Job Description
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!
We are looking for a highly motivated Senior Scientist to join our Translational Development - Infection Team. This position will be based at our labs in Norwich.
The Details…
The Translational Development - Infection Team are responsible for developing and prototyping diagnostic products and protocols for the infectious diseases market. This role will support the further development required for our end-to-end workflows. This exciting opportunity involves creating, developing and evaluating metagenomic and targeted diagnostic workflows compatible with our disruptive sequencing devices, such as the MinION. Reporting to the Associate Director of Translational Development - Infection, the Senior Scientist will drive forward projects by contributing expertise in the laboratory environment as well as ideas and knowledge to support the development and testing of prototype products.
Hands-on experience in four or more of the following areas is required:
- Experience in molecular biology including NGS, PCR, qPCR, isothermal amplification and standard nucleic acid handling techniques.
- Characterisation of DNA/RNA and proteins.
- Execution of biochemical/biophysical assays (e.g. enzyme activity assays and fluorescence-based techniques).
- Experience with assay design, development and optimisation.
- Experience of working within a quality management system e.g. ISO13485.
- Experience handling BSL organisms and cell culture.
Responsibilities Include
- Demonstrate high standards of experimental work, analytical skill, systematic problem-solving ability and a strong work ethic.
- Contributing ideas, knowledge and drive to advance projects
- Develop targeted and metagenomic approaches for the diagnosis of infection
- Operation of our Nanopore range of sequencing devices and associated software
- Presenting, discussing and communicating data at meetings, within the team and to line management
- Communicating project updates within Nanopore, to external parties and the wider customer base at Nanopore events
- Ensuring accurate and up to date written experimental details
- Comprehend and interpret results
- Liaise with clinical colleagues to source clinical samples for method evaluation
- Generate data to showcase performance of the diagnostic methods
- Communicate and liaise effectively with key stakeholders to transfer methods across teams (this includes transfer to the assay team for regulatory validation)
- Be proficient with basic sequence data analysis packages, to enter, analyse and manipulate data, to organise files and communicate work
- Attend and present at Oxford Nanopore events (such as London Calling)
- Any other duties as might be required within the remit and responsibilities of the post.
What We're Looking For...
We'll expect you to have a PhD in life sciences or several years of equivalent, relevant industry experience. You'll be skilled in the manipulation of nucleic acids (both DNA and RNA) and will have experience with a wide variety of molecular biology techniques and methods. Experience with library preparation for DNA and RNA sequencing is desirable.
In addition, you'll need excellent communication skills to effectively influence and engage with key stakeholders plus exemplary time management skills, methodical problem-solving ability and a good eye for detail. This role will suit someone with the drive to achieve results and who is motivated to achieve company set targets within deadlines.
We offer outstanding benefits to include an attractive bonus, generous pension contributions, private healthcare and an excellent starting salary.
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.
About Us
Oxford Nanopore Technologies: Our goal is to bring the widest benefits to society through enabling the analysis of anything, by anyone, anywhere. The company has developed a new generation of nanopore-based sensing technology for faster, information rich, accessible and affordable molecular analysis. The first application is DNA/RNA sequencing, and the technology is in development for the analysis of other types of molecules including proteins. The technology is used to understand and characterise the biology of humans and diseases such as cancer, plants, animals, bacteria, viruses, and whole environments. With a thriving culture of ambition and strong innovation goals, Oxford Nanopore is a UK headquartered company with global operations and customers in more than 125 countries.
