Scientist- Antibody Engineering

Job Title: Scientist- Antibody Engineering

Location: Stevenage

Job Type: Permanent

Agencies: We will only work with recruitment partners on our preferred supplier list and will not engage with speculative CVs submitted.

Are you passionate about making life science life changing and delivering impact for patients? We want to hear from you.

About the role:

This is an exciting opportunity for a knowledgeable and enthusiastic person to join the Biologics Discovery and Development group within LifeArc’s translational therapeutic platforms. This group is focused on the delivery of high-quality therapeutics to support LifeArc’s portfolio and, ultimately, to achieve impact for patients. Our capabilities include antibody discovery, high-throughput screening, lead antibody characterisation/optimisation, antibody humanisation and protein and analytical sciences.

This position is within the antibody engineering team, which is responsible for antibody humanisation activities as well as modification of antibodies during the lead optimisation phase of antibody discovery projects. Work includes molecular modelling and antibody sequence analysis, molecular biology, high-throughput screening and more detailed characterisation. Antibodies are assessed for antigen-binding by ELISA and kinetic analysis and for developability in a range of assays.

We are looking for an enthusiastic scientist with an interest in the structure-function relationships of antibodies to work across all activities of the team. Your experience should include experimental work with antibodies, either to determine their properties as part of a screening campaign or through extensive use of antibody-based assays in research. Skills in examining or modelling molecular structures, high-throughput screening methods or biophysical techniques would be advantageous. However, the willingness to be adaptable, proactive and provide intra-team support with a can-do attitude is highly important. The role offers ample opportunities expand your skillset and the prospect of being fully involved in multiple antibody humanisation or discovery projects.

About you:

• You will be an integral part of the Antibody Engineering team, working across all team activities to deliver optimised antibodies though humanisation and other engineering strategies
• Using molecular modelling and sequence analysis to design engineered antibodies
• Screening antibody variants using high throughput expression and binding studies, including ELISA and kinetic analysis
• Performing more detailed analysis of lead antibody panels in binding, function and developability
• Assessing and implementing modifications to known methodologies, as necessary
• Demonstrating and maintaining knowledge in own area of expertise and apply it to the successful execution of experiments
• Providing technical guidance to team members where required
• Supervising team member where required e.g., IP students
• Performing all work demonstrating due care and attention to all internal processes and procedures including health & safety and COSHH regulations
• Maintaining awareness of relevant current scientific literature and developments in field
• Contributing to LifeArc’s humanisation capabilities to support worldwide external collaborations
• Supporting LifeArc’s antibody discovery projects by applying antibody engineering skills to the optimisation of lead panel molecules
• Responsibility for the delivery of own workload, and that of those supervised where applicable
• Supporting team members
• Creating Standard Operating Procedures for equipment as required

Education & experience required:

PhD in a relevant discipline/ field OR BSc/MSc Degree with relevant laboratory experience

Hands-on experience of performing antibody-based assays

Protein expression experience in mammalian cells

Desirable:

Experience in an industrial setting

Working knowledge of high-throughput of antibody screening methods or biophysical techniques

Knowhow regarding the examination or modelling of molecular structures; understanding of antibody structure and engineering approaches

Skills & abilities:

Evidence of assay development and troubleshooting skills

Focussed on the generation of robust data and its clear presentation in verbal and written formats

Ability to work well with others as a self-motivated, proactive and adaptable team player

Organised and meticulous with details and accuracy

Willingness to embrace opportunities to expand skills with new methods or equipment.

Critical and analytical thinker, displaying an intellectual curiosity

About us:

At LifeArc, our ambition is to make life science life changing. We do this by advancing scientific discoveries beyond the lab, faster, so that they can shape the next generation of diagnostics, treatments, and cures.

Working at the cutting edge of translational science and as the early-stage translation specialists, we progress scientific discoveries on their journey to becoming a medicine, diagnostic or intervention that improve patients’ lives. Our work begins by seeking out innovative science, then helping to develop this to a point where there is a clinical and commercial pathway for others to invest the time and money to take it further forward.

What we can offer you:

Focused on finding life changing solutions for underserved patients, our people thrive in an inclusive, and supportive environment that prioritises their health and wellbeing. Our multidisciplinary approach guarantees our people growth opportunities, while our culture of innovation and collaboration drives the impact we make delivering on our purpose of ‘putting patients at the centre of everything we do’.

We are dedicated to creating a diverse, flexible, equitable and happy work environment so our colleagues can thrive as their truest selves. We act with courage, curiosity, care & commitment to deliver quality & excellence for our patients and each other Join us, and you’ll be given the scope to develop your professional skills and experience in a safe, supportive and challenging environment

Salary will be determined by qualifications and experience along with other exceptional benefits. Because we understand everyone has different requirements, our flexible benefits allow you to choose those which are important to you. Our pension scheme offers employer contributions of up to 12%, private health insurance, and annual leave of 31 days PLUS bank holidays.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people from minority ethnic backgrounds, for example, are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At LifeArc we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so whatever your background or lived experience, if you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. Our top priority is finding the best candidate, and you may be just right for this or other roles.

We all have potential. At LifeArc, you’ll discover what you can really do with it.