Researcher

The Molecular Biology team within the National Measurement Laboratory at LGC, based in Guildford, works on a range of national and international projects developing and applying high accuracy calibration and measurement services and best practice in support of LGC’s role as the Designated Institute for chemical and biological metrology and in support of the Government Chemist function. In addition, the team undertakes contract research and development projects for a range of customers in both the public and private sectors.

The Molecular Biology team is equipped with a wide range of platforms for DNA analysis, including advanced sequencing and high accuracy PCR technologies for analysis of nucleic acid testing and determination of sequence identity, advanced sequencing and measurement services. The team has also established a DNA synthesis capability to support activities in engineering biology and pandemic response.

We have an exciting position for someone wanting to advance their career in laboratory nucleic acid analysis. You will join a scientific team delivering a wide range of projects that support experimental work in our measurement research programs and commercial services. The role primarily involves using molecular methods to identify and quantify nucleic acids (DNA, RNA, and their modifications). This work aims to deepen our understanding of molecular-based measurements.

This work supports our national and international collaborators by applying our techniques across many sectors. These include human genetics, such as cancer diagnosis and precision medicine, analytical microbiology for infectious disease and antimicrobial resistance diagnosis, food analysis related to genetic modification, engineering biology involving viral vectors and synthetic materials, and environmental studies like wastewater and biodiversity.

Key Responsibilities

• Day-to-day planning and delivery of measurement research work, ensuring quality, timely delivery, and adherence to budget
• Experimental build, literature research, and method development
• Sample preparation and nucleic acid extraction from multiple matrices
• DNA quantification
• Maintaining good records and laboratory notebooks of work carried out, including providing clear, understandable data
• Data analysis and experimental documentation
• Routine maintenance to determine system performance and operation
• Contribute to sharing findings (including scientific writing for publication and presentation of scientific developments and achievements)
• Delivery of ad-hoc research commercial projects and comprehensive reporting of results
• Publication and dissemination of scientific advancements and achievements
• Support relationships with external customers and collaborators

• A PhD degree (or equivalent experience) in industry, academic, or clinical research in molecular biology, genetics, biomedical science or a related field
• Experience in planning and delivering research and commercial projects, working to deadlines and producing reports
• Demonstrable experience in, and understanding of, sample preparation methods, use and application of a range of molecular techniques (including PCR, real-time PCR, digital PCR, capillary electrophoresis and sequencing) for nucleic acid analysis
• Strong data analysis and interpretation skills, ideally with knowledge of statistical and bioinformatic packages (e.g. R and Linux based analysis)
• Excellent presentation skills, both oral and written

Full training will be provided, as required, on instruments required for the delivery of the projects, as well as topics such as method validation and traceability of measurements.

Person Specification

The role requires an enthusiastic scientist who will contribute to the successful delivery of analytical R&D projects. You will be expected to promote your achievements with appropriate scientific publications, reports and presentations. The following person specifications are required:

• Enthusiastic and innovative scientist with a strong desire to develop their own technical skill set
• Self-reliant and self-motivated team player
• Ability to work on both long-term and short-term projects
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Strong attention to detail and a proactive attitude towards learning
• Appreciation for working within a quality system and knowledge of good laboratory practice

The job holder will be able to demonstrate the following behaviours in line with LGC’s values:

Passion, Curiosity, Integrity, Brilliance, Respect

About LGC:

LGC is a leading, global life science tools company, providing mission-critical components and solutions into high-growth application areas across the human healthcare and applied market segments. Its high-quality product portfolio is comprised of mission-critical tools for genomic analysis and for quality assurance applications, which are typically embedded and recurring within our customers’ products and workflows and are valued for their performance, quality, and range.