(Or Senior) Applications Scientist - Pathogen Pathogen Oxford, England, United Kingdom

At the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT), we’re on a mission to translate scientific discovery into real world impact. We bring together visionary scientists, technologists, engineers, researchers, educators and innovators to tackle humanity’s greatest challenges in four transformative areas: Health, Medical Science & Generative Biology, Food Security & Sustainable Agriculture, Climate Change & Managing CO₂, Artificial Intelligence & Robotics. This is ambitious work – work that demands curiosity, courage, and a relentless drive to make a difference. At EIT, you’ll join a community built on excellence, innovation, tenacity, trust, and collaboration, where bold ideas become real-world breakthroughs. Together, we push boundaries, embrace complexity, and create solutions to scale ideas from lab to society.

Welcome to the Pathogen Project. Within this ecosystem, the Pathogen Mission exemplifies EIT’s commitment to transformative science. It aims to revolutionise the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases by leveraging whole genome sequencing (WGS)-based metagenomic and pathogen‑specific analytical tools. This remit includes the development of a decentralised, sample‑to‑answer sequencing diagnostic platform for infectious diseases, enabling rapid and accurate analysis of patient samples without prior assumptions. Supported by Oracle Inc.’s cloud‑computing scale and security infrastructure, the Pathogen Mission is progressing towards certified diagnostic products for deployment in laboratories, hospitals, and public health organisations worldwide.

Your Role: We are seeking a Scientist or Senior Scientist with a strong interest in method development to join our growing Applications team, focused on advancing sequencing‑based diagnostics. In this role, you will contribute to the design and optimisation of novel targeted and semi‑targeted approaches for the rapid sequencing of clinically relevant pathogens. This laboratory‑based position encompasses end‑to‑end experimental workflows, including sample preparation, target enrichment and amplification, library preparation, and sequencing. You will support the development of strategies for comprehensive, high‑sensitivity sequencing across a large number of targets, using approaches such as targeted amplification, hybridisation, and related techniques. The role encourages creative problem‑solving, with opportunities to propose, explore, and evaluate new ideas. You will work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team of microbiologists, molecular biologists, engineers, and data scientists to develop assays for integration into an automated, device‑based platform. Drawing on your experience, you will help define experimental strategies, design and execute studies, and contribute to advancing the application of sequencing technologies in pathogen detection and related areas.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design, develop, and optimise end‑to‑end sequencing assays (targeted and semi‑targeted)
• Execute experiments, analyse and interpret data, and contribute ideas for improvement
• Troubleshoot complex technical challenges across a range of sample types
• Maintain clear documentation to support reproducibility of experimental work
• Collaborate closely with colleagues across disciplines to progress shared goals
• Contribute to scientific discussions and decision‑making as projects evolve

Essential Knowledge, Skills, and Experience:

• PhD in molecular biology, microbiology, genomics, biochemistry or a related field
• Experience using molecular biology techniques (e.g. PCR, RT‑PCR, nucleic acid extraction, library preparation)
• Experience developing and optimising PCRs and/or related experimental workflows
• Ability to troubleshoot experimental challenges and adapt methods as needed
• Experience with DNA/RNA sequencing data
• Strong experimental design and data interpretation skills
• Good organisation, record‑keeping and communication skills

Desirable:

• Multiplex PCR assay development, particularly for sequencing applications
• Enrichment or capture methods for pathogens or pathogen‑derived nucleic acids
• Work with bacteria, fungi, viruses, or other pathogens
• Handling clinical samples
• RNA‑based workflows (e.g. transcriptomics, viral genomics)
• Background in virology
• Exposure to metagenomics workflows
• Biochemistry knowledge relevant to assay development (e.g. enzyme optimisation, reaction conditions, assay development)

Key Attributes:

• Enjoys exploring new ideas and approaches to experimental challenges
• Curious and motivated to solve complex problems
• Able to balance scientific rigour with speed and pragmatism

Working Style and Collaboration:

• Takes ownership of work while valuing collaboration and shared success
• Proactive and supportive team member, with a willingness to contribute beyond immediate responsibilities
• Comfortable working in a dynamic research environment, with support from colleagues

Our Benefits:

• Salary: Competitive + travel allowance + bonus
• Enhanced holiday pay
• Pension
• Life Assurance
• Income Protection
• Private Medical Insurance
• Hospital Cash Plan
• Therapy Services
• Perk Box
• Electric Car Scheme

Working Together – What It Involves:

• You must have the right to work permanently in the UK with a willingness to travel as necessary.
• In certain cases, we can consider sponsorship, and this will be assessed on a case‑by‑case basis.
• For this role we would expect someone to be fully on site in Oxford.
• You will live in, or within easy commuting distance of, Oxford (or be willing to relocate).