Research Assistant (Parts Lab) - Generative Biology Institute

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 Generative Biology Institute: Led by Founding Director Jason Chin, the Generative Biology Institute (GBI) at the Ellison Institute of Technology is tackling the key challenges in making biology engineerable, and thereby unlocking the unrivalled power of biology for the benefit of humanity. The vision of the GBI is to lay the foundations for engineering biology, and unlock its potential for good. To achieve this, we must overcome two key challenges. First, we need the ability to write in the natural language of biology, enabling the rapid and scalable synthesis of entire genomes with precision. Second, we must understand what to write - determining which DNA sequences will generate biological systems that perform the desired functions. Addressing these challenges will allow us to harness the full power of biology to create transformative solutions across health, agriculture, clean energy and more.

The Generative Biology Institute commenced operations in 2025, occupying newly renovated bespoke space in the Oxford Science Park. The team will later move to a purpose‑made facility in the Oxford Science Park, currently under construction. Once complete, this state‑of‑the‑art facility will include more than 40,000 m² of research laboratory and office space. It will house over 30 groups and up to 600 employees at scale, focused on solving the two critical challenges in making biology engineerable and applying the solutions to addressing the global challenges encapsulated in EIT’s Humane Endeavours.

The Parts Lab is seeking ambitious, creative, and highly skilled Research Assistants to join the Parts Lab at GBI. The Parts Lab, led by Principal Investigator Leopold Parts, is working to gather data that is missing from current models of DNA function, use these data to develop new frameworks that predict synthetic DNA behaviour inside cells, and apply these engineering tools and computational models to create mammalian chromosomes with defined functional properties. These capabilities enable making sequences for medicine, biotechnology, and basic science.

In your cover letter, please clearly explain your fit, interest, and relevant experience for joining this group. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and all applications to the Parts group should be submitted exclusively through the EIT job portal. Please do not contact the Principal Investigator directly, as direct outreach will not be considered as part of the application process. Due to the volume of applications, the review and decision process may take 3–6 months.

• Assist in scientific studies and experiments by collecting and analysing data under the guidance of the senior scientists.
• Perform routine laboratory tasks such as preparing samples, setting up equipment, and maintaining lab safety protocols.
• Analyse experimental data using software tools.
• Prepare reports and presentations of findings.
• Support the Research Group in the development of written materials, including publications, conference presentations and laboratory protocols.
• Carry out desk‑based research to establish the state of the art in scientific areas related to the work of GBI.
• Stay current on scientific advancements and technologies related to the field of synthetic biology through journals, conferences, and other academic resources.
• Provide general day-to-day support to the wider team and any other duties requested of you by your group leader.

This list is not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to undertake additional tasks and duties commensurate with the role.

• Extensive previous experience with mammalian genome engineering using CRISPR/Cas systems, recombinases, transposons, and other tools.
• Extensive previous experience with mammalian cell culture (cancer cell lines, human primary or stem cells).
• A Bachelor's degree in a relevant scientific field (e.g. Biology, Chemistry, Engineering, Computer Science).
• Previous experience in working in a research laboratory.
• Ability to work effectively in a high‑growth, fast‑paced, dynamic environment.
• Highly organised with an ability to manage multiple projects.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, interpersonal skills, and the ability to work with a wide range of people from diverse backgrounds.
• Experience with problem solving involving multiple internal and external stakeholders.

• 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.

You must be eligible to work in the UK with a willingness to travel as necessary. We are open to sponsoring employment visas for this role; however sponsorship is not available for all visa types or in all circumstances. Eligibility will be assessed on a case‑by‑case basis. You must be based in, or within easy commuting distance of, Oxford. During peak periods, some longer hours may be required and some working across multiple time zones due to the global nature of the programme.