At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage high-quality sample management to support cancer research and drive continuous improvement.
- Company: Join Cancer Research UK, the world's largest medical research charity dedicated to beating cancer.
- Benefits: Generous benefits package, career development opportunities, and a supportive work environment.
- Other info: Dynamic role with access to cutting-edge technology and a mission-driven team.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in cancer treatment innovation while collaborating with multidisciplinary teams.
- Qualifications: Degree in life sciences or relevant experience, with expertise in drug discovery and sample management.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
Job Overview
At Cancer Research UK, we exist to beat cancer.
We have an exciting opportunity for a passionate and dedicated Senior Scientist to join Cancer Research Horizons (CRH).
In this pivotal role, you will manage the delivery of high-quality sample management to support our discovery research activities, ensuring the effective storage, handling, tracking, and dispensing of compounds and biological samples.
You will drive best practice and continuous improvement across our sample management processes, with a particular focus on small molecules and antibodies, helping to ensure our research teams have access to the high-quality materials they need to advance the development of new cancer treatments.
You will embed best‑practice approaches to their management and use, supporting structure‑activity studies and high‑throughput screening across multiple sites.
This is a hands‑on role, combining technical expertise with ownership of workflows, systems, and standards, and close collaboration with multidisciplinary teams and external partners.
You will be a key contributor to the Cancer Research Horizon Drug Discovery team, driving practical and innovative ways of working, including the adoption of new technologies and automation.
Working across internal functions and with industry and academic collaborators, you will help advance novel cancer targets towards patient benefit.
With access to a broad range of development opportunities, a proactive approach to learning and continuous improvement will be essential.
About Cancer Research Horizons
As the world’s biggest medical research charity, we’ve helped bring eleven new cancer drugs to market.
However, there is still an urgent need to bring more effective treatments to patients faster.
We have recently developed a new approach to driving therapeutic innovation through the creation of Cancer Research Horizons (CRH).
We have brought together Cancer Research UK’s established drug discovery teams under one organisation and leadership team, combining our unique pipeline of cancer biology expertise and access to CRUK’s world‑class academic network, cutting‑edge technology platforms and clinical expertise to 1) bring new treatments to patients faster and 2) tackle the biggest challenges in discovering cancer drugs by seeking out more radical ideas and embracing risk in our bid to achieve success.
Based at sites in Cambridge, the CRUK Scotland Institute in Glasgow, and Newcastle University, you’ll be joining over 200 staff from both industrial and academic backgrounds, all dedicated to bringing forward the day we cure cancer.
Responsibilities
- Drive continuous improvement of sample management practices, ensuring state‑of‑the‑art standards in compound and biological handling and dispensing.
- Prioritise sample requests in line with project priorities and assign work to team members.
- Receive and solubilise new compounds. Assess their purity by LC‑MS.
- Prepare and supply assay‑ready plates with ECHO instrumentation to support structure‑activity studies and high‑throughput screening across multiple sites.
- Prepare and supply bespoke compound requests to support non‑routine activities across active projects.
- Troubleshoot issues and respond to queries in a timely manner.
- Maintain the Mosaic sample management system, driving continuous improvement.
- Liaise with the CROs to manage off‑site storage of compound libraries.
- Collaborate within the Molecular Sciences team, internal multi‑disciplinary research teams, and with external partners.
Qualifications
- An HNC, HND or degree in chemistry, biochemistry, life sciences; relevant experience may be substituted for education.
- Significant experience in a drug discovery environment of managing and dispensing small molecules and biotherapeutics.
- A detailed understanding of storage processes for compounds and biologicals (storage issues, freeze‑thaw cycles, degradation, solvent usage).
- Significant experience in liquid handling and automated dispensing, such as ECHO and Access platforms.
- Experience with LIMS, databases and screening data management software, such as Mosaic and Dotmatics.
- A collaborative mindset, excellent organisation skills, attention to detail, and flexibility.
Benefits
Our organisation values are designed to guide all that we do.
We’re looking for people who can believe in and embody these organisation values and can use them to drive forward progress against our mission to beat cancer.
We create a working environment that supports your wellbeing and provide a generous benefits package, a wide range of career and personal development opportunities and high‑quality tools.
Our policies and processes enable you to improve your work‑life balance, take positive steps in your career and achieve your personal wellbeing goals.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Senior Scientist (Sample Management) in Cambourne employer: Cancer Research UK
Cancer Research UK is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Stratford, London, where you can make a meaningful impact on health partnerships. With a strong emphasis on employee well-being, we provide flexible working arrangements and a comprehensive benefits package that supports a healthy work/life balance, alongside ample opportunities for professional growth and development within the organisation.
