Organisation: Cranfield University
Faculty or Department: Faculty of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Location: Cranfield Campus, Cranfield, Bedfordshire
Hours of work: 37 hours per week, normally worked Monday to Friday. Flexible working will be considered.
Contract type: Fixed term contract, period 12 months or until 30 June 2027, whichever sooner.
Salary: £29,363 to £30,119 per annum.
Documents
* 5273 - JD & Person Spec.pdf (PDF, 300.7kb)
Role Description
An exciting opportunity has arisen to be part of a multidisciplinary team developing cutting-edge engineering biology-enabled sensors for detection of forever chemical, PFAS in water samples.
About The Role
We are seeking a highly motivated Research Assistant to support the development of an innovative biosensing platform for monitoring per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a class of highly persistent environmental contaminants linked to significant health and ecological risks. Existing analytical methods, such as liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) offer high sensitivity but are costly, time-intensive and unsuitable for rapid or field-based deployment. This project aims to address these limitations by developing a low-cost, field-deployable biosensor for ultra-sensitive PFAS detection, integrating approaches from engineering biology, synthetic biology, molecular recognition and nucleic acid amplification.
The successful candidate will work in a multidisciplinary research environment encompassing engineering biology, molecular biology, biosensing and environmental monitoring. The role will involve a staged sensor development strategy, including the generation and characterisation of PFOA-binding peptides, coupling molecular recognition with aptamer-triggered rolling circle amplification (RCA) for enhanced sensitivity, and translating the sensing chemistry into a paper-based, field-ready sensor platform.
About You
The ideal candidate will hold a Master’s degree in a relevant biological discipline, such as Engineering Biology, Synthetic Biology, Biotechnology, Microbiology, Bioinformatics, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, or a related field. You will have hands‑on experience in bacterial culturing and core molecular biology techniques, including PCR, cloning, and nucleic acid handling. Strong experimental skills, the ability to work both independently and collaboratively, and excellent organisational and record‑keeping skills are essential for this role.
Experience in handling bacteriophages and a good working knowledge of bioinformatics are highly desirable. You should demonstrate enthusiasm for interdisciplinary research at the interface of natural sciences, engineering biology, and metrological benchmarking. This role offers the opportunity to contribute new ideas toward PFAS sensing, and to develop a prototype for a rapid, low-cost biosensing platform with strong potential for industrial translation.
You will work within a highly motivated research team focused on sensing and monitoring environmental pollutants, and you will receive interdisciplinary training in engineering biology‑based sensor design, synthetic molecular recognition systems, translational biosensing technologies, and environmental and public health monitoring. This position provides excellent preparation for a PhD in engineering biology, biosensing or analytical biotechnology, as well as for careers in industrial research and development, diagnostics, and environmental technology sectors.
About Us
As a specialist postgraduate university, Cranfield’s world‑class expertise, large‑scale facilities and unrivalled industry partnerships are creating leaders in technology and management globally. Learn more about Cranfield and our unique impact here.
This project is funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) through the Environmental Biotechnology Innovation Centre (EBIC), which is hosted, managed and led by Cranfield University. EBIC brings together research collaborations across 10 academic institutions in the UK, ad over 30 associated partners. The Centre focuses on applying cutting‑edge approaches in synthetic biology, biotechnology, computational modelling and engineering science to deliver innovative solutions in bioengineering and bioremediation for environmental and societal impact.
Our Values and Commitments
Our shared, stated values help to define who we are and underpin everything we do: Ambition; Impact; Respect; and Community. Find out more here.
We aim to create and maintain a culture in which everyone can work and study together and realise their full potential. We are a Disability Confident Employer and proud members of the Stonewall Diversity Champions Programme. We are committed to actively exploring flexible working options for each role and have been ranked in the Top 30 family friendly employers in the UK by the charity Working Families. Find out more about our key commitments to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Flexible Working here.
Working Arrangements
Collaborating and connecting are integral to so much of what we do. Our Working Arrangements Framework provides many staff with the opportunity to flexibly combine on-site and remote working, where job roles allow, balancing the needs of our community of staff, students, clients and partners.
How To Apply
For an informal discussion about this opportunity, please contact Dr Dhiman Chakravarty, Research Fellow in Engineering Biology, on dhiman.chakravarty@cranfield.ac.uk.
Apply online now. Please do not hesitate to contact us for further details on peoplerecruitment@cranfield.ac.uk. Please quote reference number 5273.
Closing date for receipt of applications: 21 April 2026.
Please note that we reserve the right to close this advert prior to the stated closing date should we receive sufficient numbers of applications. Therefore, we would encourage you to complete and submit your application as soon as possible.
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