Stealth Startup
Founding Scientist (Part-Time)
Get notified of more jobs like this · No spam, ever
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
About us
We're an early-stage, women's health startup on a mission to end one of the most stressful parts of fertility and IVF care: the constant blood draws. We're developing a minimally invasive way to monitor reproductive hormones continuously — using aptamer-functionalised electrochemical sensors that read hormone levels directly in interstitial fluid, without a needle in a vein. We're backed by non-dilutive government innovation funding, founded by a scientist with a background in electrochemical biosensing, and about to make our first scientific hire — this role.
The role
You'll join right at the ground floor as our founding scientist, working hands-on with the founder to build and test the first generation of our sensing chemistry. You'll:
- Fabricate and characterise aptamer-functionalised screen-printed electrode (SPE) sensors
- Optimise sensor performance for key reproductive hormones (oestradiol and progesterone)
- Run electrochemical measurements (e.g. square-wave voltammetry) and analyse the data
- Test sensors in real human interstitial fluid and benchmark against reference values
- Determine limit of detection, dynamic range, selectivity and reproducibility
- Keep rigorous lab and time records and contribute to project reports and future publications
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
What we're looking for
Essential:
- A PhD or Master's in Bioengineering, Chemistry, Electrochemistry, Biosensing or a closely related field — we're also happy to hear from current students writing up their thesis
- Hands-on experience with electrochemical techniques (voltammetry / amperometry)
- Careful wet-lab and data-recording skills
- The self-direction and pragmatism to thrive in a tiny, early-stage team
Desirable:
- Experience with aptamer / DNA-based sensors or SPE fabrication
- Work with biological matrices (interstitial fluid, serum) or hormone assays
- A genuine interest in women's health
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Why join
This is a rare chance to be the first scientist in a mission-driven women's health company — real ownership of the science, share options alongside salary, and a clear path to a full-time founding scientist role as the company grows beyond this initial project.
Details
- 2.5 days/week (2 days in our Euston lab, 0.5 day from home), 0.5 FTE salary plus share options.
- 12-month fixed-term contract, with the possibility of extending into a permanent full-time founding scientist position.
- Start date: ASAP. You must already have the right to work in the UK — unfortunately we're not able to sponsor visas at this stage.
How to apply
Send your CV and a short note on why this excites you to sayleejangam@gmail.com by Friday 25th September.
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Location