Principal Scientist: Akimbo Bio (Oxford, on-site)
Company Description
Akimbo Bio is developing tuned dual CAR/TCR anti-cancer therapies intended for in vivo delivery via lentiviral vectors.
Roles & Responsibilities
This is a full-time, on-site role based at the BioEscalator, Old Road Campus, Headington, Oxford. You will be our first non-founding hire and take a hands-on scientific and leadership role. You will design and execute experiments to develop in vivo lentiviral vectors delivering large payloads to targeted cell subpopulations.
Initial goals:
* Refine vector delivery, including envelope pseudotyping for targeting specificity.
* Genetically optimise payload to promote correct immune-cell function.
* Build a pipeline to maximise functional titre (TU/mL) and improve particle:TU ratio; establish release/characterisation metrics (e.g., p24, genome copies, VCN).
* Develop and validate QC assays and documentation suitable for scale-up and tech transfer.
* Map IP and regulatory considerations relevant to vector design and use.
As the company grows:
* Recruit, mentor, and develop junior scientists; shape lab standards, documentation, and safety culture.
* Lead collaborations with external partners; define experimental plans, success criteria, and decision gates.
* Liaise with CROs/CDMOs to arrange murine studies including delivery of PBMCs & in vivo lentiviral vectors to mice; determine model selection, administration, dosing, strategy and readouts.
Qualifications & Skills
Required
* PhD in a relevant discipline (e.g., virology, immunology) and robust industrial research experience.
* Strong track record in designing and executing experiments, and interpreting data for program decisions.
* Hands-on genetic construct design & engineering, including viral pseudotyping.
* Advanced experience with lentiviral preparation and quality control (e.g., concentration, purification, analytics).
* Proficiency in flow cytometry and cell sorting.
* Leadership: mentoring and guiding junior scientists; setting standards and reviewing work.
* Meticulous protocolling and documentation (ELN/SOP mindset).
Preferred
* Publications/preprints demonstrating in vivo lentiviral work.
* Experience building pipelines aligned to GLP-like standards for research robustness.
* Biotech/industry exposure or regulatory interactions.
* Awareness of alternative delivery systems (e.g., LNPs) and their trade-offs.
* Ability to plan/co-ordinate mouse experiments.
* Working knowledge of IP/licensing around delivery systems.
* Computational skills (e.g., RNA-seq/WGS analysis) and data workflows.
Compensation
* Salary: £65,000–£72,000
* Equity: stock options (to be agreed)
* Pension and standard benefits
Application Process
The call is open on a rolling basis until filled. Applications received by 14 October 2025 (23:59 UK time) will be considered in an early review for interviews commencing 20 October 2025. There will be three interviews (30-45 minutes each) over ~2 weeks:
* Semi-structured - skills, qualifications, achievements
* Semi-structured - scientific creativity, thinking
* Presentation - leadership, execution (10-12 slides about your prior work)
We’re happy to provide reasonable adjustments during the process; please tell us what you need.
How to Apply
Please submit the following at application:
* CV (include publications/preprints, awards, patents, grants, conference talks)
* Cover letter addressing your fit for this role, plus two short case studies (~1 page each) showing how you took a problem from hypothesis → design → data → decision/impact (redact as needed)
* Right to work: confirm UK work authorisation and whether you would require sponsorship
* Apply via LinkedIn Easy Apply (attach all documents). If you encounter upload issues, email everything to aneesh.aggarwal@akimbo.bio.
Shortlisted candidates may be asked later to confirm any existing non-compete/IP assignment obligations and provide references.
Equal Opportunities
Akimbo Bio is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates and make selection decisions based on skills and experience. We also are open to considering applications from candidates who do not strictly meet all of the criteria but have the relevant industry experience.
Questions?
Email: aneesh.aggarwal@akimbo.bio.