Synthetic Biologist/Molecular Biologist

CC Bio is an award-winning synthetic biology company, based in state-of-the-art facilities at the Imperial Translation and Innovation Hub (iHUB), West London. We discover, engineer and develop potent and specific antimicrobial enzymes for use as next generation therapeutics. By leveraging the combined power of systems biology, synthetic biology and microbiology, we are engineering this new class of efficacious enzymes to improve patient outcomes worldwide in the fight against antimicrobial resistance.

We are seeking a motivated molecular/synthetic biologist to join the CC Bio team in August 2025 for a 24-month prestigious grant funded project in Women’s Health. This role will be within a growing team at our London-based laboratory. You will be an integral member of the experimental team, working closely with bioinformaticians and microbiologists to facilitate the successful outcomes of this new grant project. The grant project aims to leverage our existing enzyme discovery and engineering platform (Zeus) to develop a novel class of enzyme-based therapeutic.

Your time will largely be based in the wet lab, where you will conduct our previously developed assays to discover, design, produce, purify and characterise a range of candidate proteins for testing against an array of clinical vaginal pathobiont isolates.

What You’ll Do in This Role

• Identify libraries of enzyme candidates using our proprietary candidate discovery platform, Zeus.
• Refactor libraries of enzyme gene sequences, design recombinant protein production strategies and high throughput purification of our novel protein candidates in E. coli or other appropriate host systems.
• Be responsible for vector selection, primer design, and assembly strategies necessary for cloning enzyme gene sequences in 96 and 384 well formats.
• Recombinantly produce enzyme candidate libraries in 96 well formats, refining gene expression protocols to optimise protein yield and stability.
• Establish and conduct purification protocols for candidate libraries building upon existing company know-how.
• Validate candidate purity and stability through established QC procedures.
• Interpret the results of these tasks to help the wider team to design novel derivatives of these peptides with enhanced properties.
• Keep excellent experimental/data records to convey project results accurately and facilitate publication upon project completion.

Requirements

• At least an MSc degree, or preferably, a PhD degree in molecular biology, synthetic biology, biochemistry, cell biology, microbiology, or similar.
• A good understanding of synthetic biology techniques, with a particular focus on DNA assembly methods, primer design, and cloning techniques (Gibson, Golden Gate, In Fusion etc.).
• Experience with molecular biological procedures including PCR, DNA extraction, plasmid preparation, SDS-PAGE, Western blotting and recombinant protein purification.
• Routinely cultured and genetically modified Escherichia coli and one other microorganism commonly used for recombinant protein expression.
• Previously utilised ÄKTA or similar chromatography systems for protein purification.
• Ability to independently curate literature and design experiments in an autonomous fashion.

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

• Previously worked in a commercial biotechnology environment.
• Experience with automation of some of the steps required for protein purification.
• Conducted protein stability studies including thermal shift assays, and/or have experience with protein crystallography or similar structural determination techniques.

How You Enjoy Working

• Enjoy conceiving interesting ideas, discussing them, and then putting them into action yourself.
• Actively seek to collaborate to solve problems, and have no problem working with people who have different viewpoints and backgrounds.
• Don’t take constructive criticism personally and understand that in scientific research, the results of your work do not always represent your efforts.
• Like to work on meaningful projects, and more generally, be part of businesses which are focused on human health research.

Benefits

• Receive a fixed, competitive salary for the duration of the 24-month project, based upon annual full-time salary which will be commensurate with degree level/experience.
• Embedded in a fully equipped laboratory at the Imperial College London Translation and Innovation Hub, within a vibrant academic community.
• Work within an organisation with a generally flexible working culture and receive a generous leave allowance.
• Company culture is 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 June 17th, 2025 including the term “BMGF-SB” 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 like to join us.