Scientist I in London

PentaBind is an AI-driven biotechnology company developing proprietary aptamers for targeted therapeutics, diagnostics, biosensing, and continuous molecular monitoring. Our pioneering platform improves the experimental search space by 300x, generating aptamers for diagnostics, wellness, and urgent clinical needs across a global partner and client base. We are a VC-backed startup with a lab in White City, supported by Hoxton Ventures, Twin Path, Entrepreneur First, KQ labs among others. Currently a team of 13, we are growing to 21 people in the next 12 months.

Our Vision: PentaBind envisions a future where AI powers truly personalised and precise healthcare through next-generation aptamer technology. We’re revolutionising medicine, transforming how therapies, diagnostics, and manufacturing are designed to improve lives worldwide.

The Role: As a Scientist I, you will join our R&D team and play a key role in the development of electrochemical aptamer-based assays and sensor-ready aptamer assets. You will work closely with PentaBind’s aptamer discovery, molecular biology, bioinformatics, and machine learning teams to translate aptamer candidates into robust electrochemical sensing formats. You will help establish PentaBind's next-generation electrochemical sensing platform, translating AI-discovered aptamers into application-ready sensors for diagnostics, wearable technologies, and continuous molecular monitoring.

This role is ideally suited for a motivated experimental scientist who has practical experience in electrochemistry and biosensor development, with a passion for understanding how aptamer sequence, structure, electrode surface chemistry, immobilisation strategy, and assay conditions influence sensor performance.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design, execute, and troubleshoot electrochemical assays for the evaluation of aptamer candidates.
• Perform electrochemical measurements using techniques such as square-wave voltammetry, cyclic voltammetry, and impedance-based methods (e.g., EIS).
• Interpret electrochemical data and identify factors affecting signal amplitude, sensitivity, stability, and reproducibility.
• Optimise electrode surface chemistry, aptamer immobilisation, assay conditions, and sensor architecture to maximise analytical performance.
• Evaluate analytical performance, including sensitivity, selectivity, dynamic range, response time, reproducibility, and signal drift.
• Support the characterisation of aptamer binding, specificity, and kinetics using appropriate biochemical and biophysical techniques (e.g., SPR, GCI, qPCR).
• Perform established aptamer discovery and next-generation sequencing (NGS) assays.
• Analyse and interpret experimental data, providing clear conclusions and recommendations to internal teams.
• Suggest your own ideas, formulate plans and strategy proposals to present to senior management.
• Contribute ideas and experimental strategies to advance electrochemical sensing programmes.
• Maintain excellent documentation of laboratory work.
• Work collaboratively with the ML scientists, R&D, chemistry, and bioinformatics teams.
• Support efforts in intellectual property generation, including patents and publications in high-impact journals.
• Support the development of PentaBind’s proprietary portfolio of sensor-ready aptamer assets.

Have obtained, or currently finishing, a Ph.D degree in biophysics, analytical chemistry, electrochemistry, biochemistry, bioengineering, or a relevant discipline. Hands-on experience in electrochemistry, electrochemical biosensors, or sensor assay development is required. Experience with potentiostats (e.g., PalmSens, Metrohm, CH Instruments, Ivium, or equivalent) is also necessary. Experience in molecular biology, biochemistry, and/or assay development, along with working with nucleic acids, proteins, small molecules, or related biological systems is essential. Strong experimental and analytical problem-solving skills, excellent organisational, data-archiving, and presentation skills, and the ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team are important. English language speaking, listening, and writing fluency is required.

Desirable Candidate (Non-Essential):

• 1+ years industry experience in biotechnology, diagnostics, biosensing, or a related industry.
• Practical experience developing electrochemical biosensors or affinity-based sensing assays.
• Experience in biophysical characterisation of nucleic acid-protein or nucleic acid-ligand interactions (e.g., SPR) is a plus.
• Knowledge of aptamers, affinity reagents, or nucleic acid-based technologies.