Ellison Institute of Technology Oxford
Research Assistant (Zuercher Lab) - Generative Biology Insititute
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Research Assistant (Zuercher Lab) - Generative Biology Insititute
Postdoctoral Researchers - Zuercher Lab at the Generative Biology Institute (GBI)
At the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT), we're committed to transforming scientific discovery into impactful real-world solutions. The Generative Biology Institute (GBI), under the leadership of Jason Chin, is at the forefront of making biology engineerable to address humanity’s greatest challenges across four key areas:
- Health, Medical Science & Generative Biology
- Food Security & Sustainable Agriculture
- Climate Change & Managing CO₂
- Artificial Intelligence & Robotics
Established in 2025, GBI operates in bespoke space at the Oxford Science Park, with plans to relocate to an upcoming 40,000 m² state-of-the-art facility to house 30 groups and up to 600 employees focused on revolutionising biology for societal benefit.
About the Role: The Zuercher Lab
We are seeking ambitious, creative, and highly skilled Postdoctoral Researchers to join the Zuercher Lab, led by Principal Investigator Jerome Zuercher. The lab focuses on two interconnected research areas:
Genetic Isolation
Addressing the critical challenge of preventing genetic interference between engineered organisms and natural biology or pathogens. The lab pioneers genome recoding and translational engineering, creating organisms with synthetic genetic codes to ensure genetic isolation and bioproduction safety.
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Genome Synthesis
Enhancing current genome synthesis methods to:
- Accelerate the grafting of entire model organism genomes (e.g. E. coli)
- Expand scope to non-model bacteria
- Integrate synthesis with artificial intelligence for scalable biological design across health, agriculture, and beyond.
Training and learning at jzlab.bio.
Key Responsibilities
Key tasks include but may extend beyond:
- Collaborative data collection & analysis under established protocols
- Lab-based experiments – sample prep, equipment setup, and strict safety compliance
- Data analysis, reporting, and presentation of findings using advanced software
- Support scientific publications, conference submissions, and lab documentation
- Stay current in synthetic biology, genetics, and AI
- Project & stakeholder coordination
- Team support & delegated ad-hoc tasks as required
Requirements
Applicants must demonstrate:
- A Bachelor’s degree (or above) in Biology, Chemistry, Engineering, Computer Science, or related fields
- Laboratory experience (essential)
- Problem-solving & multi-project management in fast-paced environments
- Strong communication skills (oral/written) and ability to collaborate across diverse teams
- Evidence of stakeholder engagement (internal/external)
- UK work eligibility or (limited) visa sponsorship potential (case-by-case review)
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Benefits
EIT offers a comprehensive benefits package: ✅ Salary – competitive base + bonuses + travel allowance ✅ Holiday entitlement – enhanced leave ✅ Pensions + life assurance ✅ Insurance (medical, hospital cash plan) + therapy access ✅ Supportive work-life schemes (electric car allowance, perk box)
Location & Commitments
- Based in Oxford; willingness to relocate or commute is essential
- Flexibility for global time zone team collaboration
- Potential for extended hours during project phases
Term & Application Notes
- 2-year fixed-term contract
- Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis
- Include a cover letter addressing fit & experience
- Submit exclusively through the EIT job portal
- For role discussion: Email Jerome Zuercher (3–6 month decision timeline)
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