Automation Scientist in Oxford

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, policy makers, and entrepreneurs 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 for lab to society.

The Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT) is building the next generation of AI-driven, autonomous laboratories where experimental science, robotics, and machine learning integrate to design, execute, and optimise experiments dynamically. A critical purpose of our Autonomous Labs (AutoLabs) programme is to generate reliable, high-fidelity experimental data - both for EIT's own foundation models and for our partner Institutes. We are seeking a highly capable, hands-on Autonomous Laboratory Scientist to play a central role in this transformation.

Key Responsibilities

• Execute, optimise and design wet-lab workflows
• Translate scientific objectives into structured, reproducible, automation-ready protocols
• Read scientific literature and independently attempt, execute and troubleshoot protocols found in the literature in the wet lab
• Operate and support laboratory automation platforms, including liquid handling systems
• Contribute to the design, development, and maintenance of the automation platform, increasing its robustness and reliability
• Collaborate closely with automation engineers, AI researchers, and interdisciplinary scientific teams
• Maintain rigorous documentation, quality control, and biosafety compliance standards

Essential Knowledge, Skills, and Experience

• A PhD in a STEM discipline or equivalent industry experience
• Strong hands-on experience from a wet-lab environment, with a genuine desire to do hands-on work at the bench
• Demonstrated ability to independently execute and troubleshoot laboratory workflows
• Experience translating experimental goals into structured, reproducible protocols
• High attention to detail and commitment to experimental quality
• Scientific curiosity that is open to any area of science (beyond just biology)
• A can-do, build-it-yourself attitude and comfort working in a fast-evolving, technology-driven laboratory environment

Desirable Knowledge, Skills, and Experience

• Operating automated laboratory systems (e.g., liquid handlers; experience with Hamilton and OpenTrons is particularly useful)
• Strong familiarity and hands-on experience with molecular biology workflows, particularly cell culturing and protein engineering
• Familiarity with structured data capture
• Exposure to programming (e.g., Python) and machine learning concepts

You must be able to commute to Oxford 5 days a week for this role.

Benefits

We offer the following salary and benefits:

• Enhanced holiday pay
• Pension
• Life Assurance
• Income Protection
• Private Medical Insurance
• Hospital Cash Plan
• Therapy Services
• Perk Box
• Electric Car Scheme

Why work for EIT:

At the Ellison Institute, we believe a collaborative, inclusive team is key to our success. We are building a supportive environment where creative risks are encouraged, and everyone feels heard. Valuing emotional intelligence, empathy, respect, and resilience, we encourage people to be curious and to have a shared commitment to excellence. Join us and make an impact!