Research Scientist – Oncology Cell Biology

Research Scientist – Oncology Cell Biology

AMPLY Discovery is an AI-enabled drug discovery company developing novel therapeutic programmes from under-explored areas of biology, including the non-coding genome. Our platform integrates computational target discovery, multiomic data analysis, cell biology, target validation and experimental therapeutics to identify and prosecute new drug targets in areas of high unmet medical need. AMPLY’s oncology programmes are focused on identifying and validating novel cancer vulnerabilities, including lncRNA-associated targets and pathways, with an initial emphasis on hard-to-treat cancers such as triple-negative breast cancer and haematological malignancies.

The company is now seeking a cell biology-focused Research Scientist to support the experimental validation and progression of oncology discovery programmes.

The Research Scientist will work as an active member of AMPLY’s drug discovery team, supporting cell biology experiments across AMPLY’s oncology programmes. The position will be based at the Future Medicines Institute (FMI) Industry research hub at Queen’s University Belfast and work as part of an existing Amply-FMI R&D programme. The new role will focus on supporting this existing Amply R&D programme at FMI conducting cell-based assays including siRNA/ASO-mediated target knockdown, mechanism-of-action studies and phenotypic screening.

The successful candidate will generate high-quality experimental data to support target prioritisation, therapeutic hypothesis testing and progression of AMPLY’s internal and partnered oncology programmes.

1. Oncology cell biology and assay development

Culture and maintain relevant solid and haematological cancer cell lines as well as normal/control cell models.

Optimise and execute cell-based assays to support oncology target validation and therapeutics discovery, including cell viability, proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle, and pathway analysis.

Support establishment of fit-for-purpose assay workflows suitable for screening siRNA, ASO, peptide, small molecule or other therapeutic modalities.

2. Target validation and functional genomics

Execute knockdown or perturbation studies using siRNA, ASO, CRISPRi or related approaches.

Assess knockdown efficiency and biological effect using RNA purification, qPCR, RNA-Seq, Northern Blots, flow cytometry, viability assays and other functional phenotypic readouts.

3. Experimental planning and data interpretation

Support the AMPLY/FMI Research Fellow in the design of clear, hypothesis-led experiments with appropriate controls, replicates, statistical treatment and go/no-go decision points.

Troubleshoot assay performance, transfection conditions, cell model variability and data-quality issues.

Work closely with computational and data science colleagues to connect biological findings with target-discovery outputs and patient-subset hypotheses.

Contribute to the delivery of AMPLY’s oncology discovery programmes by generating decision-grade biology data.

Support screening and optimisation of novel oligonucleotide therapeutics candidates, including siRNAs and ASOs.

Assist in building evidence packages for internal programme reviews, grant-funded projects, investor updates and partner-facing technical discussions.

5. Laboratory practice, documentation and quality

Maintain accurate, timely and complete records of laboratory work, including use of electronic laboratory notebook and assay database.

Ensure that experimental data, protocols and analysis outputs are properly recorded, stored and traceable.

Follow relevant local health and safety, biosafety, data integrity and laboratory quality procedures.

Contribute to maintenance of laboratory stocks, reagents,…