Job Description
Role Title: Senior Research & Development Scientist
Contract type: Permanent.
Company Overview
Conidia Bioscience is a growing, SME organisation which develops, manufactures, and markets innovative tests to detect microbiological contamination in fuels. Conidia has a global presence with ambitious plans to penetrate new markets through customer focussed technical solutions.
To help deliver on our strategic aims, we are seeking a flexible and self-motivated Senior Scientist to join our R&D team. Reporting to our Head of Innovation, you will play a key role in the running of the R&D laboratory, managing day-to-day laboratory and production-related activities and provide technical support to innovation activities. The ideal candidate will have expertise in Microbiology, Lateral flow tests/rapid Diagnostics preferably with working knowledge of Immunoassays and Molecular Biology.
This will be a laboratory-based position, initially located at our R&D facilities in Egham (Surrey, UK) with a move to a brand-new laboratory on the Surrey Research Park (Guildford) in September.
Conidia is SME and the lab requires someone who is flexible and thrives working in a small team environment.
Role purpose:
The purpose of this role is to support and maintain the high level of research product development activities undertaken within the research facilities at Conidia Bioscience. This role will be a blend of practical research & development, exploring new product concepts, troubleshooting, and supporting production and quality control activities, laboratory management, Health & Safety, and technical support taking on the many challenging facets required by the business.
Main responsibilities:
* Planning and execution of research and development work (day-to-day work in a Microbiology/ Rapid test development lab).
* Responsible for validation of manufactured batches of products.
* Documenting and communicating research outputs to internal audiences through internal business reports and verbal communications.
* Contribution to setting up formal QC processes for the Conidia lab.
* Provision of QC support and stability testing of products.
* Working closely with our external R&D and manufacturing partners on technical challenges.
* Interface between R&D and manufacturing for new products.
* Contribution to laboratory quality management/ quality assurance.
* Lab management (including the everyday management of the laboratory facilities and supporting the management of associated staff).
* Responsible for laboratory Health and Safety.
* Where appropriate, provide technical support/advice to customers.
* Support the process to achieve/maintain standard status for new and existing products.
* Hands-on support of innovation activities, such as feasibility of new concepts and validation of externally sourced technologies.
* Participation in thought leadership activities, e.g., through attendance of relevant and appropriate scientific conferences and technical industrial meetings.
Skills and Experience
Essential
* Minimum 3 years laboratory experience within the commercial sector or relevant demonstrated academic experience.
* PhD (or master's degree and minimum 3 years relevant lab experience) in a Microbiology (preferably Environmental Microbiology)- related field.
* Proficient in standard Microbiology procedures (e.g., aseptic techniques, maintenance of pure cultures, setting up of laboratory microcosms and working with microbial consortia) and relevant quality control activities.
* Experience in one or more of the following areas: Immunoassays (e.g., ELISAs, Lateral flow devices), rapid diagnostics tests.
* Willingness and ability to perform standard and non-standard laboratory procedures (training will be provided when necessary).
* Ability to keep up to date with new technologies and scientific literature.
* Ability to independently plan, execute, interpret, and report results to colleagues at all levels within the company.
* Experience in general lab management, including maintaining clear laboratory records.
* Willingness to take responsibility and maintain laboratory Health & Safety procedures (e.g., RAs, COSHH).
* Strong relationship building and communication skills to effectively collaborate with external partners.
* Self-reliant, self-motivated and a dependable member of the technical team.
* Must be comfortable presenting, proactively debating and “positively and constructively” debating with our competitors and other industry individuals.
Desirable
* Experience in Molecular Biology (e.g. qPCR), focusing on microbial community analysis in environmental samples.
* Data analysis & Bioinformatics experience.
* Willingness to travel within the UK and overseas, depending on business needs.
Key benefits
Private Health Insurance
Statutory Pension Scheme
Car Parking Space