Scientist I/II in Oxford

Summary

We are looking to hire four talented and highly motivated scientists to join the Ochre Bio team in Oxford on an exciting journey to support the development of advanced RNA medicines for one of the most pressing healthcare challenges of our time - chronic liver disease.

Ochre’s Oxford site encompasses both biology and chemistry labs, with the teams working alongside each other to identify targets and generate siRNA based therapeutics for assessment in complex tissue models, at our Taipei site, and in organ models, at our NY perfusion lab.

Within Ochre’s biology team you will generate data in primary cellular models that support our efforts to identify gene targets for future drug development and will support the chemistry teams efforts to generate optimised therapeutic strategies. Additional activities within the team include the generation of large datasets (phenotypic and phenotype-free screens) that provide the computational biology team with the data to recommend targets for future validation campaigns.

At this time we cannot sponsor visas, so the ability to work in the UK is essential.

Please note we have 4 positions available, 3 of the 4 role will be offered a 12 months fixed term contract.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensuring all experiments are carefully designed, executed well and performed in a safe environment
• Participate in a critical manner to data analysis
• Record experiments according to maintain full traceability of all reagents and samples
• Support all other members of the team
• To proactively contribute to the running of the laboratory including but not limited to ordering, waste management and cleaning
• To actively participate in the training of co-workers where necessary

Qualifications & Experience

Required

• PhD or equivalent experience in a relevant field
• Extensive mammalian cell culture experience
• Molecular biology experience including RNA/DNA extraction, qPCR and WB

Desirable

• Startup biotech experience
• Lentiviral vector design and/or use
• Experience with primary and more complex multicellular cultures
• Experience of working with CRISPR technology
• Experience of working with lncRNA

Skills & Competencies

Required

• Highly organised and methodical approach to work and record keeping
• Strong problem-solving skills to overcome scientific challenges
• Capable of critical thinking
• Good communication skills and ability to present data to all audiences
• Self-motivated, technically competent and capable of working independently within the laboratory
• Ability to adapt to changing demands whilst working within a team to tight deadlines
• Data analysis, formatting and presentation skills
• Ability to learn quickly and work in a fast-paced environment
• High-level of attention to detail

Desirable

• Experience in data presentation using R

Cultural & Working Norms

The role requires behaviours that encourage thriving in the face of failures, summarised as Ochre’s three laws.

Clarke’s Law:

“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic” (Don’t fear failure, be ambitious)

Murphy’s Law:

“What can go wrong, will go wrong.” (You will fail, learn quickly)

Wheaton’s Law:

“Don’t be a d*ck!” (Others will fail you, support them)