Junior Microbiologist in Slough

Full-time, Monday to Friday

Working hours: 9:00am-6:00pm, 42.5 hrs/week

Salary: £30,000 - £34,000 gross per year (depending on experience), with performance-based progression and salary review opportunities

About Metalchemy®

Metalchemy is a UK-based SME developing and manufacturing sustainable chemical products for use in cosmetics, active packaging, and healthcare applications. We specialise in patented, plant-based chemical processes designed to be scalable and commercially viable. Our focus is on turning robust science into reliable manufacturing operations that deliver real customer and environmental impact.

About the Role

We are seeking a hands-on Junior Microbiologist to take ownership of microbiological testing, materials evaluation, and assay execution across our product portfolio. As Metalchemy's dedicated microbiologist, you will play a key role in generating reliable microbiological data, maintaining laboratory standards, and supporting product development activities. This is a laboratory-based role that rewards precision, consistency, and ownership. You will work with bacteria, yeast, and mould, alongside basic mammalian cell culture, while managing multiple assays and experiments in parallel. The role combines practical laboratory work with disciplined use of digital systems for data recording, analysis, and reporting. This position is ideal for an early-career scientist with 1-2 years of laboratory experience who is ready to take on meaningful responsibility within a fast-growing science-led company. This is not a purely academic research role, but an applied laboratory role with direct relevance to product performance and commercial outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

• Own and execute routine microbiological QC testing involving bacteria, yeast, and mould, maintaining microbial cultures, ensuring contamination control, and delivering consistent, reproducible results aligned with defined quality standards.
• Perform antimicrobial and materials testing using a range of standard and advanced methods, including diffusion-based assays, MIC/MBC, biofilm assays, and surface testing, supporting evaluation of product performance and efficacy.
• Carry out mammalian cell culture and cell-based assays (e.g. viability, cytotoxicity, proliferation), maintaining cell lines and applying robust aseptic technique to support product validation.
• Design, execute, and analyse structured experiments, generating clear, well-documented results and reports to support R&D, product development, and customer requirements.
• Support development, optimisation, and validation of new microbiological and cell-based assays, translating experimental methods into repeatable SOPs suitable for routine use.
• Work within ISO-aligned quality systems, supporting testing aligned with standards such as ISO 17516 (microbiological quality), ISO 21149 (total aerobic count), ISO 16212 (yeasts and moulds), and ISO 11930 (preservative efficacy), while maintaining accurate, traceable, and audit-ready documentation.
• Use digital systems (Microsoft 365, Google Drive, and internal platforms such as Labguru) to record, analyse, and report experimental data, ensuring traceability and visibility of testing outputs.
• Maintain laboratory organisation, equipment readiness, microbial and cell culture systems, and consumable stock levels to ensure continuous and reliable testing operations.
• Take ownership of laboratory processes by identifying inefficiencies, improving assay reliability, and contributing to continuous improvement across testing workflows and data quality.

Physical Requirements

This is a hands-on laboratory role requiring regular bench work, including pipetting, preparation of media and reagents, handling of biological materials, and operation of laboratory equipment. The role involves extended periods of standing, repetitive laboratory tasks, and adherence to strict laboratory safety and hygiene procedures in accordance with COSHH and internal safety standards.

Qualifications and Profile

Essential

• BSc or MSc in Microbiology, Biology, Biochemistry, or a related discipline
• 1-2 years experience working in microbiology, laboratory QC, or applied life sciences environments
• Hands-on experience working with bacteria, yeast, or fungi in laboratory settings
• Basic experience with mammalian cell culture and aseptic technique
• Experience performing routine laboratory assays and handling experimental data
• Ability to design and execute simple experiments and interpret results
• Strong attention to detail in both laboratory work and data recording
• Confident user of Microsoft 365 (Excel, Word) and cloud-based systems such as Google Drive
• Comfortable learning and using digital laboratory or data management platforms
• Ability to follow SOPs precisely and deliver consistent, repeatable results

Desirable

• Experience with antimicrobial or materials testing (e.g. diffusion assays, MIC, biofilm assays)
• Familiarity with ISO 9001 and/or ISO 17025, GMP and/or similar quality systems
• Exposure to assay development or method validation
• Experience with plate readers, incubators, or laboratory instrumentation
• Experience in cosmetics, packaging, healthcare, or materials-related industries

What Success Looks Like in the First 90 Days

• Independently execute core microbiological and cell-based assays with consistency and reliability
• Maintain microbial cultures and cell lines to a high standard
• Produce accurate, structured, and audit-ready laboratory documentation
• Demonstrate confident use of digital tools for data recording and reporting
• Manage multiple assays and experiments in parallel to maintain workflow efficiency
• Proactively identify and implement at least one improvement to a testing method or laboratory process

Values Alignment

In this role, you will be expected to deliver results with precision and consistency, take ownership of your work, focus on practical solutions, learn quickly when systems or methods are new, adapt within a dynamic environment, support teammates, continuously improve through experimentation, prioritise execution and reliability, and contribute to products and processes that are kind to the planet.

Application Process

If you are practical, detail-oriented, digitally competent, and motivated to build a career in applied microbiology, testing, and product development within a sustainable technology company, we encourage you to apply. When applying, please briefly describe a situation where you designed, improved, or executed an experiment or laboratory method to achieve a measurable outcome.

Metalchemy® is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application. Unfortunately, we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.