The role
Join an award-winning life science company and help bring cutting-edge fluorescent and protein labelling probes from the laboratory to the global research market. This unique 9-month Innovate UK-funded role, delivered jointly by Hello Bio and the University of Bristol, offers an exceptional opportunity for a synthetic organic chemist looking to gain commercial experience, take ownership of products from concept to launch, and accelerate a transition from academia into industry.
Hello Bio Ltd is an award-winning Bristol-based life science company developing and supplying high-quality research reagents used by scientists in universities, biotechnology companies and pharmaceutical organisations around the world. Our products help researchers investigate neurological disorders, cancer, cardiovascular disease and many other important areas of biomedical research.
Joining a successful knowledge transfer partnership (KTP) project in its final phase, you will have the opportunity to drive the delivery and commercialisation of this programme of work. You will synthesise and test multiple ranges of novel fluorescent compounds for life science research alongside novel probes for protein-labelling applications. This is an ideal position for someone looking to transition from an academic to an industrial role. Unlike a traditional postdoctoral position, this role provides direct exposure to commercial product development, quality control, manufacturing, technical support and product launch, offering an exceptional foundation for a long-term career in industry. Your work will directly contribute to products that enable researchers around the world to answer important biological questions using state-of-the-art imaging technologies.
Subject to business needs and successful project delivery, there may be opportunities for future employment.
What will you be doing?
Working collaboratively with the Hello Bio team and using your advanced knowledge of synthetic organic chemistry, you will be responsible for the synthesis, purification, and analytical characterisation of novel molecules for a range of new products. This will require extensive laboratory experimentation and collaboration with both Hello Bio and University of Bristol teams. You will play a leading role in taking products from advanced development through to commercial launch.
During this crucial completion phase of the project, your laboratory work will focus on three key product development areas:
Next-Generation Tagging Systems: You will execute complex, multi-step syntheses to produce novel ligands and functionalised probes for covalent self-labelling protein tag systems.
Novel Fluorescent Molecules: You will be responsible for the synthesis and testing of novel, first-to-market fluorescent compounds, including advanced photoactivatable probes and sensitive target-specific dyes.
Biochemical Assay Kits: You will develop, optimise, and reproduce a range of highly sought-after colorimetric and fluorometric biochemical assay kits for cellular analysis.
You'll have significant autonomy to solve synthetic challenges while working closely with experienced commercial scientists. Beyond bench synthesis, you will play a vital role in the commercialisation pipeline. You will oversee the Quality Control (QC) testing of these new tools and prepare the necessary technical data for their commercial launch.
To ensure the long-term success of the project, you will facilitate the final stages of setting up a dedicated lab space for these new product lines. Finally, as the project concludes, you will be responsible for the embedding these new synthetic protocols and technologies into the company's standard operations.
You should apply if
You will have completed (or be close to completing) a PhD in Synthetic Organic Chemistry or a closely related discipline and have experience designing and troubleshooting multi-step syntheses. You should be experienced in analytical data interpretation (e.g., NMR, LC-MS, HPLC) and the critical evaluation of scientific literature. Experience in the characterisation of small molecules within biological systems (e.g., cell culture, western blotting, or fluorescent imaging) is advantageous but not essential.
Importantly, this is an industry-focused position rather than an academic postdoctoral role. We are looking for an individual who is keen to transition from academia into a commercial environment. You should have a genuine interest in the commercial side of life science reagents, understanding that your work will directly support our product pipeline. You will need to demonstrate a focus on delivery, balancing technical rigour with the efficiency and pragmatism required to bring products to market.
Excellent organisational skills and close attention to detail are essential to ensure you can quickly integrate into an established project. Your strong interpersonal skills will enable you to work effectively with stakeholders at all levels across both the company and the university, ensuring that project milestones are met with scientific precision and commercial awareness.
Additional information
Contract type: Fixed-term (Specialist skills - 9 months funding if projected start date 04/01/2027)
Work pattern: Full-time (37.5 hours per week)
Grade: KTP Research Fellow / Unclassified
Salary: £35,000 – £42,000 per annum
School/Unit: University of Bristol and Hello Bio Ltd
This advert will close at 23:59 UK time on day/date/month:
For informal queries please contact: Professor Elek Molnar (
[email protected]) / Matthew Wilkinson (
[email protected])
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