Are you someone who enjoys hands-on lab work and thrives in a fast-paced, collaborative research environment? We're looking for a motivated Research Associate to join our plant genotyping team, playing a key role in our molecular biology and genotyping pipelines. The ideal candidate is happy at the lab bench and equally comfortable with the computational analysis of genotyping data.
Who we are
At Wild Bio we are radically enhancing crops to feed the world sustainably and promote a wilder planet. Wild plants have had half a billion years to evolve natural solutions for thriving in almost every environment on Earth. Our proprietary genetics platform harnesses these wild innovations to enhance the world’s most important crops. Wild-enhanced crops would simultaneously boost farm yields and promote gigaton-scale carbon mitigation strategies. If you’re looking for a start-up that has enormous potential for impact on growers, consumers, and the planet, please read on.
Wild Bio is a well-funded, fast-paced Oxford University spin-out working from state-of-the-art labs and offices at Milton Park, Oxfordshire. We are about to enter an exciting phase of growth and are looking for a driven and curious scientist to join us and significantly contribute to delivering the change we believe in.
Our Values
Our work is guided by three core values that define who we are and how we approach our mission:
- Curiosity: We fuel our desire to explore the unknown, pushing the boundaries of knowledge and sparking innovation. We ask questions, seek answers, and embrace lifelong learning.
- Community: We believe in the strength and support gained through collaboration and inclusion. As part of a global community, we nurture connections to drive meaningful impact for both people and planet.
- Courage: We face challenges head-on, take calculated risks, and stand up for our beliefs. Our bravery propels us to take action, even in the face of adversity.
If these values resonate with you, we invite you to join our team of passionate scientists and innovators working at the cutting edge of bioscience.
The Role
In this position, you will be working with a team of scientists and technicians, supporting genotyping workflows across wheat, soybean, and other crops. You will work with liquid handling systems, contribute to multi-disciplinary research projects, and contribute to the processes and standards that keep our science running smoothly.
Location
We’re headquartered in Milton Park, a business and technology park in Oxfordshire. This is an on-site role, though we offer flexibility and hybrid working when possible.
The successful candidate will be required to provide proof of eligibility to work in the UK.
Essential
- A Bachelor's degree in a relevant biological science (Master's desirable), together with hands-on experience gained afterward — whether in academia or industry.
- Strong, hands-on wet-lab molecular biology experience, particularly nucleic acid extractions and PCR.
- Experience designing primers (and ideally probes) for genotyping or other molecular assays.
- Experience running and troubleshooting analysis tools in a Linux/Unix command-line environment.
- Familiarity with bioinformatics tools — comfortable moving between the bench and computational analysis of genotyping and sequencing data.
- Be a team player in a multi-disciplinary environment, building relationships, and gaining trust from others through honesty, compassion, and authenticity.
- Have a curious and courageous mindset, enjoy stepping up to try new things in a changing environment, and taking initiative where there is often ambiguity.
- Want to seek out new opportunities to develop, share learnings with others, and strive to support others in their own development and growth.
Desirable
- Proficiency with Linux, Python, and shell scripts to build or improve data analysis pipelines.
- Experience analysing gene edits (CRISPR, base editors, etc.) as part of genotyping workflows.
- Wet lab experience with high throughput sample processing, liquid handling, or PCR-based techniques (e.g. qPCR, dPCR).
Research Associate employer: Wild Bioscience
Wild Bioscience is an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture, perfect for those passionate about advancing agricultural science. Located near Bury St Edmunds, employees benefit from a supportive environment that encourages professional growth through hands-on experience in cutting-edge breeding techniques and partnerships with leading research institutions. With a focus on meaningful contributions to sustainable agriculture, this role offers the opportunity to make a significant impact while working alongside a dedicated team.
