Antibody Discovery Scientist
Job Ref: S2502
Reports To: Senior Scientist or above
Contract type: Permanent
Role level: C
THE ROLE
For 25 years, Isogenica has built deep expertise and knowledge about how to find small-format VHH antibodies (around 1/10th the size of an IgG) and peptides and develop them into drugs in partnership with some of the world’s most innovative biopharma companies.
As a Discovery Scientist in our Alliances team, you will deliver VHH and peptide discovery projects for our partners for use in diverse applications, helping to bring new medicines, diagnostics tools, and other cutting-edge solutions to the world and improve patient lives.
As a Scientist, the majority of your time will be lab-based with some time spent in the office. You will mine Isogenica’s libraries to discover the optimal lead panel to meet the project goals. Guided by our standardised methods, you will also apply your creative problem-solving skills to develop new project-specific methods. Your communication skills and attention to detail will allow you to deliver the right product to each client, taking a rigorous scientific approach to experimental design, execution and interpretation of data. You will be involved in communicating with our partners as well as the wider Isogenica team, while developing your own storytelling capabilities to turn your data into case studies.
As you grow into the role, you will demonstrate your ability to work autonomously and successfully deliver programmes, as well as communicate effectively with partners to build relationships and deliver shared goals. All while working with a creative team of scientists who are here to share knowledge and give support.
WHO YOU ARE
• You hold a PhD in a Life Sciences subject or have equivalent experience, ideally in antibody discovery or in a contract research organisation (CRO) environment. You are excited about a career in a CRO biotech and are ready to accelerate your learning in a commercial environment.
• You have experience of wet-lab experimental design and execution in the field of protein-protein interaction.
• You are “outcomes focused”, and able to prioritise your work to meet deadlines. You have good organisational skills and ask questions if you’re not sure.
• You are an enthusiastic scientist who can work independently but who is also a good team player. You relish a challenge and are thoughtful about planning your experiments and proactive in seeking solutions for difficult problems.
• You are conscientious and observant, and this includes working to create a safe and efficient working environment for yourself and your colleagues.
• You enjoy variety, are willing to learn our science and are able to master many different experimental techniques, as well as building relationships with new external colleagues with varying project goals.
• As a Scientist, you will work under the direction of more senior colleagues but will soon be able to work effectively without close supervision.
For more details about the role, please see the Appendix.
WHAT WE OFFER
As well as being part of our skilled and enthusiastic team, you will also benefit from:
• 25 days annual leave, plus bank holidays,
• A culture of inclusivity and trust, including the option to work some days from home when appropriate, if that’s how you need to focus on your work.
• A work-place pension with an 8% employer contribution,
• Routine salary benchmarking in the biotech industry to ensure our pay remains both fair and competitive,
• Access to Income Protection and Life Insurance benefits,
• Access to Private Medical Insurance (eligible on completion of probation),
• Access to health and wellbeing resources through our Employee Assistance Programme including counselling and telephone GP service,
• Professional development tailored to you including both in-house training and external courses and events,
• A thriving working environment with the opportunity to be part of a diverse and collaborative team, bringing new antibody products into the world.
Isogenica is located in Chesterford Research Park offering a beautiful landscape in which to work with plenty of green, open and parkland grounds to explore. Alongside the benefits above, you’ll have access to an on-site restaurant, golf course and 50% membership discount for the on-site gym which includes exercise classes and a free outdoor bootcamp.
Salary Range: £34,000 – £45,000 dependent on experience, plus excellent benefits package
Closing Date: 6th July 2025
How to apply:
Please send your CV and brief covering letter to: jobs@isogenica.com
You must have the permanent right to work in the UK to apply for this role.
Isogenica commits to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, or gender identity.
We acknowledge that no candidate is perfect. Please apply, even if you check some, but not all, of the boxes. Experience comes in all shapes and sizes, skills can be transferred, and enthusiasm goes a long way. We are building diverse and inclusive teams and look forward to learning more about your unique lived experience.
APPENDIX
Behaviours and Values
• The ability to work both individually and as part of a team is essential. Fostering collaborative relationships with colleagues is essential.
• Demonstrable creativity and innovation within the role, seeking to suggest improvements or contribute to team or company project plans.
• Eagerness for learning and a proactive approach to expanding own knowledge and skills.
• Nurturing a culture of trust. Respectfully challenges ideas or process or asks questions to develop own learning.
• Demonstrable enthusiasm and passion for the work of the company, setting high standards for self and others and consistently setting high expectations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills with the ability to interpret complex data and identify issues where necessary.
• Taking care in your work, and taking care of your colleagues through personal responsibility, initiative, and good laboratory housekeeping.
Relevant technical skills (it is not expected that a successful candidate would have prior experience in all areas):
You will work alongside colleagues on partnered discovery campaigns to generate novel VHH antibodies for various applications. You will carry out technical work to support our projects, dependent on the specific requirements of the program.
• Following established processes and methods to a high level of accuracy, planning new experiments as needed, seeking guidance from colleagues.
• Perform antibody or scaffold protein selections using phage display or Isogenica’s proprietary technology – CIS display.
• Independently operate one or more pieces of complex lab equipment/robotics.
• Execute basic antibody binding assays (ELISA, HTRF, kinetics using SPR/BLI methods).
• Sequence analysis, and antibody sequence analysis in particular.
• Perform general molecular biology work (DNA purification, PCR setup, restriction digests/ligations, E. coli transformation, gel electrophoresis…).
• Express proteins from E. coli and analyse their quality using SDS-PAGE, melting temperature and size exclusion chromatography.
• DNA and amino acid sequence analysis, and antibody sequence analysis in particular. Experience with NGS analysis is desirable.
• Data analysis and presentation using computational tools and specialised software.
• Accurately recording, reporting, interpreting data and explaining results to colleagues, at team/company meetings and externally to collaborators.
• Ensuring new methods are recorded in SOPs and stored correctly.
• Comply with health and safety policies including conducting risk assessments and COSHH and raising of any H&S concerns with the relevant staff.