Senior Assay Development Scientist / Consultant

Senior Assay Development Scientist / Consultant

Cambridge | Permanent, Contract, Interim or Consultancy

We're supporting a well-funded biotech platform company developing a novel sequencing-based assay at the intersection of:

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• RNA biology
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• Nucleic acid chemistry
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• Selection technologies
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• NGS readouts
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• Quantitative assay development
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This is a role for someone who enjoys digging into complex workflows and understanding exactly where signal is generated, amplified, distorted, or lost.

You'll be helping evaluate and strengthen a highly complex assay by:

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• Identifying sources of bias and variability
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• Understanding assay robustness and reproducibility
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• Designing controls, standards and spike-ins
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• Investigating PCR, sequencing and sampling effects
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• Assessing enrichment and selection-based readouts
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• Determining whether the final output truly reflects the underlying biology
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Ideal Background

You'll likely bring experience in several of the following:

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• Quantitative assay development
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• RNA handling and RNA-based workflows
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• NGS and sequencing-based assays
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• Selection or screening platforms
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• Nucleic acid chemistry
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• Assay characterisation and validation
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• Library-based experiments
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• Primer, probe and RT assay design
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• Controls, calibrants and reference standards
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• PCR bias, normalisation and enrichment analysis
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The Person

We're looking for someone who:

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• Can challenge assumptions with data
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• Thinks independently
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• Enjoys troubleshooting difficult scientific problems
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• Has taken methods from proof-of-concept through to robust, reproducible workflows
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• Is comfortable providing clear technical recommendations
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Flexible Engagement

The team is open-minded on structure and would consider:

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• Permanent hires
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• Contract scientists
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• Independent consultants
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• Technical audits
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• Longer-term collaborations
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