Location: Sci-Tech Daresbury, Cheshire

Start date: As soon as possible

Contract: Fixed term to 31 March 2027, with potential for continuation subject to funding

Working pattern: Full-time; part-time and flexible working arrangements will also be considered

Salary: Competitive and dependent on experience
About Daresbury Proteins

Daresbury Proteins is an innovative biotechnology company based at Sci-Tech Daresbury, specialising in the production of recombinant proteins using mammalian cell systems.

Our work focuses particularly on proteins that are difficult to produce, including complex biologics, growth factors and cytokines. We develop both upstream expression and downstream purification solutions aimed at overcoming manufacturing bottlenecks that can prevent promising biological molecules progressing into research, development and therapeutic applications.

We work across internally led R&D programmes and collaborative projects with academic, industrial and international partners.

The role

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Downstream Chromatography & Protein Purification Scientist with strong hands-on expertise in protein purification method development, optimisation and troubleshooting.

The immediate focus of the role will be delivery of downstream activities within our ongoing Innovate UK Canada–UK collaborative project in biomanufacturing of biologics and advanced therapies, which runs until 31 March 2027.

The successful candidate will also contribute to downstream process development across Daresbury Proteins' wider recombinant protein pipeline, with particular emphasis on challenging mammalian-cell-derived proteins, growth factors and cytokines.

The role will build upon substantial downstream development already undertaken within the company, including successful optimisation of chromatography processes for difficult proteins such as BMP growth factors. The successful candidate will be expected to take these programmes forward while independently designing, troubleshooting and optimising new purification strategies.

In addition to hands-on laboratory work, the position will include scientific coordination and management of collaborative R&D projects involving academic and industrial partners. This includes Daresbury Proteins' recently secured STFC Cross-Cluster Proof of Concept project, as well as other externally funded collaborative programmes.

This position would particularly suit a scientist who enjoys solving difficult purification problems, taking ownership of technically challenging projects and working across multidisciplinary academic–industry collaborations.

Key responsibilities

The successful candidate will:

• Design, develop, optimise and execute chromatography-based purification processes for recombinant proteins produced in mammalian cell systems.
• Take responsibility for purification strategy development for difficult-to-purify proteins, growth factors, cytokines and other complex recombinant targets.
• Optimise chromatographic parameters including resin selection, sample preparation, loading conditions, pH, conductivity, salt concentration, wash conditions and elution strategies.
• Develop and refine multi-step purification workflows using techniques such as affinity chromatography, ion-exchange chromatography, hydrophobic interaction chromatography and size-exclusion chromatography, as appropriate.
• Operate automated chromatography equipment, including the Bio-Rad NGC Quest chromatography system, and analyse chromatographic data.
• Evaluate and select chromatography resins, columns, buffers and process conditions appropriate to individual protein targets.
• Characterise purified proteins using appropriate analytical techniques, including SDS-PAGE, Western blotting, protein quantification, ELISA and other relevant assays.
• Assess protein purity, yield, recovery and stability and use these data to guide further process optimisation.
• Work closely with upstream scientists to understand expression characteristics and optimise the overall recombinant protein production process.
• Plan and manage experimental programmes independently and ensure that Innovate UK, STFC and other collaborative project milestones, deliverables and deadlines are achieved.
• Manage and coordinate Daresbury Proteins' scientific contribution to selected collaborative R&D projects involving universities, research organisations and industrial partners.
• Act as a scientific point of contact for selected externally funded projects and maintain effective communication between project partners.
• Coordinate experimental activities, timelines, milestones, dependencies and deliverables across collaborative work packages.
• Organise and contribute to project meetings, prepare scientific updates and ensure that agreed actions are followed through.
• Contribute to technical reports, presentations, milestone documentation and other materials required by project partners and funding organisations.
• Identify technical risks and bottlenecks at an early stage and work with internal and external collaborators to resolve them.
• Maintain accurate laboratory notebooks, experimental records, protocols and project documentation.
• Communicate scientific results clearly to colleagues, external collaborators and other stakeholders.
• Contribute to the effective day-to-day running of the laboratory and to the wider scientific activities of a small biotechnology company.

How to apply

Please submit:

• a CV detailing your relevant scientific training, employment history and, in particular, your protein purification and chromatography experience; and
• a short covering letter explaining your suitability for the role, with particular emphasis on examples where you have developed, optimised or troubleshot protein purification processes.

Please include contact details for two referees, one of whom should normally be your current or most recent line manager.

Applicants must be eligible to work in the UK for the duration of the appointment.