Head of Experimental Data Generation AI & Robotics England, United Kingdom

At the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT), we’re on a mission to translate scientific discovery into real world impact. We bring together visionary scientists, technologists, policy makers, and entrepreneurs to tackle humanity’s greatest challenges in four transformative areas:

• Health, Medical Science & Generative Biology
• Food Security & Sustainable Agriculture
• Climate Change & Managing CO₂
• Artificial Intelligence & Robotics

This is ambitious work - work that demands curiosity, courage, and a relentless drive to make a difference. At EIT, you’ll join a community built on excellence, innovation, tenacity, trust, and collaboration, where bold ideas become real‑world breakthroughs. Together, we push boundaries, embrace complexity, and create solutions to scale ideas for lab to society. Explore more .org

A critical purpose of our Autonomous Labs (Auto Labs) programme is to generate reliable, high‑fidelity experimental data - both for EIT's own foundation models and for our partner Institutes. This role owns that mission.

The successful candidate will lead a small, lean team of laboratory scientists and automation specialists while remaining deeply hands‑on at the bench and on the automation platforms themselves. This is a build‑it‑yourself role: the team is small and will remain so in the near term, so the postholder is expected to design, run and troubleshoot experiments directly, not solely to direct others.

Success is measured by the volume, reliability and fitness‑for‑purpose of the data generated against Auto Labs' strategic objectives.

• Own the experimental design (experimental strategy and approach) and wet‑lab delivery of generating datasets for foundation models being built within AI & Robotics.
• Drive independent research as required to resolve open questions about experimental design and data generation choices.
• Lead, line‑manage and develop a small team of laboratory scientists and automation specialists, while personally performing hands‑on wet‑lab and automation work.
• Design, execute, document and analyse experiments on automated platforms to produce high‑fidelity, reproducible data at the throughput required for model training.
• Define and run data generation campaigns end‑to‑end – scoping, scheduling, QC, fidelity standards and acceptance criteria.
• Develop, optimise and validate scientific workflows on automation, starting with cell culture, protein engineering and protein purification.
• Work with Sci Ops to oversee maintenance and troubleshoot the automation platforms (liquid handlers, thermocyclers, plate handling, and associated equipment) to keep campaigns running reliably and hands‑free where possible.
• Work closely with modelling teams and partner Institutes to understand downstream data requirements and ensure generated data meets the needs of foundation model training.
• Use scientific computing and programming as necessary to support, complement and orchestrate automated workflows and data handling.
• Keep up to date with developments in the field, proposing or implementing changes of direction, new techniques and new equipment as necessary.
• Prepare and disseminate results through internal discussions, seminars and, where appropriate, publication.

This list is not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to undertake additional tasks and duties commensurate with the role, or support the Director of Product, Scientific Discovery.

• Scientific curiosity that is open for any area of science (beyond just biology).
• An experimentally driven PhD in an experimental field – i.e. wet‑lab, not a computational/theoretical PhD.
• Strong familiarity and hands‑on experience with molecular biology workflows, particularly cell culturing, protein engineering and protein purification.
• Ability to read and interpret scientific literature, learn, attempt and troubleshoot novel protocols.
• Hands‑on experience with automated laboratory equipment, particularly across a range of liquid handlers (Open Trons experience a strong plus), thermocyclers, plate handling and related platforms.
• A can‑do, build‑it‑yourself attitude and genuine willingness to go into the lab and run…