We are looking for a Senior Scientist to lead antimicrobial screening of previously uncultured microbes for novel bioactive metabolites.
Company
Bactobio is a young London-based BioTech company (2020) using AI, genomics, and synthetic biology to culture previously unculturable microbes and screen them for antimicrobials. We regularly discover chemically novel antimicrobials that are effective against some of the biggest infectious diseases in agritech and healthcare, and select diseases to target based on the lack of current, effective solutions and the potential market size.
You will develop and execute our commercialisation strategy, communicate the potential of our platform, and initiate strategic, scientific, and commercial partnerships. You will also help us win large grants to fuel the discovery and development of our antimicrobial compounds.
Our work culture is built around impact, empowerment, and collaboration, and we have managed to attract incredible scientists from world-leading institutions, alongside operational experts. We believe that open and inclusive conversations lead to better solutions. As a result, we have created a unique work environment, where ambitious people enjoy working together to make the world greener and safer.
Team
The Compound Discovery team consists of microbiologists, chemists and natural product experts who identify, isolate and characterise bioactive compounds from novel microbes. The team works closely with software engineers, data scientists, and bioinformaticians to conduct data-driven experimentation to continuously accelerate and optimise the discovery process.
Role
In this lab-based role, you will join our Compound Discovery team to coordinate our antimicrobial screening assays and lead improvements to the characterisation of compound bioactivity. This will support our vision to deliver solutions to global issues, including the discovery of new antibiotics against resistant bacteria and fungicides to support global food security.
Teamwork
All projects are led by individuals but supported by the entire group and discussed on a weekly basis. This model relies on people to take responsibility for their own projects, be open to discussing new ideas, and give fair and unbiased feedback. We are therefore looking for people who enjoy working in a collaborative and adaptive environment, with strong communication skills and a drive to be proactive.
Your responsibilities will include:
Conducting R&D and troubleshooting of our screening workflows for testing microbial extracts and pure compounds
Designing, miniaturising and optimising primary and secondary bioassays
Performing experiments, including sample preparation and data acquisition
Analysing data in R/python
Making data-driven decisions to prioritise samples entering bioassays and those that are processed downstream
Identifying opportunities to automate the pipeline and supporting their implementation
Coordinating containment and compliance for handling of hazard group II pathogens
Leading quality assurance monitoring and reporting
You should have:
A PhD in biochemistry / microbiology/ cell biology or similar field
4+ years postdoctoral experience or equivalent industrial experience (start-up / biotech company preferred)
Experience conducting bioassay development/optimisation
Data-driven mindset facilitated by comfortably working with (retrieving, processing) large datasets to inform experimental decisions
Experience with carrying out medium- to high-throughput screening assays
Experience in working with lab automation (design, implementation, and optimisation of automated workflows)
Highly organised and detail-oriented, with a focus on delivering high-quality results
Strong self-motivation and drive to expand our technical platform
Good priority management and ability to adapt
Collaborative drive and good team ethic
It would be great if you had:
Experience with natural products and/or bacterial extracts
Experience using SQL to access and process data in a relational database
Knowledge of biostatistics
Experience working with diverse microbes
Benefits
The chance to be part of an impact-driven, fun, multicultural, kind, and ambitious crowd
Daily access to academic leaders, business leaders, and unicorn founders
25 days holiday + bank holidays
Enhanced parental leave (12 weeks maternity / 6 weeks paternity)
Enhanced Sick Pay
Paid sabbatical after 5 years employment
Flexible start and finish times within the company’s core hours to fit your preferences
Weekly team activities including board games, sports activities, and socials on Fridays
Complimentary snacks, fruits, tea, coffee, soft drinks,...
Access to 1000s of training courses through Udemy, with an allowance for both personal development and work-related training
Bike2Work scheme
Employee Assistance Programme offering structured counselling, life and career coaching, legal and financial advice platform
