Senior Scientist (Assay Development)

Cambridge, England, United Kingdom

1/30/2025

Our mission is to push the boundaries of complex cell analysis. Using the Lightcast platform we are working with major pharmaceutical companies, leading academic institutes, and innovative biotechnology leaders. Together, using our next generation microfluidic platform, we are making advances towards new science, unique clinical approaches, new therapies, and innovative products.

The Lightcast platform allows precise, highly flexible, and massively parallel control of tens to hundreds of thousands of picolitre volume microdroplets using beams of light and powerful software logic. By sequentially combining droplets containing different cells, antibodies, cancer drugs, reporters and /or other reagents, we can perform complex workflows and assays at scale with a flexibility far beyond what is currently possible on any cell analysis platform.

About the role

We are looking for an experienced Senior Scientist based in Cambridge Uk to join our Biology Team. In this role, you will be involved in designing and developing novel assays for various applications using the Lightcast platform. You will have the opportunity to transform cell-based assays from traditional plate-based formats to picolitre-scale droplets, enabling new functional readouts and assay combinations at single cell resolution. Inventing and establishing novel assay formats, you will be at the forefront of developing the assays and cutting-edge workflows that present a product that makes immediate impact to our collaborators and customers in Drug Discovery. To ensure assay development at Lightcast is at the lead-edge of innovation, you will work closely with internal and external partners. Additionally, you will participate in project update meetings, horizon scanning and mind-mapping activities, contributing to the innovative and collegial culture of the team.

You will sit at the nexus of development and contribute to the commercialization, involving significant interaction with the other internal R&D teams and commercial teams at Lightcast. In a fast paced, development environment you will need a mindset adept at problem identification, together with the ability to identify and implement solutions.

As a Senior Scientist in the Biology Team, you will be expected to:

• Be a subject matter expert in the field of assay development. Experience developing and troubleshooting cell based assays. Familiarity with experimental design, data acquisition and interpretation to ensure robust assay performance
• Develop innovative experiments and deliver on platform assay options with publication-quality data; invent and optimise cell-based assays to be run on the Lightcast platform aligned with our customer needs and product development roadmap
• Keep up to date with new technologies that could be applied to the Lightcast platform as well as with the competitive landscape
• Capture and communicate any novel intellectual property that you invent during your work
• Generate SOPs, experimental plans and result reports at quality feeding directly into product development
• Communicate and collaborate with members of the wider company including, data scientists, software developers, engineers, chemists and commercial teams
• Prepare presentations and reports for audiences inside and outside the company, including for collaborators and clients to provide clear, effective communication of data driven results
• Work in a fast-paced environment, adapting to changing priorities and deadlines
  
  

We would expect you to have:

• PhD in a field related cell biology, immunology or similar field with a minimum of 5 years lab-based experience preferably in an industry setting
• Demonstrable experience of cell-based assay development in the field of antibody discovery. Ideally focussed on immunoassays or bead based assays
• Experience with screening of cell populations and associated data processing skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work in interdisciplinary teams and collaborate with external partners
• Experience on working with collaborators on complex and cutting-edge projects
• Ability to work in an agile and fast-paced environment, adapting to changing priorities and deadlines
  
  

Advantageous experience:

• Experience in developing single-cell functional assays
• Prior experience in translating cell-based assays into droplet environments
• Flow cytometry assay development
• Product development experience
  
  

We offer a generous benefits package including:    

• 26 days holiday, plus Public Holidays
• Flexible working hours
• Pension contribution matched up to 7%
• Private medical insurance
• Income protection
• Life insurance
• Subsidized gym membership and weekly cross fit sessions
• Access to Cycle to Work and Technology schemes
• Enhanced family leave policies
  
  

At Lightcast, we recruit on a rolling basis, meaning we carry on recruiting until we find the right person for the role being advertised. We tend to compare individuals to the role specification rather than to each other.

About Lightcast

Lightcast Discovery is a bio-tools company developing a platform that combines the flexibility to analyse a wide range of cell types and assays with precise control over droplet number, occupancy, location and movement. Working with major pharmaceutical companies and leading academic institutes. Together, using our next generation microfluidic platform, we are driving scientific innovation, developing unique therapeutic approaches, and forging a path to exciting new scientific discoveries. Learn more about Lightcast Discovery at https://www.lightcast.bio/.

Lightcast Discovery is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, colour, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status.

At Lightcast, we recognize there is no perfect candidate. If you have some of the experience listed above but not all, please apply anyway. Experience comes in many forms, skills are transferable, and passion goes a long way in our book. We are dedicated to building diverse and inclusive teams and look forward to learning more about your unique background and what you can bring to Lightcast Discovery.



Recruitment & Staffing Agencies: Lightcast Discovery does not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from candidates. The submission of unsolicited resumes by recruitment or staffing agencies to Lightcast or its employees is strictly prohibited unless contacted directly by Lightcast Discovery's internal Talent Acquisition team. Any resume submitted by an agency in the absence of a signed agreement will automatically become the property of Lightcast Discovery, and Lightcast Discovery will not owe any referral or other fees with respect thereto.