Job Purpose
As a Senior Biological Scientist at Owlstone Medical, you will apply advanced expertise in microbiology and infectious disease biology to drive biomarker discovery, assay development, and translational research that supports our R&D and commercial objectives.
Working across multiple project streams, the Senior Biological Scientist will integrate molecular, microbiological, and biochemical approaches to advance understanding of targets, pathways, and biomarkers through complex experimental work, generating high-quality biological evidence that informs key clinical and product development decisions. You will apply strong scientific judgement to define experiments, interpret data, lead troubleshooting and root-cause analysis, and ensure work is delivered to the highest standards of quality, safety, and scientific integrity. You will collaborate with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, translating complex biological data into clear scientific insight and acting as a trusted technical expert to enable cross-functional alignment and successful delivery of high-impact programmes. Your decisions will directly influence the reliability and progression of research outputs with downstream clinical and commercial impact.
Key Accountabilities & Responsibilities
- Design, plan, execute, validate and troubleshoot in vitro experiments to support biomarker discovery, assay feasibility and clinical test development activities.
- Run, validate and characterise relevant biological models and experimental systems, which may include microbial or pathogen-relevant systems where appropriate, tissue-derived material or other biological samples.
- Apply a flexible range of molecular biology, microbiology and biochemical techniques, such as cloning, construct design, nucleic acid extraction, PCR/qPCR/dPCR, gene-expression analysis, immunoassays, enzymatic assays, plate-based functional assays, microscopy, and sample preparation workflows.
- Characterize compound, target or pathway responses using appropriate dose-response, mechanism-of-action, analytical characterisation and quality-control approaches.
- Conduct theoretical research activities, scientific literature reviews and technical due diligence to inform assay design, target selection and experimental strategy.
- Write and communicate experimental plans, protocols, validation summaries, technical reports and project updates.
- Ensure experimental work adheres to department processes, laboratory safety requirements, quality expectations and appropriate documentation standards.
- Analyse, interpret and present data and results internally and externally, including clear communication of limitations, confidence, next steps and technical risks.
- Lead troubleshooting and root-cause analysis activities when experiments, assays, instruments or sample workflows deviate from expected performance.
- Maintain accurate, complete and up-to-date laboratory records, reagent records, sample traceability and data-management practices.
- Define, implement and maintain instrument, equipment and assay preventative-maintenance activities, schedules and performance checks as required.
- Provide technical mentorship and support development of junior scientists and technical staff in partnership with line managers.
Person Specification
Education and Training
- PhD in molecular microbiology, biomedical science or a relevant biological life science with relevant academic or industry post-graduate experience, or MSc/MRes with substantial relevant post-graduate academic or industry experience.
Experience
- Experience working with in vitro microbiological/pathogenicity models and laboratory assay development in an academic, biotechnology, diagnostic, pharmaceutical or translational research environment.
- Experience in microbiology, molecular microbiology, pathogen-related assay development or biological safety level 2 workflows.
- Broad and adaptable practical experience across in vitro biological techniques, with the ability to move between different model systems, assay formats and project questions.
- Proven experience designing, executing, optimising and troubleshooting laboratory experiments independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
- Experience with plate-based assays, biochemical or binding assays, immunoassays, microscopy, viability or functional assays, or other relevant analytical readouts.
Knowledge and Skills
- Working knowledge of molecular biology techniques such as nucleic-acid extraction, PCR/qPCR, cloning, construct design, sequencing, gene-expression analysis or related methods.
- Understanding of assay characterisation, including controls, reproducibility, linearity or dynamic range, dose-response, limit-of-detection considerations, matrix effects and fit-for-purpose validation.
- Ability to analyse, interpret and present experimental data clearly, including limitations, confidence, technical risk and proposed next steps.
- Ability to maintain accurate laboratory records, follow procedures, work safely and adhere to departmental processes and quality expectations.
- Ability to work independently or as part of a larger team as required, with the flexibility needed in a dynamic, fast-paced R&D environment.
- Clear and effective written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate across scientific and non-scientific stakeholders.
Behaviours / Attributes
- Accountable, inclusive, resilient, adaptable.
- Strong communicator; sets clear expectations and closes feedback loops.
- Collaborative and calm under pressure; constructively challenges decisions while maintaining trust.
- Proactive about ambiguity and risk; escalates early with options and trade-offs.
Position Expectations
Knowledge and Behaviours
- Deep knowledge of analytical, biological or translational science theory and concepts, extending their application into cross-functional execution to resolve complex scientific challenges through collaboration across disciplines.
- Reviews and assures the quality of others’ work, providing expert guidance on correct application. Mentors team members and supports departmental capability development.
- Routinely models and reinforces processes, practices, and company values, and is recognised as a trusted “go-to” expert within the team.
Impact
- Responsible for team objectives and / or inputs microbiology expertise to multiple deliverables, with measurable contribution to team success. Drives cross-discipline collaboration to ensure effective delivery.
- Errors risk delays with potential impact on specific company commitments, requiring proactive management and mitigation
Complexity
- Handles diverse deliverables across one or more work elements, often balancing multiple roles or responsibilities across those elements.
- Makes decisions that directly affect outcomes, regularly solves problems requiring specialised knowledge.
- Effectively prioritises and manages competing demands in dynamic environments.
Autonomy and Judgement
- Operates with a high degree of independence, adapting approach to context and recognising the limits of their own knowledge.
- Exercises independent decision-making on most issues, escalating complex or high-risk judgement calls appropriately.
- Reviews and assures the quality of others’ work, with oversight of own work provided through governance mechanisms.
Leadership and Influence
- Established in a formal capacity – leads deliverables and acts as go-to technical resource through mentoring and visible technical credibility, supporting the development of others.
- Contributes to building of team capability, standards, and performance.
Key Information
Equal Opportunities: Owlstone is an equal opportunity employer, and we will consider all qualified applicants for employment without discrimination on any characteristic protected by law including but not exhaustive to; grounds of disability, sex or sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity leave status, race or national or ethnic origin, age, religion or belief, gender identity or re-assignment, marital or civil partnership status.
Security: Due to the nature of our business, all employment is subject to satisfactory references being obtained and attainment of a Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) check. Access to selected project information requires prior additional security authorization. Access to US technical data by employees requires prior Export Control function approval. Full clearance must be satisfactorily attained against all applicable project-security and US export control authorisations. Failure to meet any reference, BPSS, project-security or export-control authorisations may have an impact on successfully completing your probationary period.
Notice to agencies: Owlstone Medical Ltd politely requests no contact from recruitment agencies or media sales. We don’t accept speculative CVs from recruitment agencies nor accept the fees associated with them.
Job Type: Full-time
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company events
- Company pension
- Cycle to work scheme
- Free parking
- Health & wellbeing programme
- Life insurance
- On-site parking
- Private medical insurance
- Sick pay
Work Location: In person
