Downstream Scientist - Process Development in Portsmouth

Be part of something altogether life-changing! Working at Cytiva in the Life Sciences industry means being at the forefront of providing new solutions to transform human health. Our incredible customers undertake life‑saving activities ranging from fundamental biological research to developing innovative vaccines, new medicines, and cell and gene therapies. At Cytiva you will be able to continuously improve yourself and us working on challenges that truly matter with people that care for each other, our customers, and their patients.

Cytiva is one of 10 Life Sciences companies of Danaher. Together, we accelerate the discovery, development and delivery of solutions that safeguard and improve human health. The Fast Trak Process Development Services (PDS) group specialises in designing, optimising, and transferring scalable processes for bio‑therapeutic products, including gene therapy and vaccines, from pre‑clinical to commercial scale. This position combines downstream process development expertise with strong analytical capabilities.

The scientist will develop and optimise downstream processes (e.g., depth filtration, chromatography, TFF) and perform analytical assays to support process characterisation and tech transfer. The role requires close collaboration with internal teams and customers to ensure robust, scalable, and compliant processes.

• Plan, prepare, and execute downstream process development experiments, including scale-up of DSP unit operations using AKTA systems or other DSP automation platforms.
• Perform analytical assays such as qPCR, ddPCR, ELISA, SDS-PAGE, Western blot, and other relevant techniques to support process development and characterisation.
• Generate study plans, protocols, and SOPs for customer projects; ensure clear and complete documentation of all activities.
• Analyse project results, summarise findings, and make recommendations for optimisation; prepare technical reports and presentations for internal and external stakeholders.
• Collaborate with upstream, downstream, and analytical teams to prioritise samples and ensure timely execution of project deliverables.
• Execute continuous process improvement activities aimed at enhancing robustness, capacity, and productivity.
• Provide technical support, training, and audits to internal and external collaborators.
• Maintain a safe, clean, and effective laboratory environment in compliance with GLP and health and safety standards.
• Assist with administrative functions such as organising meetings, preparing reports, and budget tracking.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Education: Bachelors degree or higher in biochemical engineering, molecular biology, biochemistry, or related scientific/engineering discipline.
• Experience: 3+ years in process development or clinical manufacturing laboratory setting with a focus on downstream processing and analytical assay execution.
• Hands‑on experience with DSP operations (depth filtration, chromatography, TFF) and scaling up unit operations from lab to commercial scale.
• Proficiency in analytical techniques such as qPCR, ddPCR, ELISA, SDS‑PAGE, Western blot; experience with HPLC, UPLC, FACS, and CE is a plus.
• Understanding of protein purification mechanisms and bioprocess analysis tools.
• Ability to work in a Biosafety Level 2 environment and follow GLP.
• Proven record of planning and executing projects and experiments.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work under minimal supervision and within a collaborative, team‑oriented environment.
• Well‑organised, self‑starter with ability to prioritise and meet deadlines.
• Comfortable interacting with customers in meetings and presentations.
• Computer literacy (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Commitment to health, safety, and good housekeeping practices.

• Willingness to travel for customer meetings and technical transfers as required.
• Ability to train team members and enhance existing analytical methods.
• Adherence to company values, equal opportunity principles, and safety policies.
• Flexibility to undertake additional duties as reasonably required.

Join our winning team today. Together, we accelerate the real‑life impact of tomorrow's science and technology. We partner with customers across the globe to help them solve their most complex challenges, architecting solutions that bring the power of science to life.