Development Scientist

Development Scientist

Oxford, United Kingdom - Full-Time

About Oxford Nanopore Technologies

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. The company’s goal is to bring the widest benefits to society through enabling the analysis of anything, by anyone, anywhere.

Oxford Nanopore has developed a new generation of nanopore-based sensing technology, enabling the real-time, high-performance, accessible and scalable analysis of DNA and RNA. The technology is used in more than 100 countries to understand the biology of humans and diseases, plants, animals, bacteria, viruses, and whole environments. Oxford Nanopore’s sequencing platform is the only technology that offers real-time analysis in fully scalable formats, from pocket to population-scale, and the only one that can sequence native DNA or RNA samples, with no restriction on read length.

The Role 

Our Sample Technology team is responsible for the specification, development and performance of the company’s suite of nucleic acid sample preparation kits, and the development of end-to-end sample-to-answer workflows, all intimately associated with our sequencing platforms (e.g. MinION/GridION and PromethION).

We are seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented individual with relevant lab-based skills to join the team as a Development Scientist. The role is based at our Oxford headquarters and involves laboratory-based development, characterisation, troubleshooting and performance improvement across DNA and RNA sample-preparation workflows.

Formally reporting to the Sequencing Kit Development Associate Director, the successful candidate will work across multiple projects and be responsible for helping to deliver continuous improvement to the sample preparation kits, focussing on characterising, troubleshooting, and improving the performance of the biomolecular components contained within. In a highly collaborative role, you will work with various stakeholders, from the Research division through to Production.

Key Responsibilities

• Initial design, iteration and characterisation of various biomolecular components within ONT’s sample preparation kits for various applications.
• Developing biochemical, biophysical and sequencing-based assays as well as method development for chromatography-based assays.
• Protein/DNA complex formation and chromatography-based purification.
• Routine use of our nanopore-based single molecule assays.
• Robust and thorough data analysis of any conducted experiments and accurate reporting to the wider team and division.

Essential Experience and Skills

• Hands-on experience working with nucleic acids, proteins or biomolecular complexes in a laboratory setting.
• Familiarity in designing, executing, troubleshooting and interpreting experiments accurately and effectively.
• Practical working knowledge of chromatographic (HPLC/LC-MS) methods for analysis or purification of DNA/RNA, proteins, small molecules or complex mixtures.
• Expertise with at least one relevant analytical or assay method, such as electrophoresis, RT-qPCR, fluorescence-based assays or sequencing-based assays.
• Ability to maintain accurate experimental records and communicate results clearly to technical and non-technical colleagues.

Desirable Experience

• Knowledge of chromatography method development.
• Experience with assay optimisation, oligonucleotide design, library preparation, ONT platforms or other NGS technologies.
• Ability to analyse and visualise experimental data using Python, R, command-line tools or equivalent methods.

Qualifications

• PhD in Biochemistry, Chemistry or a related field, or equivalent industrial/applied research experience.

Benefits and Environment

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.