Senior Scientist

Precision for Medicine are hiring an experienced Senior Scientist to join our well-established scientific team in Royston UK who have been supporting biopharmaceutical research for over 25 years.

The biopharmaceutical industry continues to undergo transformational change with new and exciting developments in biotherapeutics, immune oncology, companion diagnostics and personalised healthcare. As a global leader in the provision of clinical biomarker-based solutions to the biopharmaceutical industry, we are developing and expanding our research and clinical services in the UK to serve this expanding market and are looking for a dynamic, self-motivated molecular scientist to join the team and contribute to the growth of the company.  

The senior scientist role will be responsible for discussing qRT-PCR projects with customers, overseeing qRT-PCR-based lab work, designing, executing, analysing, and interpreting qRT-PCR data and delivering high quality regulatory and non-regulatory reports. The successful candidate should have around at least 6 years’ laboratory experience, ideally gained working in a commercial, regulated laboratory (GLP and/or GCLP) environment with Study Director or Analytical Project Manager experience.  The successful candidate will have a proven track record of qRT-PCR process management and of training, coaching and managing/developing technical staff.

We are looking for an efficient, experienced candidate who is proactive and an independent thinker, willing to work full-time on-site and support a close-knit team.

In addition to your daily laboratory activities, you will be expected to establish a rapport with clients, learn to understand their technical and scientific requirements and work with the team to offer them customised and creative solutions. As such, previous experience in a customer-oriented research environment (CRO) is desirable.

KEY POSITION DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Scientific engagement with customers, to effectively understand and scope out their qRT-PCR needs, acting as a scientific resource / subject matter expert externally to clients and internally.
• Expert design and validation of qRT-PCR and qPCR assays.
• Expert data analysis, interpretation and reporting of qRT-PCR data.
• Working to GCP/GCLP/GLP regulations, including IQ/OQ/PQ and human tissue legislation requirements.
• Undertaking qRT-PCR lab work with client samples when required.
• Process Ownership for qRT-PCR:
• provide organisation, coordination, and oversight of the entire process from sample receipt, extraction, quantification, and QC of nucleic acid (RNA, DNA etc) through to the execution, analysis, reporting and data management for qRT-PCR and PCR-based studies.
• lead the establishment and improvement of all related procedures and required SOP documentation, including process validation.
• be responsible for ensuring all equipment in the molecular laboratory is appropriately qualified, that preventative maintenances are performed as scheduled and that team members are thoroughly trained in the correct use and maintenance of the equipment.
• Generate, protect, and maintain integrity (quality control) of raw, analysed, reported data, and associated metadata, including samples, reagents, methodology details and results.
• Responsible for trouble shooting and correcting scientific issues/problems.
• Ensure high quality data output, with the ability to build efficiency into improving productivity metrics.
• Accurately track and manage client projects at the laboratory service delivery level, including related project expenses.
• Keep organized, accurate and up-to-date paper and electronic scientific records and other operational records required.
• Supervision of laboratory staff as required, to ensure efficient organization, quality, development, and execution of project(s).
• Train and mentor junior staff as required in molecular techniques, data analysis, collation and presentation.
• Identify, update, and implement emerging laboratory techniques.
• Maintain and support safe lab practices and environment.
• Work collaboratively with other technical teams in resource sharing and providing technical expertise.
• Assist with writing and publishing papers, abstracts, techniques/or chapters to maintain the scientific standard and image of the company.
• May present completed work at appropriate scientific meetings and in publications.
• Other duties as assigned.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employee may perform other related duties as required to meet our on-going needs.

ATTRIBUTES:

• Team player, able to work on own initiative.
• Organisational skills and exceptional attention to detail, methodical and accurate.
• Excellent Good Documentation Practice
• Self-motivated, committed, competent, enthusiastic, and energetic.
• Honest and with obvious integrity and professionalism.
• Able to cope with pressure and meet the needs of a dynamic and growing company, supporting the ever-changing needs of the business.
• Flexible approach with a “can-do” attitude.
• Based in the UK with the right to work full time in the UK.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

• PhD in biological sciences or equivalent, with at least 6 years’ experience or MSc with at least 10 years current laboratory experience in genomics, ideally in a regulated laboratory (GLP/GCLP)
• Expert level laboratory skill understanding for nucleic acid isolation and molecular biology techniques including PCR and qRT-PCR.
• A solid understanding of current GLP and/or GCP/GCLP standards.
• Experience in assay validation to support decision making in clinical trials.
• Ability to prioritize tasks and experience in the supervision and training of technical staff.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Must have the ability to organize, analyse and interpret data, as well as prepare high quality reports.
• Must possess strong computational skills, preferably experienced with Word, Excel, Power Point, GraphPad Prism.
• Excellent use of judgment and discretion required.
• Must be able to read, write, speak fluently and comprehend the English language.
• Previous experience working in a customer-oriented, regulated research (CRO) environment, desirable.
• Demonstrable understanding of the process and scientific requirements for drug and diagnostic discovery and development.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Role will be a balance of laboratory-related work, with a requirement for extended periods of computer work for data analysis and reporting.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and meet time and quality-based objectives
• Extended work hours may be occasionally necessary in order to meet business demands
• Ability to lift and carry between 1-15 lbs.; Ability to lift up to 50 lbs. overhead with assistance; frequently required to sit, grasp, and use right/left finger dexterity; May be exposed to a cold freezer environment (Freezer temperatures range between -20ºC -196ºC)

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Must be able to attend and work outside of normal hours when required to support our on-call rota.
• Contact with human biological specimens and sharps on a daily basis.
• HepB vaccination is required / can be provided.

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