Research Scientist - Microbial Bioengineering & Molecular Biology
Location: Cambridge, UK (on-site)
Position Type: Internship (6 months, full-time, with potential to transfer to a full-time role)
About Engivent
At Engivent, we are driven by impact and bring excellence to meaningful challenges, focusing on industries such as life sciences and agri‑tech by combining expertise in automation, AI, microfluidics, and synthetic biology. We are looking for skilled, technically minded individuals who share our passion for solving pressing challenges through multidisciplinary, first‑principles thinking.
Are you passionate about synthetic biology and its applications to sustainability? Engivent is growing, and we’re looking for a generalist Research Scientist to work on bacterial strain engineering, high‑throughput assay development, and molecular biology.
Role Overview
As a Research Scientist at Engivent, you will drive the discovery and optimisation of bacteria that can replace synthetic fertilisers—and unlock even broader sustainable‑agriculture applications. Day‑to‑day, you’ll design high‑throughput assays, guide soil microbes through microfluidic screening pipelines, and apply molecular‑biology tools—from classic cloning to CRISPR—to create and evaluate improved strains. Depending on your skill set, you’ll pair wet‑lab experimentation with basic bioinformatics and lab‑automation tools, boosting screening throughput and turning complex workflows and data streams into actionable insights.
We welcome applications from every background and learning path. Whether your experience comes from hands‑on projects, coursework, or extracurricular science like iGEM, community bio‑labs, or start‑up internships, we value builders who have tackled ambitious challenges and are keen to keep learning.
Key Responsibilities
* Design, run, and analyse high‑throughput assays to quantify various traits such as nitrogen fixation and growth phenotypes in soil‑derived bacteria.
* Prepare and handle microbial cultures (soil isolates and engineered strains); optimise media, growth conditions, and sample logistics for microfluidic workflows.
* Translate bench assays into microfluidic formats - collaborate with engineers to refine on‑chip fluid handling, fluorescence/absorbance detection, and real‑time data capture.
* Contribute to molecular‑biology workflows (PCR, qPCR, plasmid construction, random mutagenesis, CRISPR exploratory work).
* Extract DNA/RNA from bacterial cultures and perform library preparation for sequencing; perform basic bioinformatic analyses (quality checks, read mapping, variant calling) to inform strain‑engineering cycles.
* Document methods and results clearly in electronic lab notebooks; present findings in weekly R&D meetings.
* Champion lab‑automation best practice—write or adapt liquid‑handling‑robot scripts to improve throughput and reproducibility.
* Maintain a safe, inclusive lab environment by following COSHH/GLP guidelines and training fellow team members when required.
Note: You will have opportunities to learn and develop new skills, don’t worry if you do not have experience in all responsibilities above.
Requirements
* Demonstrated experience tackling hard problems, e.g. solving challenges in competitive environments like hackathons or university projects, showcasing a strong capacity for learning and adaptation.
* BSc/MSc (or demonstrable equivalent experience) in Biological Sciences, Bioengineering, Biotechnology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, or a related field.
* Hands‑on experience with cell culture and at least one of: molecular cloning, qPCR, fluorescence or absorbance based assays.
* Proven ability to design experiments, troubleshoot protocols, and interpret data with a first‑principles mindset.
* Excellent written and verbal communication skills; comfortable working in small, fast-moving teams.
Bonus Skills and Experiences
* Experience with lab automation platforms (e.g., Opentrons, Tecan, Hamilton) and scripting liquid‑handling methods.
* Familiarity with data analysis in Python or R (e.g., pandas, matplotlib) and basics of version control (Git).
* Basic bioinformatics (assembly, annotation, comparative genomics) or cloud‑based analysis workflows.
* Participation in an iGEM team or other synthetic‑biology hack projects showcasing interdisciplinary collaboration.
* Prior exposure to microfluidic platforms or single‑cell analysis technologies.
* Familiarity with regulatory and safety considerations around genetically modified microorganisms (GMMs) in the UK/EU.
* Interest in working across interdisciplinary teams, with a focus on impactful industries such as life sciences and agri-tech.
Career‑Acceleration Opportunities
* Showcase your science worldwide. Present at conferences or visit partner labs abroad - travel is encouraged but never compulsory.
* Lead sooner, not later. Ownership is granted when you deliver results - run a mini‑team, pitch directly to the team, or steer a new work stream.
* Work at the crossroads of biology, automation & AI. Sit beside engineers and data scientists, join cross‑functional sprints, and broaden your skills beyond the wet lab.
* Turn ideas into IP. Spot a promising microbe or workflow? We’ll actively fund the experiments, generate PoC studies and explore commercial pathways with you.
Contact Information
To apply - or if you’d like more information - please email recruitment@engivent.com with your CV and a short cover note outlining why you’re excited about the role.
Engivent is an equal‑opportunity employer; we welcome candidates from all backgrounds and learning paths!
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