Location: Cambridge, UK (In-Person)
Salary: £35,000 – £40,000 per year (depending on experience)
Role Type: 1-Year Fixed-Term Contract (Full-Time)
About RapidX
At RapidX Bio, we are ushering in a new healthcare paradigm for the 21st century. Every year, 8.7 million people die due to delayed diagnosis of microbial disease—with patients waiting an average of 8 days for reliable diagnostic results and targeted treatment.
Spun out of Cavendish Laboratory at the University of Cambridge, RapidX has developed a patented, infrastructure-free, plasmonic PCR platform that enables lab-quality diagnostic results in under 10 minutes, directly at the point of care. Backed by leading institutions and top-tier investors, our cross-disciplinary team is on a mission to deliver rapid, affordable diagnostics for everyone, everywhere.
About the Role
We are looking for a hands-on Biotechnician to join our wet-lab team on a 1-year contract. In this role, you will be executing experimental workflows, optimizing nucleic acid amplification protocols, and supporting the development of novel diagnostic assays.
Your time will roughly be split across three areas:
1. PCR & Assay Optimization (~50%)
- Set up, execute, and troubleshoot daily qPCR and plasmonic PCR experimental runs.
- Optimize reaction chemistries, including primer/probe concentrations, master mixes, and cycling conditions.
- Evaluate assay sensitivity, specificity, and limit of detection across clinical, mock, and synthetic sample panels.
2. Data Collection & Analysis (~30%)
- Process, analyze, and interpret experimental outputs (amplification curves, Ct values, melt curves).
- Present clear data summaries and technical findings during regular cross-disciplinary meetings.
3. Lab Support & Inventory Management (~20%)
- Prepare common biological reagents, standard buffers, and stock solutions.
- Monitor consumable stock levels, track lab orders, and liaise with suppliers for reagent procurement.
- Perform routine calibration, maintenance, and quality control on core laboratory instrumentation.
About You
We are looking for a meticulous, hands-on scientist who enjoys the bench, cares about reproducibility, and wants to see diagnostic assays translate from concept into real-world tools.
Key Qualifications & Attributes:
- Education & Experience: BSc or MSc in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, or a related discipline, with 0–2 years of practical wet-lab experience.
- Technical Skills: Hands-on experience with molecular biology techniques, specifically PCR/qPCR, nucleic acid extraction, primer/probe handling, and basic gel electrophoresis.
- Startup Mindset: Comfortable troubleshooting assays when results are unexpected, adaptable to evolving project goals, and eager to work collaboratively across disciplines.
- Comfort with Data: High attention to detail with pipetting precision, experimental tracking, and familiarity with data analysis tools (Excel, GraphPad Prism, or Python/R).
- Eligibility: Right to work in the UK and ability to work on-site from our Cambridge facility.
What We Offer
- High-Impact Mission: Direct involvement in scaling technology that saves lives globally.
- Hands-on Translation: Exposure to the interface between fundamental molecular biology and cutting-edge diagnostic hardware.
- Collaborative Environment: Work alongside Cambridge researchers, engineers, and entrepreneurs in a fast-paced, high-trust team.
Pay: £35,000.00-£40,000.00 per year
Application question(s):
- Describe a specific assay or PCR experiment you ran that failed or produced unexpected results. How did you troubleshoot it, and what did you learn? (Max 250 words)
Work Location: In person
