Ref Number
B04-07464
Professional Expertise
Research and Research Support
Department
UCL BEAMS (B04)
Location
London
Working Pattern
Full time
Salary
£43,981-£52,586
Contract Type
Fixed-term
Working Type
On site
Available for Secondment
No
Closing Date
30-Jun-2026
UCL is one of the world's leading research universities, renowned for its innovative and impactful research. Rated second in the UK for 'Research Strength' in REF2021, UCL's Department of Biochemical Engineering (UCLBE) is the largest academic bioprocessing group globally. Our mission is to educate future leaders and drive research innovation to solve global health, food security, and climate change challenges, improving quality of life through our outstanding biochemical engineering programs. Our research focuses on advanced biomanufacturing technologies critical to various bioindustry sectors, from biological medicines (proteins, cell and gene therapies, vaccines) to green industrial biotechnology (circular bioeconomy, biorefining, cultured meat). We are proud of our state-of-the-art facilities and strategic partnerships with leading academic institutions and industry consortia, which ensure our leadership in the field and foster continuous innovation and collaboration.
This role is part on an Innovate UK project to produce DNA using enzymatic methods to improve product quality in plant breeding. DNA stacks for precision breeding of new plant varieties has huge potential for introducing complex traits that can address overuse of pesticides, creation of carbon sinks, adaptation to climate change and food security, that are all areas of wide and growing societal concern. However, currently long DNA production takes months, is costly and is not guaranteed to be accurate, making it difficult for plant breeders to integrate this approach into their workflows. Technology developed by Newcleic (a spin-out from UCL) seeks to address within this project. The company is developing a stand-alone, automated DNA production device to produce 10x longer DNA sequences, 10-fold cheaper, 5-fold faster, with lower facilities and expertise needed, by removing the use of cells or cell components entirely. The project brings together: The world leading and renowned centre for plant health and sustainability research, The Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich, UK. The national centre of excellence for world leading and highly interdisciplinary bioprocess research, University College London's Department of Biochemical Engineering, and The innovative and ambitious Agri-BioTech Start-up, Newcleic. Together they will seek to develop and demonstrate a better way to produce the crops of the future taking advantage of the UK's Precision Breeding Act. The approach will be faster and more robust, enabling facile co-delivery of highly complex traits. Over 18-months the post-doctoral researcher at UCL will use existing manufacturing processes to produce large DNA sequences, for use in comparison, and will also seek to find means to improve the product quality, robustness and operational simplicity. They will then conduct a techno-economic-sustainability analysis to compare the improved cell-based process and cell-free manufacturing for varying lengths of DNA sequences, and will report to Professor Daniel Bracewell.
To succeed in this role you will have: • A PhD awarded (or about to be) in a relevant subject. This may include Biochemical/Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology, or related disciplines. • Experience of process design for small or large molecule synthesis. • Experience of designing and undertaking biological lab-based practical studies. • Knowledge of nucleic acid synthesis and enzymatic processes. • Ability to use creative problem-solving skills to independently design experiments and troubleshoot experimental challenges. • Able to perform studies accurately and reproducibly, accomplish project objectives, and meet or exceed expectations while effectively contributing to the team. • Be positively-minded and solution focused. Join us and become part of a dynamic and innovative department, contributing to cutting-edge research and development in bioprocessing. Apply now to make a significant impact on the future of biochemical engineering.
As well as exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer some great benefits some of which are below: • 41 Days holiday (27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days) • Additional 5 days’ annual leave purchase scheme • Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE) • Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan • Immigration loan • Relocation scheme for certain posts • On-Site nursery • On-site gym • Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay • Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service • Discounted medical insurance Visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/rewards-and-benefits to find out more.
As London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world’s talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL’s workforce. These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women. Our department holds an Athena Swan Gold award in recognition of our commitment and demonstrable impact in advancing gender equality. You can read more about our commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion here: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/equality-diversity-inclusion/
