At a Glance
- Tasks: Join our team to develop innovative immunoassays that drive drug discovery.
- Company: Insmed, a leading biopharmaceutical company transforming patient lives.
- Benefits: Flexible work schedules, competitive retirement benefits, and career development opportunities.
- Other info: Work in state-of-the-art labs at Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in drug discovery while working with cutting-edge technology.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in immunoassay development and strong collaboration skills required.
The predicted salary is between 59400 - 72600 £ per year.
At Insmed, every moment and every patient counts — and so does every person who joins in. As a global biopharmaceutical company dedicated to transforming the lives of patients with serious and rare diseases, you’ll be part of a community that prioritises the human experience, celebrates curiosity, and values every person’s contributions to meaningful progress. That commitment has earned us recognition as Science magazine’s No. 1 Top Employer for five consecutive years, certification as a Great Place to Work® in the U.S., and a place on The Sunday Times Best Places to Work list in the UK.
About the Role:
We are seeking a highly experienced, industry-trained Senior Scientist specialising in immunoassay development to join our evolving drug discovery team at Insmed Cambridge. This is an exciting, lab-based opportunity for an innovative and motivated assay scientist with deep expertise in novel immunoassay design, supporting a wide range of projects in our portfolio. Operating within our Drug Discovery Biology team and sitting within the Compound Profiling group, you will be accountable for designing, implementing, and delivering robust immunoassay data to support screening cascades that enable the progression of small molecule and oligonucleotide therapeutics from early target feasibility and Hit Finding, through to Candidate Nomination. You will act as our core subject matter expert for immunoassays, taking ownership of experimental design and data generation. Applying a rigorous, industry-standard approach, you will develop novel, highly sensitive assays to deliver high-quality, reproducible bioanalytical data that informs project progression. You will collaborate closely with interdisciplinary teams to translate new biological insights into life-changing therapeutics.
What You'll Do:
- Implementation of Screening Cascades & Assay Development: Collaboratively design, implement, and interpret immunoassay data as part of screening cascades to advance drug discovery programs. Perform hands-on development, optimisation, validation, and troubleshooting of highly sensitive singleplex and multiplex immunoassay formats (e.g., ELISA, HTRF, AlphaLISA, MSD, Luminex) to assess target engagement, pathway modulation, and mechanism-of-action. Apply strong pharmacological expertise and early-stage, fit-for-purpose method validation principles to optimise assay performance parameters to generate robust, decision-enabling pharmacodynamic and target engagement data. Generate high-quality data to characterise novel small molecule and oligonucleotide therapeutics, informing structure-activity relationships and compound progression criteria. Support early pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and immunogenicity assessments to drive Lead Optimisation and candidate selection. As part of the Compound Profiling Team, maintain the flexibility to run broader in vitro compound profiling assays (e.g., standard biochemical or cellular screens) to support the team's overall screening cascades and workload. Oversee data generation conducted at external vendors/CROs via scientific monitoring, critically appraising scientific quality, data interpretation, and timely delivery.
- Team Development & Culture: Contribute to a high-performing Compound Profiling team, acting as the core subject matter expert for immunoassays and drug discovery cascade target engagement and pharmacodynamic marker data across the early Discovery portfolio. Provide broad, hands-on support for general compound profiling activities to drive DMTA cycles, partnering with Chemistry, DMPK, and project teams to ensure assays align with project milestones and accelerate informed compound progression. Support, mentor, and develop junior scientists in immunoassay techniques and troubleshooting (with the potential for formal line management responsibilities depending on experience), promoting professional growth, knowledge-sharing, and a collaborative laboratory culture.
- Enhancement of Experimental and Technical Capabilities: Continuously enhance in-house experimental capabilities by proactively identifying, evaluating, and adopting innovative solutions and emerging immunoassay technology platforms (e.g., automated liquid handling, ultra-sensitive detection platforms), depending on project needs. Contribute to further strengthening our research infrastructure and technological platforms, supporting assay scalability, throughput, and long-term project successes.
- Literature and Research Appraisal: Perform in-depth reviews and critical appraisal of scientific literature and internal data to inform analyte selection and assay strategy. Work closely with our Target Discovery and New Project teams to evaluate novel targets, assess biological tractability, and design bespoke, innovative immunoassay solutions that directly underpin drug discovery and screening cascades.
- Data Presentation and Collaboration: Analyse, interpret, and present high-quality data packages and reports at Project and Biology meetings to support informed matrix-driven decision-making and advance project milestones. Integrate learnings from disease biology and in vivo pharmacology teams into assay strategy, ensuring in vitro to in vivo alignment to support PK/PD modelling and dose-response evaluation.
- Laboratory Documentation and Safety Compliance: Follow, develop, review, and maintain SOPs for immunoassay protocols, instrumentation, and laboratory workflows, ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations. Accurately record experimental data using electronic lab notebooks (ELNs) and use industry-standard data analysis and management software to support high-quality, reproducible research.
Who You Are:
Degree coupled with extensive immunoassay or early-stage target engagement/pharmacodynamic assay development experience for small molecule (and ideally oligonucleotide) projects within a drug discovery environment; it is typical at this level that you would have at least 5 years’ relevant experience. Proven track record in designing, developing, executing, troubleshooting, and interpreting a broad range of highly sensitive singleplex and multiplex immunoassays (e.g., ELISA, HTRF, AlphaLISA, MSD, Luminex), applying fit-for-purpose method validation principles to rigorously assess target engagement, pathway modulation, and pharmacodynamic analytes. Demonstrated experience contributing to DMTA cycles and working in close partnership with Chemistry, DMPK, and broader multidisciplinary teams. Experience managing and collaborating with CROs, including oversight of immunoassay data generation, cascade biomarker assay development, and compound logistics/management workflows. Working knowledge of standard assay automation (e.g., liquid handling and plate-based workflows), data analysis tools (e.g., GraphPad Prism), ELNs, and scientific databases to support bioanalyte assay development and profiling is essential. Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to clearly convey complex scientific concepts to diverse audiences. Excellent analytical thinking and numerical proficiency. Up-to-date awareness of latest technological developments in immunoassay platforms, biomarker detection, and pharmacology. Candidates with practical or applied experience with ultra-sensitive platforms (e.g., Simoa), cellular profiling techniques (e.g., flow cytometry, high-content imaging), or evaluating novel modalities such as oligonucleotides would be highly desirable. Experience with broader in vitro assay development (e.g., standard biochemical, cellular, or biophysical techniques) is highly desirable, reflecting the flexibility and willingness to support the team’s general compound profiling workload when. Prior experience in mentoring and developing junior scientists is essential, while formal line management experience is advantageous.
This role will require you to work from our brand-new state-of-the-art offices and labs situated in Babraham Research Campus, South Cambridge. Hybrid working is offered based on specific business needs and the role requirements.
Life at Insmed: Our research site in Cambridge, UK is situated in brand new labs and offices at the Babraham Research Campus—a leading hub for bioscience innovation and collaboration. Our team of biologists, human geneticists, bioinformaticians, data scientists, computational and synthetic chemists bring together a wide range of technologies and modalities to deliver powerful new ways of treating serious diseases. At Insmed, you’ll find a culture as human as our mission—intentionally designed for the people behind it. You deserve a workplace that reflects the same care you bring to your work each day, with support for how you work, how you grow, and how you show up for patients, your team, and yourself.
Our offerings include:
- Flexible work schedules with purposeful in-person collaboration
- Competitive retirement benefits, global equity awards, and participation in our Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)
- Career development through the Insmed Learning Institute, external programs, LinkedIn Learning, and role-specific training
- AI-powered and on-demand learning tools, including a digital assistant to help navigate internal resources
- Hybrid-friendly technology and IT support for seamless teamwork across locations and time zones
- Global recognition programs and Employee Resource Groups
Eligibility for specific programs may vary and is subject to the terms and conditions of each plan.
Immunoassay Senior Scientist in Cambridge employer: Insmed Innovation UK Limited
At Insmed, we pride ourselves on being a top employer, recognised for our commitment to employee well-being and professional growth. Located in the innovative Babraham Research Campus in South Cambridge, our culture fosters collaboration and curiosity, offering flexible work schedules, competitive benefits, and extensive career development opportunities. Join us in making a meaningful impact on patients' lives while thriving in a supportive and dynamic environment.
Contact Details:
Insmed Innovation UK Limited Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Immunoassay Senior Scientist in Cambridge
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We think you need these skills to ace Immunoassay Senior Scientist in Cambridge
Some tips for your application 🫡
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How to prepare for a job interview at Insmed Innovation UK Limited
✨Brush Up on Lab Techniques
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