Scientist - Applications Team (Pathogen)

At the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT), we’re on a mission to translate scientific discovery into real world impact. We bring together visionary scientists, technologists, engineers, researchers, educators and innovators to tackle humanity’s greatest challenges in four transformative areas:

• Health, Medical Science & Generative Biology
• Food Security & Sustainable Agriculture
• Climate Change & Managing CO₂
• Artificial Intelligence & Robotics

This is ambitious work - work that demands curiosity, courage, and a relentless drive to make a difference. At EIT, you’ll join a community built on excellence, innovation, tenacity, trust, and collaboration, where bold ideas become real-world breakthroughs. Together, we push boundaries, embrace complexity, and create solutions to scale ideas from lab to society. Explore more at www.eit.org.

Welcome to the Pathogen Project:

Within this ecosystem, the Pathogen Mission exemplifies EIT’s commitment to transformative science. It aims to revolutionise the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases by leveraging whole genome sequencing (WGS)-based metagenomic and pathogen-specific analytical tools. This remit includes the development of a decentralised, sample-to-answer sequencing diagnostic platform for infectious diseases, enabling rapid and accurate analysis of patient samples without prior assumptions. Supported by Oracle Inc.’s cloud-computing scale and security infrastructure, the Pathogen Mission is progressing towards certified diagnostic products for deployment in laboratories, hospitals, and public health organisations worldwide.

Your Role:

At EIT we are seeking an experienced and detailed orientated Scientist to join the Pathogen Applications Team and support microbiology, molecular biology, sample processing and sequencing activities.

This is a hands-on laboratory role supporting the receipt, processing and tracking of clinical and laboratory samples; preparation of quantified microbial cultures; qPCR and sequencing workflows. You will work closely with scientists across the Pathogen Applications Team to generate high-quality, traceable samples and data for research and development projects.

We are particularly interested in candidates who have developed strong practical laboratory skills in a diagnostic, clinical, industry, high-throughput or similarly structured laboratory environment. Previous experience as a Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA), Associate Practitioner, laboratory technician, research technician, or in a comparable industry laboratory role would be highly relevant.

This role would suit an early-career scientist with a relevant undergraduate degree and practical laboratory experience who is looking to broaden their skills across microbiology, molecular biology and sequencing technologies within a fast-paced research and development environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Receive, log, process and track clinical and laboratory samples, maintaining accurate sample identification and traceability.
• Perform routine laboratory processing of clinical and laboratory samples using established procedures.
• Perform microbiology workflows as required, including culture preparation, plating, colony counting, culture enumeration, and preparation of isolates or cultures for downstream applications.
• Perform molecular biology workflows, including nucleic acid extraction, quantification and preparation of samples for downstream analysis.
• Perform routine sample and assay quality control, including microbiological and molecular QC.
• Perform qPCR assays and support the interpretation and documentation of routine QC results.
• Support the preparation of samples and libraries for sequencing.
• Assist with sequencing run set-up and routine sequencing operations following established protocols.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date laboratory records, sample tracking information and experimental documentation.
• Prepare reagents, media, buffers and other laboratory materials according to established procedures.
• Support inventory management, including stock checks, consumable management, reagent monitoring and ordering.
• Perform routine laboratory housekeeping, equipment checks, cleaning and maintenance activities.
• Work in accordance with laboratory health and safety requirements, SOPs, risk assessments and HTA requirements where applicable.
• Identify and escalate laboratory, sample, QC or sequencing issues to appropriate senior team members.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across the Pathogen Applications Team to support changing laboratory priorities and workflows.

Essential Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in microbiology, biomedical science, molecular biology, biological sciences, biotechnology or another relevant scientific discipline.
• Practical laboratory experience gained through employment in a diagnostic, clinical, industry, research, high-throughput or similar laboratory environment.

·       Hands-on practical experience in microbiology and/or molecular biology techniques.

• Hands-on experience with routine laboratory techniques, including accurate pipetting, aseptic technique and following established procedures or SOPs.
• Experience processing, labelling, tracking or managing samples.
• Experience performing laboratory workflows accurately, consistently and to defined quality standards.
• Good understanding of laboratory quality control and the importance of sample traceability.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to maintain accurate laboratory records.
• Good organisational skills and ability to manage multiple samples or laboratory activities.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a laboratory team and escalate issues appropriately.
• Competence with standard laboratory IT systems, spreadsheets and electronic documentation.

Desirable Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Master’s degree in microbiology, biomedical science, molecular biology, biological sciences, biotechnology or another relevant scientific discipline.
• Previous experience working as a Medical Laboratory Assistant, Associate Practitioner, laboratory technician, research technician, or in a comparable diagnostic, clinical or industry laboratory role.
• Experience processing clinical specimens or other complex biological samples.
• Experience with microbiology workflows, including bacterial culture, colony isolation, culture enumeration and preparation of microbial cultures.
• Experience with molecular biology techniques, including nucleic acid extraction, quantification and PCR or qPCR.
• Experience preparing samples for downstream molecular analysis, library preparation or sequencing.
• Exposure to next-generation sequencing workflows or sequencing technologies.
• Experience working in a regulated, accredited, diagnostic, quality-controlled or high-throughput laboratory environment.
• Familiarity with laboratory information management systems (LIMS) or other electronic sample tracking systems.
• Experience working with human-derived samples and an understanding of associated sample handling and traceability requirements.
• Experience preparing microbiological media, reagents, buffers and laboratory consumables.

Previous sequencing experience is advantageous but not essential. Training in sequencing-specific workflows will be provided.

Key Attributes

• Practical and comfortable working at the bench.
• Meticulous, with strong attention to detail.
• Organised and reliable, particularly when handling and tracking multiple samples.
• Able to follow established procedures accurately and consistently.
• Comfortable working across microbiology and molecular laboratory workflows.
• Willing to learn and develop skills across microbiology, molecular biology and sequencing.
• Team-oriented and collaborative.
• Able to work effectively in a fast-paced laboratory environment where priorities may change.
• Proactive in identifying problems and seeking guidance when appropriate.
• Positive and willing to contribute to the wider operation of the laboratory.

Our Benefits:

• Salary: £Competitive + travel allowance + bonus
• Enhanced holiday pay
• Pension
• Life Assurance
• Income Protection
• Private Medical Insurance
• Hospital Cash Plan
• Therapy Services
• Perk Box
• Electric Car Scheme

Working Together – What It Involves:

• You must have the right to work permanently in the UK with a willingness to travel as necessary. In certain cases, we can consider sponsorship, and this will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
• You will live in, or within easy commuting distance of, Oxford (or be willing to relocate).
• This is an fully onsite role in Oxford.