Associate Scientist - Biomarker Samples

This is a 12 month fixed term contract position. Based at Alderley Park, Medicines Discovery Catapult is a national Life Sciences service dedicated to turning drug discovery into commercial breakthroughs. We accelerate the development of science, and where there are areas of unmet patient need, we stimulate innovation. By transforming drug discovery, we can improve patient lives, increase the impact of the UK Life Sciences sector, and create a healthier society and economy. Our interventions work. Since we started, we have helped over 300 companies raise over £1bn of R&D investment. We seek passionate individuals who are eager to collaborate, innovate, and make a tangible difference in the field of drug discovery. Together, we can unlock new therapies, enhance patient outcomes, and ensure that the UK remains at the forefront of life sciences innovation. If you are ready to make an impact, we invite you to be part of our journey.

The values of the Catapult are:

• Excellence – we continually strive to deliver the best solutions for our partners and for each other. In everything we do, we instil confidence.
• Integrity – Our strong commitment to what we do and why we are here drives us to do the right thing for our partners and each other.
• Community – We’re a strong team, we work well together, and we respect each other.
• Innovation – We’re driven by the need to make a difference. We constantly look for ways to drive change in our sector and how we work.

There is now an opportunity for an Associate Scientist to join our biomarkers research team, which has been established at MDC, Alderley Park. This individual will work closely with our molecular pathology scientists, providing essential technical support to enable delivery of a portfolio of partnered projects. This fully lab-based individual will support key projects and innovation through deployment of a range of sample preparation processes, protocols and QC along with the opportunity to run routine biomarker assays to support the delivery of data to drug discovery projects.

The individual will have experience of working in a histology or molecular pathology lab and be familiar with principles of tissue preservation and sectioning and molecular techniques including immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridisation. This opportunity to join a world class laboratory team in this high-profile national organisation, while collaborating with SMEs, Biotechs and leading academic institutes and researchers, should provide a fantastic platform for career development.

Main duties and responsibilities:

• Provision of lab support to the Molecular Pathology team, working with established protocols and methods to enable effective delivery of the project portfolio.
• Collecting and preserving of tissues from translational studies using methods compatible with various molecular analyses.
• Processing, embedding and sectioning of tissues for histology/molecular pathology/mass spectrometry imaging.
• Analysis of pre-clinical and clinical tissues using molecular staining procedures such as IHC and ISH.
• Performing data analysis and QC.
• Implementation of effective lab processes, experimental records, and safety.
• Effective communication and research collaboration skills, working with a wide range of colleagues.
• Assisting colleagues in the biomarkers and translational imaging team with basic laboratory support.

Qualifications and Experience:

• The successful candidate will possess a BSc in a biological discipline (or have similar experience), with lab experience working with tissue-based techniques, workflows and technologies in a bioscience environment.
• Capacity to closely follow SOPs.
• Experience of tissue processing and sectioning.
• Some familiarity with tissue histology would be advantageous, particularly for precious clinical tissues.
• Confidence in dealing with human biological samples and familiarity with the Human Tissue Act.
• Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously in a highly collaborative and inter-disciplinary environment.
• Ability to work well in a team environment and manage own workload.

Closing date: Monday 20th January 2025. Please note the closing date for applications may be brought forward if a high volume of applications are received.