Senior Scientist Role - Genome Engineering / Synthetic Biology

We are an award-winning synthetic biology focused venture backed by a global pharmaceutical company. We have exciting plans to grow over the next 24 months and further develop our human biotherapeutics. Accordingly, we are seeking a skilled synthetic biologist with interests in genome engineering to join the CC Bio team and help us realise our mission.
 

Description of Your Role
 

We are seeking a highly motivated, curious, and self-driven synthetic / microbiologist to join the CC Bio team in Q1 of 2023. This job role is supported by a successful Innovate UK Biomedical Catalyst Grant and is in partnership with synbiCITE, Imperial College London.

As the lead of our Dionysus programme, your primary role will involve designing and engineering a suite of appropriate bacterial chassis which can be effectively deployed across different human tissue systems to sense metabolic changes and record this information. The bacterial chassis will be derived from a range of different host organisms capable of withstanding challenges associated with each biological niche. You will consider the wider biological implications of deploying genetically modified bacteria as diagnostics and develop strategies to overcome these. Your time will be split 30:70 between the wet and dry labs, where you will integrate predictions from a range of metabolic models with high throughput genome engineering strategies to reliably produce high-quality experimental data.

In addition to leading our Dionysus programme, you will have the opportunity to help develop other important elements of our scientific vision whilst working closely with our academic partners. You will work in tandem with two other senior scientists focusing on different but highly integrated CC Bio core technologies.
 

What You’ll Do in This Role

- Identify appropriate bacterial strains for delivery to different human tissues systems and evaluate the effectiveness of existing tools to engineer these organisms for high-throughput genome modification.
- Where appropriate, you will tune endogenous metabolic pathways to alter bacterial persistence in different tissue systems.

- You will design, develop, integrate, and evaluate kill-switch technologies which prevent environmental release of genetically engineered bacterial chassis.
- You will identify genomic loci which are tolerant to integration of exogenous DNA circuits across a suite of relevant bacterial hosts.

- You will automate these methodologies using simple robotics, where possible.
- You will work closely with our Athena programme lead.

- You will keep excellent experimental/data records for cross-functional teamwork and project learnings.

- You'll organise and manage your time effectively, balancing competing priorities based on business goals and the focus of your wider team, to deliver to commercial timelines.
- You will have access to state-of-the-art automation technologies provided by synbiCITE, Imperial College London.

- As an employee of an early-stage, growing company, you will also have the opportunity to build your experience in certain commercial and operational aspects of the company.

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Requirements

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What We’re Looking For
 

- You have a PhD in synthetic biology, molecular biology, microbiology, biochemistry or similar.

- You enjoy generating and implementing new ideas in the wet and dry labs with excellent troubleshooting skills.

- You have a good understanding of synthetic biology techniques, with a particular focus on CRISPR-based technologies and DNA assembly methods.
- You have experience in whole genome sequencing and genome assembly tools.

- You have experience with molecular biological procedures including PCR, DNA extraction, plasmid preparation, SDS-PAGE, Western blotting and recombinant protein purification.

- You have routinely cultured and genetically modified Escherichia coli and one other microorganism.

- You are familiar with using reporter systems e.g. GFP, and in particular, will have previously utilised plate readers to monitor gene expression / microbial growth rates.

- You are able to independently curate literature and design experiments in an autonomous fashion.
- You are not phased by the challenges posed when working with non-model organisms.

Additional, But Not Essential, Skills: “Nice to Haves”
 

- You are familiar with open-source software and bioinformatics tools in the synthetic and systems biology space.

- You have previous experience developing bioinformatics tools / analysing large datasets using python or R.

- You have experience culturing and genetically manipulating anaerobic microorganisms.

- You have experience building and working with integrated laboratory systems.

- You have previously worked in a commercial biotechnology environment.
 

How You Enjoy Working
 

- You enjoy conceiving interesting ideas, discussing them, and then putting them into action yourself.

- You actively seek to collaborate to solve problems, and have no problem working with people who have different viewpoints and backgrounds.

- You don’t take constructive criticism personally and understand that in scientific research, the results of your work do not always represent your efforts.

- You like to work on meaningful projects, and more generally, be part of businesses which are focused on human health research.

- You enjoy working independently but seek out guidance where appropriate.

- You’re not afraid of defending your ideas and approach and are happy to appropriately and constructively challenge viewpoints of your peers.

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Benefits
 

- You will receive an industry-competitive salary which will be based upon your experience.

- You will be embedded in a state-of-the-art facility at the Imperial Translation and Innovation Hub (iHUB), West London, with a growing scientific start-up community.
- Your time will be split between CC Bio core facilities and the Imperial College London SynbiCITE Biofoundry, where you will have access to state-of-the-art robotics and analytical equipment. 

- You will work within an organisation with a generally flexible working culture and will receive a generous leave allowance.

- You will have access to the cycle to work scheme.

Our company culture is, and will always be, inclusive: we will not discriminate based upon gender identity, race, nationality, skin colour, age, disability, relationship status, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected right or status.

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If this job role is a good fit for your skillset, please get in touch with Matthew@ccbio.co.uk before December 10th, 2023. Don’t be discouraged from applying if your skills do not exactly align with the requirements, but you feel that you would still succeed in the role. In your application, please include your CV alongside a cover letter which outlines why you’d love to join us.