Clinical Assay Development Scientist | IVD | Diagnostics | AI | Blood-Based Assays | HealthTech[...]

Clinical Assay Development Scientist – Role and Responsibilities

• Lead the identification, validation, and application of novel blood biomarkers for disease prediction, prognosis, and treatment stratification
• Direct large-scale clinical studies, ensuring compliance with regulatory and ethical standards (GCP/GLP, ISO 13485, IVDR, UKCA)
• Design, optimize, and validate blood-based clinical assays with high robustness, accuracy, and reproducibility
• Oversee biological sample preparation and processing under biosafety standards, and safety compliance
• Ensure data integrity through rigorous documentation (validation plans, reports, SOPs, lab notebooks), keeping outputs audit-ready
• Provide scientific and strategic guidance on biomarker development, clinical study design, and AI/photonics-based diagnostics
• Establish and manage collaborations with academic, clinical, and industry partners to accelerate biomarker discovery and validation
• Communicate findings and technical insights clearly to both specialist and non-technical audiences; author validation protocols, technical summaries, and regulatory documentation
• Builder’s mindset with high ownership, urgency, and empathy; low-ego, highly collaborative leader who elevates others; mission‑driven and patient‑centered

This role is based in London and collaborates with teams across the UK and Europe.

Qualifications

• PhD in a relevant Life Sciences field – biology, medicine, biomedical engineering, molecular biology, or related
• 3+ years of relevant experience in the development/validation of blood biomarkers. Bonus: Spectral or AI Biomarkers
• Extensive knowledge and hands-on experience in blood biomarker discovery, validation, and clinical translation. Bonus: analytical assay development
• Familiarity with ISO 13485, IVDR, UKCA, and GCP/GLP expectations
• Proficiency in applying statistical analysis and data interpretation methods to biomarker discovery and validation studies
• Strong hands-on experience with biosafety protocols, clinical sample handling, and assay preparation
• Exceptional attention to detail and documentation discipline supporting data integrity
• Excellent communicator; comfortable collaborating with cross-functional teams and external partners

Bonus Skills

• Industry experience in startup environments; backgrounds in health tech or deep tech are valued
• Exposure to immunoassays, molecular diagnostics, or multi-omic platforms
• Contributions to clinical studies or tech-transfer in regulated settings
• Understanding of Optics (spectroscopy, Raman, FTIR or similar techniques)
• Understanding of AI (machine learning, deep learning)
• Experience in IVD blood assay development

About iLoF

As personalized medicine becomes the norm, scientists, patients, and healthcare systems worldwide face barriers in providing the right treatment to the right patient. iLoF is building an AI-powered platform capable of transforming precision medicine and aims to democratize access to personalized medicine for millions of people living with complex diseases.

We leverage a proprietary optical fingerprint library of disease biomarkers and biological profiles to offer personalized patient screening and stratification in a faster and more affordable way, targeting significant reductions in cost and time while enabling a more human patient experience.

Supported by leading institutions like Microsoft Ventures, Mayfield, and the Oxford University, iLoF focuses on validating its platform technology in major challenges such as Alzheimer\’s, while maintaining ongoing interests in Digestive Cancer, Stroke, and Infectious diseases. Our team spans Oxford and Porto, with a passion for healthcare.

What we value

• A Be Kind attitude as the main guideline within iLoF
• A collaborative, team-oriented approach that supports co-workers
• Honest, egoless communication and good-faith critique
• The courage to speak up and make a difference
• Ownership of responsibilities and enabling others to succeed
• A fast-paced, high-energy startup culture with room for creativity
• Remote-friendly environment and flexible hours
• Private healthcare insurance (employee; contractor terms to be agreed)

If that sounds like a fit for you, click the apply button and join us. If you’re missing a skill, we can upskill you to take your career to the next level.