Main Purpose of the Job

The Earlham Institute is looking for an experienced molecular biologist with expertise in molecular/synthetic biology, cloning/DNA assembly and organisms engineering to join the Earlham Biofoundry team for a maternity cover position.

The post holder will contribute to the planning and delivery of research projects and the execution of established automated workflows. They will participate in laboratory maintenance and routine procedures, and engage with academic and industrial scientists to initiate new high-throughput automated projects in the field of engineering biology. The post holder will also contribute to the development of the Biofoundry and Interact with Biofoundry and engineering biology communities.

Key Relationships

INTERNAL: Biofoundry manager and automation specialist, Science Faculty and Research Teams, Director and Senior Management Teams, Business Development Teams, Capabilities Teams

EXTERNAL: collaborators, clients and other key stakeholders, visitors to EI, and technology suppliers (robotics platform solution providers).
 

Main Activities & Responsibilities

Percentage

Contribute to the delivery of collaborative and service research projects, establish automated workflows and general laboratory maintenance

50

Engage with scientists to deliver new high throughput automated projects in engineering biology

30

Contribute to the development of the Biofoundry and assist with the technical aspects of the Biofoundry

10

Interact with biofoundries and synthetic biology communities
 

5

Any other duties commensurate with the nature of the role, as agreed with the Biofoundry senior management

5

Education & Qualifications

Requirement

Importance

Degree in relevant scientific subject (e.g. molecular biology, genetic engineering, biotechnology)

Essential

PhD in Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Metabolic Engineering, Synthetic Biology, or a related subject.

Desirable

Specialist Knowledge & Skills

Requirement

Importance

Knowledge of molecular biology laboratory techniques including molecular cloning, purification of DNA, transfection and transformation, gene-expression analysis, genotyping etc.

Essential

Knowledge of methods used to deliver DNA to bacteria and eukaryotic cells

Essential

Knowledge of parallel DNA assembly technologies such as Golden Gate and Gibson assembly

Desirable

Knowledge of genome engineering technologies

Desirable

Knowledge of the general approaches used in metabolic engineering

Desirable

Relevant Experience

Requirement

Importance

Experience with gene expression techniques including construct design, transfection/transformation

Essential

Experience assessing the genotypes and phenotypes of microorganisms

Essential

Experienced in providing project updates to internal and external stakeholders

Desirable

Experience in planning and executing high throughputhigh throughput molecular biology experiments

Desirable

Interpersonal & Communication Skills

Requirement

Importance

Excellent communication skills, both written and oral, including the ability to present complex information with clarity

Essential

Excellent organisational skills

Essential

Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to work as part of a team

Essential

Ability to collaborate with internal and external stakeholders

Essential

Promotes and strives for continuous improvement

Essential

Additional Requirements

Requirement

Importance

Attention to detail

Essential

Promotes equality and values diversity

Essential

Willingness to embrace the expected values and behaviours of all staff at the Institute, ensuring it is a great place to work

Essential

Able to present a positive image of self and the Institute, promoting both the international reputation and public engagement aims of the Institute

Essential

Willingness to work outside standard working hours when required

Essential

Earlham Institute

About the Earlham Institute
The Earlham Institute is a hub of life science research, training, and innovation focused on understanding the natural world through the lens of genomics.

We are building a future where the biology of any organism can be understood by analysing its genome. Our mission is to decode the scale and complexity of living systems so we can understand, benefit from, and protect life on Earth.

The Earlham Institute is based on the Norwich Research Park and is one of eight institutes that receive strategic funding from the UKRI Biotechnology and Biological Science Research Council (BBSRC).

Our Science
Earlham Institute scientists specialise in developing and testing the latest tools and approaches needed to decode living systems and make predictions about biology.

We are home to state-of-the-art facilities and technology, creating a unique combination of expertise and infrastructure. We have dedicated laboratories for genome sequencing, single-cell analysis, engineering biology, and large-scale automation; as well as one of the largest supercomputing facilities for life science research in Europe. Our Advanced Training team also provides access to specialised scientific training to upskill the next generation of research and technical staff.

Our Culture
The Earlham Institute champions 'team science'. Our collegiate and innovative research environment comes with significant support, including a commitment to your professional development, research and administrative assistance, and opportunities to build collaborations with scientists and industry on the Norwich Research Park, across the UK, and internationally.

The Institute is also home to talented technical and operational staff, whose invaluable contributions enable our science to have the maximum impact. We aim to recognise, reward, and develop all staff and students so that every individual feels able to achieve their best with us.

We work hard to nurture an engaged and positive workplace, centred on core values that include openness, technical excellence, and collaboration. We attract staff from around the world who contribute to - and benefit from - an environment that enables them to deliver world-class science alongside a supportive and social community.

For more information about working at the Earlham Institute, please click here.

Further Information:

Our Vision and Mission

Our Strategy

Our Culture

Life at Earlham Institute

Department

Research Faculty

Group Details

The Earlham Biofoundry is a resource for the UK biology and biotechnology communities, providing a platform for undertaking large-scale projects. We offer state-of-the-art laboratory automation suites, which, combined with expertise in large-scale experimentation and engineering biology, can be applied to a wide range of molecular and microbiological workflows.

Engineering Biology integrates engineering principles, such as standardization and modularization, into biological sciences through iterative design-build-test-learn (DBTL) cycles. By standardizing biological components and reactions, we enable the automation of experimental workflows. This approach has the potential to revolutionize research by increasing speed and scale, improving accuracy, and enabling miniaturization to reduce costs. 

Our established automated workflows are available to researchers in both academia and industry and can be requested as a service. Alternatively, we welcome collaborative opportunities, where we contribute our scientific expertise and technical knowledge to develop new methods, automate processes, and scale up workflows applying synthetic biology approaches to tackle scientific challenges.

We offer comprehensive training in laboratory automation through practical sessions, laboratory placements, specialized training courses, and by hosting collaborators.

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Biofoundry Technician (Maternity Cover)

Applications are invited for a Maternity Cover Biofoundry Technician to join Earlham Institute Biofoundry team, based in Norwich, UK.

Background:

The Earlham Biofoundry is a resource for the UK biology and biotechnology communities, providing a platform for undertaking large-scale projects. We offer state-of-the-art laboratory automation suites, which, combined with expertise in large-scale experimentation and engineering biology, can be applied to a wide range of molecular and microbiological workflows.

Engineering Biology integrates engineering principles, such as standardization and modularization, into biological sciences through iterative design-build-test-learn (DBTL) cycles. By standardizing biological components and reactions, we enable the automation of experimental workflows. This approach has the potential to revolutionize research by increasing speed and scale, improving accuracy, and enabling miniaturization to reduce costs. 

Our established automated workflows are available to researchers in both academia and industry and can be requested as a service. Alternatively, we welcome collaborative opportunities, where we contribute our scientific expertise and technical knowledge to develop new methods, automate processes, and scale up workflows applying synthetic biology approaches to tackle scientific challenges.

We offer comprehensive training in laboratory automation through practical sessions, laboratory placements, specialized training courses, and by hosting collaborators.

The role:

The post holder will contribute to the planning and delivery of research projects and the execution of established automated workflows.

They will participate in laboratory maintenance and routine procedures and engage with academic and industrial scientists to initiate new high-throughput automated projects in the field of engineering biology.

The post holder will also contribute to the development of the Biofoundry and Interact with Biofoundry and engineering biology communities.

The ideal candidate:

Candidates should have a degree in a relevant scientific subject, and good understanding of common molecular biology laboratory techniques including molecular cloning, purification of DNA, transfection and transformation, gene expression analysis, gene-editing, and genotyping.

Good communication and organisation skills with the ability to work in a team and independently essential to this role. Candidates are also expected to have excellent internal and external stakeholder collaboration skills.

Additional information:

Salary on appointment will be within the range £36,000 to £39,750 per annum depending on qualifications and experience. This is a full-time maternity cover post expected to last for 12 months, this could be shorter or longer depending on when the absent employee returns to work.

This role meets the criteria for a visa application, and we encourage all qualified candidates to apply.  Please contact the Human Resources Team if you have any questions regarding your application or visa options.

As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee to offer an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for this vacancy.

The closing date for applications will be 8 October 2024.