Scientist, DNA Extraction and Library Prep - Pathogen

Overview

The Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT) tackles humanity’s greatest challenges by turning science and technology into impactful global solutions. Focused on areas led by a faculty of world experts, EIT seeks to solve the world’s most challenging problems across four high-risk, high-reward, high-impact humane endeavours:
Health, Medical Science and Generative Biology;
Food security and Sustainable agriculture;
Clean Energy Generation and Storage; and Artificial Intelligence and Robotics.

A cornerstone of EIT Oxford’s mission is its upcoming 300,000-square-foot research facility at the Oxford Science Park, set to open in 2027. This cutting-edge campus will feature advanced labs, an oncology and preventative care clinic, and collaborative spaces to strengthen its partnership with the University of Oxford. It will also host the Ellison Scholars, driving innovation for societal benefit.

The Pathogen Mission highlights EIT’s transformative approach, using Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) and Oracle’s cloud technology to create a global pathogen metagenomics system. This initiative aims to improve diagnostics, provide early epidemic warnings, and guide treatments by profiling antimicrobial resistance. The goal is to deliver certified diagnostic tools for widespread use in labs, hospitals, and public health.

EIT Oxford fosters a culture of collaboration, innovation, and resilience, valuing diverse expertise to drive sustainable solutions to humanity’s enduring challenges.

We are seeking a Scientist - DNA Extraction and Library Preparation to support research and product development within EIT Oxford’s Pathogen Programme. This is a lab-based role focused on designing, executing, and reporting on assays that measure the performance of individual components within novel, automated metagenomic pathogen detection workflows.

You will work with both standardised and clinical samples to help inform the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases in humans. The role involves close collaboration with scientists and engineers in small, agile teams to deliver key project milestones.

• Design experiments, undertake standardised chemical or enzymatic assays or develop novel methods and metrics, where necessary, for quantifying modules performance within a workflow.
• Prepare, record and present results for quantitative and qualitative assays and development
• Work in partnership with the diagnostics workflow, fluidics and instrumentation teams to ensure that appropriate methods for benchmarking are conserved and transferable between manual and automated workflows

• PhD or equivalent experience in Biochemistry, Chemistry, or related field with specialisation in assay development and validation
• Hands-on experience of molecular assay development and associated data analysis
• Experience in identifying and quantifying non nucleic acid analyte contamination
• Proficiency in laboratory techniques: spectrophotometry, fluorometry, microscopy
  -light/fluoresce
• Experience in undertaking complex manual molecular workflows / protocols

• Experience in quantitative and qualitative assay development and implementation e.g. qPCR, RT-qPCR, FISH, ELISA
• Proven ability to design and execute experiments to characterise polynucleotides, enzymes and other analytes
• Understanding of, and experience with, library preparation and sequencing with Oxford Nanopore products
• Experience working with low-quality or chemically contaminated samples
• Experience in flow cytometry, FACS and/or cell sorting

• Scientific and Technical Expertise
• Expertise in nucleic acid quantification from various biosamples (e.g. blood, saliva, tissue, stool, environmental samples).
• Experience in quantifying chemical contaminant carry over in complex laboratory workflows
• Familiarity with biosafety and sterile technique for working with human or high-path environmental samples
• Proficiency in molecular/microbiology techniques (e.g. spectrophotometry, fluorometry, microscopy qPCR, RT-PCR, gel electrophoresis, bacterial culture).
• Track record of innovation (e.g. commercial…