Research Scientist, Molecular Biology (Product Development)
Cambridge, United Kingdom
UK Lab /
Permanent, full-time /
On-site
Biofidelity is a revolutionary genomic technology company dedicated to unleashing the potential of genomics to transform human health and the world we live in. Our adaptive platform technology removes the noise from genomic data, providing only the information needed to make decision making less complex, faster, and more accurate.
At Biofidelity we are proud to have built a culture of humanity, openness and high expectations. We work towards well-defined goals, with a strong belief that we can make genomics globally accessible. Our people are keen to take responsibility for their work and share both their successes and challenges.
Biofidelity’s core values are Humanity- care & compassion; respecting personal lives; humour. Openness- sharing research; experimental approach; permission to fail. High expectations- be fearless; make a difference; willingness to do what’s needed. Our core values define our company culture, they are shared values, goals, attitudes and practices that characterise Biofidelity employees. We are looking for likeminded people to join the Biofidelity team.
Alongside a competitive salary and opportunities for career development, we offer a comprehensive benefits package including private medical & dental care, bonus, share option scheme, pension, income protection and life insurance, cycle to work scheme, season ticket loan, 26 days per year holiday allowance and free physical training sessions.
The role
Biofidelity is expanding its team responsible for the development and optimisation of its core technology. We are seeking a talented molecular biologist with a creative and ambitious mindset to work alongside the assay development team. This role reports to the Director of Technology Development.
Key responsibilities:
Research and Development:
● Perform research to improve characterisation of assays. Stay up to date with advancements in molecular biology techniques, instrumentation, and industry trends. This involves literature review, experimental design, and hypothesis generation.
● Continuously refine assay protocols and procedures to improve performance and efficiency.
Assay Design and Optimization:
● Plan, execute and analyze assay design and development studies according to design of experiments methodologies.
● Optimize assay conditions such as temperature, pH, reaction time, and concentrations of reagents to improve parameters such as sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility.
Verification and Validation:
● Perform verification and validation studies to demonstrate the reliability and accuracy of the assay.
Troubleshooting:
● Identify and troubleshoot issues that arise during assay development and validation.
Documentation:
● Maintain detailed records of experimental procedures, results, and observations.
● Document protocols, work instructions (WI), and validation reports according to regulatory requirements.
Collaboration:
● Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams including biologists, bioinformaticians, engineers, and clinicians to ensure the assay meets the requirements of the intended application.
Compliance
● Ensure compliance with relevant regulatory standards (e.g., FDA regulations, ISO standards) for assay development and validation. This includes documentation, data integrity, and adherence to Good Laboratory Practices (GLP).
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
● Proficiency in molecular biology techniques such as PCR (polymerase chain reaction), qPCR (quantitative PCR), isothermal amplification and nucleic acid extraction.
● Demonstrated ability to apply knowledge and expertise to complex challenges.
● Broad understanding of assay development methodology including testing of sensitivity and specificity.
● Skilled in pushing molecular techniques into new areas, potentially working at single molecule levels.
● Ability to design, execute and analyze experiments with minimal support from Senior Scientists.
● Ability to read and understand scientific content and apply to ongoing work,
● Familiarity with laboratory equipment and instrumentation used in molecular biology assays, including pipettes, centrifuges, thermal cyclers, and spectrophotometers.
● Understanding of laboratory safety protocols and procedures to ensure compliance with regulations and maintain a safe working environment.
● Proficiency in written communication for documenting protocols, writing reports, and preparing technical documentation.
● Engaging with Quality processes,writes Quality procedures such as WI, adheres to Quality processes.
● Collaborates effectively with colleagues on experiments and projects, sharing ideas, and providing support for scientists to achieve common goals.
● Clear and effective communication skills to collaborate with team members, present experimental findings, and report results.
● Strong organizational skills to manage multiple tasks simultaneously, prioritize workloads, and meet project timelines.
● Ability to work efficiently and effectively under pressure while maintaining attention to detail and quality standards.
● Ensures accuracy and precision in experimental procedures, data recording, and documentation.
● Willingness to learn from others and adapt to different working styles and perspectives.
● Identifies and addresses challenges in experiments, seeking guidance when needed, and proposing solutions.
● Proactively identifies issues and problems and actively seeks new solutions.
● Analyzes scientific literature, experimental results, and methodologies to evaluate their validity and relevance to research projects.
Requisite Education and Experience / Minimum Qualifications:
● PhD in molecular biology or MSc and 3-5 years relevant academic or industrial experience
