Employer 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.

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 highly motivated individual with great lab-based skills to join the team as aDevelopment Scientist. The role, based at the company’s Oxford headquarters, will support the development of new nanopore sequencing products, focusing on developing and delivering new biomolecular components (Key Features) within the cutting-edge sample-preparation kits. These kits are designed to handle a large variety of DNA and RNA sample types, and are specific to customers’ particular requirements.

Formally reporting to the Key Features team lead, 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, the successful candidate will enjoy interacting with various stakeholders, from the Research division (through adopting and developing new ideas) to Production, where their work, ultimately, makes it into customers’ hands. The team itself is markedly multidisciplinary, containing biological and physical scientists, bioinformaticians, and software developers.

What We're Looking For

We are looking for a motivated and detail-oriented candidate who will have experience in at least two of the following areas:

Good understanding of biochemical properties of DNA/RNA and/or proteins.  Familiarity with characterising DNA, RNA or proteins using techniques such as electrophoresis, spectrophotometry, PCR or HPLC. Knowledge of chromatographic methods for analysis or purification of DNA/RNA, proteins, small molecules or complex mixtures. Exposure to conducting biochemical and biophysical assays, including RT-qPCR and other fluorescence- and plate-based techniques. Assay design, development and optimisation.

Having experience in one or more of the following areas is a plus:

Knowledge of Oxford Nanopore’s or other NGS sequencing platforms. HPLC method development. Oligonucleotide design. Familiarity with Linux, Python, R or command line programming. 

Responsibilities include:

Carrying out biochemical, biophysical and sequencing-based assays. Protein/DNA complex formation and chromatography-based purification. Performing gel / chip / capillary electrophoresis. Use of fluorescence plate readers. Design and implementation of component stability trials. Routine use of our nanopore sequencing devices.

The successful candidate will hold a degree (ideally a master’s degree) in physical, chemical or biological sciences, and will have good laboratory experience (perhaps a year in industry as part of their degree).

The candidate should have a strong attention to detail, a high level of organisation and solid communications skills, both written and verbal. The role is suited for a self-driven individual eager to learn and grow, who will be afforded ample training and coaching, aimed to support their development.