Higher Scientist - Protein Spectroscopy

NPL’s Biometrology group wishes to appoint a Higher Scientist in protein spectroscopy.

The group is a multidisciplinary team of biologists, chemists and physicists developing innovative materials, tools, and methods in response to the challenges of reproducibility, traceability, and comparability in biological R&D as well as the lack of suitable biological standards.

If you have a background in biochemistry or chemistry and a passion for investigating protein function and applications this could be the perfect opportunity for you. Your focus will be on the measurement challenges associated with establishing structure-function relationships of native and engineered proteins in solution. Areas of application include the development of optogenetic and magnetogenetic tools, the structure/function assessment of protein-based drugs, and the exploitation of quantum technologies in the life sciences and healthcare. You will also get the opportunity to engage with other areas of the group’s activity as appropriate.

As a Higher Scientist, you'll be expected to acquire new knowledge to find solutions to advance our research. Also, if commercial opportunities arise from your work, you'll need to flag these – as this is how new products and services are born. At NPL, we learn from each other, respect each other, and work together to do better for ourselves and our customers.

What you’ll be doing:

• Express and purify recombinant proteins (e.g., photoreceptors, enzymes, engineered proteins) for functional investigation and method development;
• Operate and help maintain a protein production facility, comprising molecular biology, microbiology, cell culture, and protein purification capabilities;
• Collect and analyse data from protein characterisation, quality control, and mechanistic investigations using a range of biochemical and biophysical techniques (e.g., absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy, analytical SEC, light scattering);
• Work across scientific disciplines with various NPL groups and external collaborators (academia, industry, and international partners) to design and deliver a range of R&D projects;
• Prepare technical reports and disseminate results in the form of scientific papers and conference presentations;
• Work well within collaborative teams and closely with colleagues and partners to develop commercial opportunities.
• Sharing your learnings so that we all benefit and mentoring those with less experience than you;
• Developing partnerships to strengthen our capability;
• Acting as an ambassador for our work externally and being willing to promote what we do;
• Providing technical support for any bids we may be undertaking.

The role is for a collaborative and collegiate individual who displays initiative, excellent problem-solving skills, and is committed to personal development as a scientist.

With a PhD in Chemical, or Biological Sciences, you’ll have:

• Practical skills and experience in molecular biology, recombinant expression (e.g., bacterial expression systems), purification, and characterisation of proteins in solution;
• Practical skills and experience in spectroscopic characterisation (e.g., absorption and emission spectroscopies) of proteins in solution and related data analysis;
• A good understanding of protein structure and function;
• Good written and verbal communication skills;
• Ability to work as part of a team in a multidisciplinary research environment.

Desirable skills and experience include time-resolved optical spectroscopy, experience working with photoreceptor proteins, cell and micro-biology, and protein expression using other expression systems (e.g., yeast), but these are not vital and there will be ample opportunities to develop and harness these and other skills in the group.

We actively recruit citizens of all backgrounds, but the nature of our work in specific departments means that nationality, residency and security requirements can be more tightly defined than others. You will be asked about this throughout the recruitment process. To work at NPL, you will need to obtain BPSS security clearance.

Please note:  Applications will be reviewed, and interviews conducted throughout the duration of this advert therefore we may at any time bring the closing date forward.  We encourage all interested applicants to apply as soon as practical.

The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is a world-leading centre of excellence that provides cutting-edge measurement science, engineering and technology to underpin prosperity and quality of life in the UK. 

NPL and DSIT have strong commitments to diversity and equality of opportunity, and welcome applications from candidates irrespective of their background, gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, or age, providing they meet the required criteria. Applications from women, disabled and black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates in particular are encouraged. All disabled candidates (as defined by the Equality Act 2010) who satisfy the minimum criteria for the role will be guaranteed an interview under the Disability Confident Scheme. 

At NPL, we believe our success is a result of the diversity and talent of our people. We strive to nurture and respect individuals to ensure everyone feels valued by treating everyone on the basis of their own individual merits and abilities regardless of their own or perceived identity, as part of our commitment to diversity & inclusion, we hold memberships and accreditations to ensure we’re creating an environment where all our colleagues feel supported and welcome, please see our Diversity & Inclusion page.

 We are committed to the health and well-being of our employees. Flexible working and social activities are embedded in our culture to create a positive work-life balance, along with a broad range of benefits. Our values are at the heart of what we do, and they shape the way we interact, develop our people and celebrate success. 

To ensure everyone has an equal chance, we’re always willing to make reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process. If you would like to discuss, please contact us.