Development Scientist

Oxford Nanopore Technologies is headquartered at the Oxford Science Park outside Oxford, UK, with satellite offices and a commercial presence in many global locations across the US, APAC and Europe.

Oxford Nanopore employs from multiple subject areas including nanopore science, molecular biology and applications, informatics, engineering, electronics, manufacturing and commercialisation. The management team, led by CEO Dr Gordon Sanghera, has a track record of delivering disruptive technologies to the market.

Oxford Nanopore’s sequencing platform is the only technology that offers real-time analysis, in fully scalable formats from pocket to population scale, that can analyse native DNA or RNA and sequence any length of fragment to achieve short to ultra-long read lengths. Our goal is to enable the analysis of any living thing, by anyone, anywhere!

The Role

Our Biologics Development team is responsible for the improvement and performance of all biological components contained within our sample preparation kits and flowcells. We are seeking highly motivated individual with outstanding lab-based and data analysis skills to join the team as a Development Scientist. As part of the wider R&D division we work collaboratively to deliver new chemistries from concept to customer.

The role, based at the company’s Oxford headquarters, will support the development of new nanopore sequencing products, focussing on delivery of improvements to fundamental performance metrics improving outcomes and utility for users of the ONT platform.

The successful candidate will be responsible for leading projects that involve the design, purification and analysis of key protein components that form the backbone of the RNA and DNA sequencing chemistries as well as any future nanopore sensing applications. In a highly collaborative role, you will enjoy interacting with various stakeholders, across the R&D and product divisions in a multi-disciplinary environment. Equally this role involves project and people management skills and you will be responsible for pushing the progress of projects forward and for guiding the experiments and development of junior scientists.

What We’re Looking For

We are looking for a motivated and detail-oriented candidate who will have experience in the following areas:

• In-depth understanding of the biochemical properties of proteins including DNA/RNA handling enzymes and/or membrane proteins and their potential use in nanopore sensing.
• Hands-on experience of recombinant protein expression from bacterial systems and their subsequent purification.
• Design of appropriate experiments and independent analysis complex and novel datasets to reach meaningful conclusions.
• Practical experience in techniques for the biochemical/biophysical characterisation of purified proteins such as SDS-PAGE, LC-MS, EMSA, western blot or fluorescence-based activity assays.

Having experience in one or more of the following is a plus:

• Knowledge of Oxford Nanopore’s technology, its features and how DNA/RNA nanopore sequencing works. Experience in single molecule nanopore sensing assays is highly beneficial.
• Design of protein variants targeted to a designed purpose whether through rational structure-based or ML-led processes.
• Implementation of high-throughput testing regimes for the efficient analysis of high numbers of protein variants.
• Competency with, Python, R or command line programming for data science.

Responsibilities include:

• Leading protein engineering projects from conception to conclusion including the strategy, design, testing and iteration of protein components targeted at improved sequencing performance.
• Carrying out and improving upon protein expression and purification at lab scale to enable to efficient testing of designed protein variants.
• Detailed characterisation of proteins using both classical biochemical techniques and using nanopore based single molecule assays.
• Robust and thorough data analysis of any conducted experiments and accurate reporting to the wider team and division.
• Guidance of junior lab members.

The successful candidate will hold a PhD in biochemistry, chemistry or a related field ideally with 1 year or more post-doctoral experience either in an academic or industrial setting, or a BSc/MSc with 6+ years industrial experience with a proven track record for project success. The characteristics we are looking for in a successful candidate include a strong attention to detail, a high level of organisation and effective communications skills, both written and verbal. The role is suited for a self-driven individual eager to demonstrate expertise and skill in the lab with the ability to prioritise and critically.

We offer outstanding benefits to include an attractive bonus, generous pension contributions, private healthcare and an excellent starting salary. Based within beautiful, landscaped surroundings with tree-lined walks, water features and a lake, all of which make for a wonderful working environment.

If you are looking to utilise your skills to really make a difference to humankind, then consider joining our team and apply today!

Please note that no terminology in this advert is intended to discriminate on the grounds of a person’s gender, marital status, race, religion, colour, age, disability or sexual orientation. Every candidate will be assessed only in accordance with their merits, qualifications and abilities to perform the duties of the job.