ExpressionEdits
Senior/Principal Scientist, Protein Sciences
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Senior/Principal Scientist, Protein Sciences
We are growing our scientific team at ExpressionEdits and are offering an opportunity to join us in a full-time role as a Senior/Principal Scientist, Protein Sciences based at our laboratories in the Babraham Research Campus near Cambridge.
About ExpressionEdits:
At ExpressionEdits, we are revolutionizing biotechnology to create therapeutics that nobody else can. We have gone back to the basic building block of the field, the transgene, which has remained essentially stagnant since the 1970s, and re-invented its design based on our proprietary method of intronization.
With this technology, we can turn the artificial transgenes of the past into sequences that incorporate both coding and non-coding DNA to express more effectively, while also looking more like a cell’s natural genes. We believe this approach, guided by our artificial intelligence “Engine” for genetic design, will allow us to bring forth the full potential of genetic production.
We are a growing startup company within Cambridge’s synthetic biology community which you can join as an early member of our diverse team that spans biology, engineering, data science, and operations. With your help, we can bring our vision of ‘building biology like nature’ to life.
Position overview:
This is a senior, hands-on laboratory role responsible for the expression, purification and analytical characterisation of recombinant proteins - including antibodies and other therapeutic biologics - to support preclinical drug discovery. The Senior/Principal Scientist will bring deep technical expertise in mammalian (CHO/HEK) expression and protein engineering, working across teams to exemplify and advance the company's intron technology platform. The role holder will independently lead purification work, generate high-quality analytical data to support programme decisions, and act as a technical reference point for less experienced scientists in the team.
Responsibilities
- Recombinant Protein Expression:
- Design, execute and optimise recombinant protein expression in mammalian systems (CHO and HEK), including transient and stable formats, for antibodies and other therapeutic proteins.
- Apply protein engineering principles, assessing structure-function relationships, to inform construct design and troubleshoot poorly expressing or unstable molecules; exposure to computational modelling to support this work would be an advantage.
- Purification, Analytics and Quality:
- Independently plan and execute protein purification workflows from milligram to gram scale, using the AKTA chromatography platform (including the AKTA avant) across multiple modes of chromatography (e.g. Protein A/affinity, ion exchange, size exclusion).
- Maintain working knowledge of scale-up and technology transfer to CDMOs, and of the stages toward IND filing for a biologic, so that preclinical work anticipates downstream manufacturability needs.
- Design and perform analytical characterisation (e.g. HPLC-based methods such as SEC, RP, IEX) to support preclinical QC release and characterisation packages, such as stability studies.
- Maintain rigorous documentation in line with good scientific and record-keeping practice, ensuring data is fit for use in regulatory and IP contexts.
- Technical Leadership and Collaboration
- Act as a technical expert and point of reference for protein expression, purification and analytics, supporting and mentoring more junior scientists.
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Qualifications, experience and skills:
Essential:
- PhD in a relevant discipline (e.g. biochemistry, molecular biology, protein science) would be ideal; equivalent industry experience will also be considered.
- Hands-on experience of recombinant protein expression in CHO and/or HEK systems, including transfection (e.g. transient transfection for HEK, stable pool/cell line generation for CHO), and of protein engineering with a good understanding of structure-function relationships.
- Experience working on antibodies or other therapeutic recombinant proteins within a biotech (or equivalent industry) environment.
- Direct experience of protein purification to gram scale, including hands-on use of the AKTA chromatography platform, ideally the AKTA avant.
- Experience with HPLC and other protein analytical techniques used for QC purposes.
- Comfortable in a role that is predominantly laboratory-based.
Desirable:
- Experience of technology transfer to CDMOs, and understanding of the stages toward IND filing for a biologic.
- Knowledge or experience of SEC-MALS, mass spectrometry, DLS, CE-SDS, Biacore/SPR (binding kinetics), or cell-based potency assays, particularly mass spectrometry.
- Exposure to computational modelling to support protein engineering.
- Experience designing and running protein stability studies (e.g. thermal, freeze-thaw, forced degradation) to support candidate selection and characterisation packages.
- Knowledge or experience of cell line development, and broader awareness of biologics drug discovery.
Skills & Attributes:
- Strong scientific integrity and attention to detail.
- Excellent organisational skills.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with other team members.
- Highly organized, proactive, adaptable with the ability to multitask effectively in a fast-paced laboratory environment.
- Strong communication and teamwork skills, fostering collaboration across teams.
- Flexible and solutions-orientated approach to work; ability to support colleagues and prioritize tasks based on shifting company priorities.
- Desire to continuous learning and professional growth; eager to develop new skills in alignment with the company’s scientific advancements.
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How to apply
It is an exciting time to join ExpressionEdits so if you are interested in this position, please send your CV and a brief cover letter explaining your interest and suitability for this role to: recruitment@expressionedits.com.
Please ensure to include ‘Senior/Principal Scientist, Protein Sciences’ in the email subject line.
Please note, we are offering this role as a six month fixed term contract, with potential for extension.
If you have any specific questions we can help with answering, you can also contact us through that same email address, which will then get you in touch with the right member of our team.
The closing date for applications is end of Friday 21st August 2026. We will assess applications on a rolling basis, and so do not delay in applying.
We are committed to promoting equal opportunities in employment and creating a workplace culture in which diversity and inclusion is valued and everyone is treated with dignity and respect. As part of our zero-tolerance approach to discrimination in any form, you and any job applicants will receive equal treatment regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation. Recruitment will be conducted on the basis of merit, against objective criteria, to avoid discrimination and provide equality of opportunity. Our recruitment procedures will be reviewed regularly to ensure that all candidates are assessed objectively on the basis of their relevant merits and abilities. Our Equal Opportunities Policy is available upon request.
To learn about our current team please visit: https://www.expressionedits.com/
To learn how we collect, keep, and process your Personal Information in compliance with GDPR please visit: https://www.expressionedits.com/privacy-policy-for-applicants
To learn about our home at the Babraham Research Campus, please visit: https://www.babraham.com/babraham-ecosystem/
ExpressionEdits Ltd
Registered address: 3rd Floor 1 Ashley Road, Altrincham, Cheshire, United Kingdom, WA14 2DT
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