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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Support R&D projects and perform aptamer discovery in a cutting-edge AI drug discovery company.
- Company: PentaBind, a pioneering startup revolutionising healthcare with AI and innovative therapeutics.
- Benefits: Join a growing team with opportunities for career advancement and impactful work.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of personalised medicine and contribute to groundbreaking therapeutic solutions.
- Qualifications: Ph.D. in relevant fields and strong experimental lab skills required.
- Other info: Collaborate with experts and gain exposure to state-of-the-art technologies in a dynamic environment.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
About Us
PentaBind is the first aptamer discovery company using AI and a fully-integrated wet laboratory to design a new generation of alternative oligo therapeutics. Our pioneering platform already improves the experimental search space by 300x, generating therapeutic aptamers for urgent clinical needs within oncology, rare and neurodegenerative diseases. In collaboration with global partners, we also design custom aptamers for a variety of industries including diagnostics, health monitoring, and manufacturing. We are a VC-backed pre-seed startup with a lab in White City, supported by Hoxton Ventures, Twin Path, Entrepreneur First, KQ labs among others. Currently a team of 12, and 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 support internal R&D projects, client projects and drug discovery programmes in the context of an early-stage AI drug discovery company. You will focus on performing aptamer discovery pipelines as part of our AI-wet-lab feedback loop, for therapeutic and diagnostic applications. This position will also support and perform biophysical, biochemical and oligochemistry functions with respect to the in vitro design and optimisation of aptamer-based cytotoxic conjugates and radiopharmaceuticals. You will play a key role in the progression of internal therapeutic assets through the development of critical pharmacology assays and gain exposure to key aspects of preclinical discovery including in vitro and in vivo pharmacokinetic and efficacy studies. The position will offer outstanding opportunities to work on state-of-the-art high-throughput screening platforms, automation, and work at Imperial, the Translation & Innovation I-HUB and London Biofoundry. This role is ideally suited for a motivated experimental scientist who is passionate about oligonucleotides, pharmaceuticals and technology.
Key Responsibilities
- Perform and optimise aptamer discovery workflows
- Design, execute, and troubleshoot biochemistry and molecular biology experiments
- Execute previously standardised SELEX, NGS, SPR, qPCR, flow cytometry and confocal based studies
- Suggest your own ideas, formulate plans and strategy proposals to present to the senior management
- Maintain excellent documentation of laboratory work
- Analyse and interpret experimental data, providing clear conclusions and recommendations to internal teams
- Support efforts in intellectual property generation, including patents and publications in high-impact journals
- Collaborate with the ML scientists, drug discovery, assay development and chemistry teams
Ideal Candidate (essential)
- Have obtained, or currently finishing, a Ph.D degree in biochemistry, chemical biology, cell biology or a relevant discipline
- Outstanding experimental (i.e., lab) skills with an attention to detail
- Experience in molecular biology, biochemistry, and/or drug discovery specifically in hit identification and qualification
- Proficient in mammalian cell culture DNA and protein handling skills
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Excellent organisational, data-archiving and presentation skills
- English language speaking, listening and writing fluency
Desirable Candidate (not essential)
- Industry experience
- Hands-on experience with PCR, nucleic acid QC, and protein QC (e.g., SDS-PAGE)
- Experienced in biophysical characterisation of nucleic acid-protein or nucleic acid-ligand interactions (one of, e.g., SPR, BLI, ELISA, FP)
- Familiarity with delivery systems for nucleic acids, such as lipid nanoparticles or conjugates.
- Publication in a major scientific journal with molecular biology/biochemistry contributions
If you are interested in this opportunity, please apply here https://www.pentabind.com/careers along with your CV.
Scientist I employer: PentaBind
Contact Detail:
PentaBind Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Scientist I
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend relevant events, and connect with PentaBind's team on LinkedIn. Building relationships can open doors that a CV alone can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Show your passion! When you get the chance to chat with someone from PentaBind, make sure to express your enthusiasm for AI in drug discovery and how it aligns with your career goals. Let them see your excitement!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your knowledge of aptamer technology and recent advancements in the field. Be ready to discuss how your skills can contribute to their innovative projects.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It's the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you're genuinely interested in joining the PentaBind team.
We think you need these skills to ace Scientist I
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for biochemistry and drug discovery shine through. We want to see that you’re not just qualified, but genuinely excited about the work we do at PentaBind!
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience and skills that align with the Scientist I role. We love seeing how your background fits into our mission, so don’t hold back on showcasing your aptamer expertise!
Be Clear and Concise: In your written application, clarity is key. We appreciate straightforward language that gets to the point. Avoid jargon unless it’s necessary, and make sure your ideas are easy to follow.
Follow the Application Process: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. We can’t wait to see what you bring to the table!
How to prepare for a job interview at PentaBind
✨Know Your Science
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of biochemistry, molecular biology, and drug discovery. Be ready to discuss your Ph.D. research and how it relates to aptamer technology. PentaBind is looking for someone who can dive deep into the science, so show them you’re passionate and knowledgeable!
✨Showcase Your Experimental Skills
Prepare to talk about your hands-on experience in the lab. Highlight specific techniques like PCR, SELEX, or flow cytometry that you've mastered. PentaBind values attention to detail, so be ready to share examples of how you've optimised experiments or solved problems in your previous work.
✨Communicate Clearly
Since excellent communication skills are essential, practice explaining complex scientific concepts in simple terms. You might need to present your ideas or findings to non-experts, so being able to articulate your thoughts clearly will set you apart from other candidates.
✨Be Innovative
PentaBind is all about revolutionising medicine, so come prepared with your own ideas! Think about potential improvements or new approaches in aptamer discovery that you could suggest during the interview. Showing initiative and creativity will demonstrate your fit for their innovative culture.