies need to be made reliably, at scale, and at a cost that health systems can support. That is where Cellular Origins comes in, and where you could play a key role.

As a Scientist in our Cell Processing team, you’ll help build the reliable, repeatable biological workflows that sit behind our automation platform. Your day-to-day work at the bench will directly influence how cell therapies can be manufactured at scale, giving more patients access to life-changing treatments. It is an exciting time to join Cellular Origins, a TTP company focused on enabling scalable, cost-effective manufacture of cell and gene therapies. Our technology connects and automates existing bioprocess tools to reduce labour, minimise human error, and increase efficiency. In this role, you’ll be part of the team that makes sure the biology behind that technology is robust, reproducible, and ready for scale.

About the role

This is a lab-based role for someone who enjoys hands-on work, routine experiments, and doing things properly every single time. You’ll join a collaborative group of scientists and engineers, running high-throughput, repeatable lab work that supports bioprocess de-risking studies and routine testing. You’ll help keep our cell processing workflows running smoothly; from maintaining cell cultures and preparing reagents, through to supporting assays and keeping the lab organised and compliant.

What you’ll do

• Support a dynamic, growth-oriented start-up environment, flexibly responding to changing priorities with clear direction.
• Work within a collaborative, multi-disciplinary team of scientists and engineers, contributing to several projects at the same time.
• Reliably execute high-throughput, repeatable lab work to support bioprocess de-risking studies and routine testing, with a strong focus on accuracy and consistency.
• Perform routine aseptic cell handling tasks, including cell culture maintenance, automated cell counts, viability checks, passaging, cryopreservation, and thawing.
• Prepare and maintain raw materials and sterile reagents, such as media, buffers, cytokines, and cell cultures.
• Support routine assay execution and sample processing, for example flow cytometry staining preparation and sample prep for dPCR or other assays, including basic data collation.
• Follow established SOPs and protocols precisely, escalating deviations or unexpected results promptly so the team can act quickly.
• Contribute to BSL2+ laboratory operations, including cleaning, waste handling, and biosafety compliance.
• Support equipment upkeep, including incubator checks, basic maintenance, and coordination of calibrations where needed.
• Maintain accurate lab records with good documentation practices and clear traceability of samples and reagents.
• Help with lab organisation, inventory tracking, and consistent execution across repeated experiments.
• Perform quick, basic engineering tests or measurements to help inform timely decision making for the wider team.

About you

You’ll enjoy this role if you like being at the bench, doing high-quality practical work, and becoming the person others rely on for consistent execution. You’ll bring:

• A BSc (or equivalent) in a biological, biomedical, biochemistry or related discipline, or relevant industry experience.
• Practical experience with aseptic technique, cell culture, and media preparation.
• Experience preparing media and reagents and maintaining cell cultures in a laboratory setting.
• Confidence working to written SOPs and maintaining accurate lab notebooks or electronic records.
• Familiarity with BSL2 practices, or a willingness to be trained to BSL2+ working standards.
• Experience handling primary cells and cell lines.
• Ideally, experience with cell isolation techniques.
• Ideally, experience supporting routine assays, preparation or basic molecular assay prep, and/or microbiology.
• Strong attention to detail, good organization skills, and reliability when executing repetitive tasks.
• Comfort working across multiple tasks and shifting priorities, while staying calm and focused with clear direction.

If you like the idea of your careful, methodical lab work helping to unlock industrial-scale cell therapy manufacturing, this could be a great fit.

Additional Information

Cellular Origins is based on the TTP Campus, within purpose-built sustainable offices, labs and green surroundings, 10 miles south of Cambridge. Our working culture encourages entrepreneurship, shared ideas and collaboration, while providing you the freedom to do your best work. Our employee benefits include:

• Employer pension contribution of 10% of salary
• Free lunch and all-day refreshments
• Private medical insurance for employees and dependants
• Enhanced family friendly leave
• Life insurance worth 6x salary
• Electric car leasing scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Season ticket loan
• Activities and community that supports healthy activities that bring colleagues together; whether it’s lunchtime squash or football, Zumba or our own rock band. Colleagues initiate new clubs and outings whenever they feel there’s something missing!
• Local sports facilities and theatre discounts and memberships.

How to apply

Apply now to join an exceptional team redefining how cell therapies are manufactured and helping bring life-changing treatments to more patients, faster. Every application will be reviewed by the hiring team and will receive a response.