Research Scientist - Automation for Biosciences

Location

Sedgefield, County Durham | United Kingdom

Job description

About CPI

CPI helps make great ideas and inventions a reality. We’re a team of intelligent people using advances in science and technology to solve the biggest global challenges in healthcare and sustainability.

Through our incredible people and innovation infrastructure, we collaborate with our partners in industry, academia, government, and the investment community to accelerate the development and commercialisation of innovative products.

From health technologies and pharmaceuticals to sustainable food and materials innovations, we turn the entrepreneurial spirit and radical thinking of our people and partners into incredible impact that makes our world a better place.

Why this role is important for CPI’s work

CPI has an exciting opportunity for a Research Scientist (Automation for Biosciences) to join the established and growing Automation and Digital team within the National Formulation Centre based at NETPark, Sedgefield. 

We’re seeking a candidate with expertise in automation applied to biosciences. Applications are particularly welcome from those who have skills in the use of liquid handling robots and in the creation of complex novel workflows with them. Candidates should understand (or demonstrate a desire to be upskilled in) the science related to the formation of drug delivery systems and/​or lipid nanoparticle systems. Skills in Python coding, design of experiments, and machine learning would be valuable for this role. The successful individual will apply their expertise (and upskill) to address formulation challenges, developing and optimizing drug delivery systems for RNA vaccines and therapeutics. This is a key goal of CPI’s role within the Intracellular Drug Delivery Centre.

The mission of the Automation and Digital team is to employ cutting-edge digital and physical technologies to drive innovation in the formulation sector. Our goal is to facilitate efficient and high-quality data collection and integrate state-of-the-art modelling and simulation into our work. As a team member, you’ll specialize in biosciences automation, aligning with established expertise in both the battery and FMCG sectors.

In this role, you will report directly to the Team Manager, offering essential technical expertise and contributing to project delivery. Collaborating with colleagues and stakeholders, you will implement our automation skills to support new innovative product solutions. Your responsibilities will include collaborative engagement in research projects, data analysis, and reporting findings to the project lead. Additionally, you will undergo targeted development in strategically relevant areas such as automation, data science, and machine learning techniques. This role is central to advancing our capabilities and ensuring impactful contributions to the biosciences.

The team works with companies and organizations of all sizes, from global multinationals to 2‑person start-ups, with project durations ranging from 1month to 4years. While you will be focused on a key project, you will also have exposure to an immense variety of other projects and opportunities: in scale (ranging from 1month to multi-year projects) and in the area of application (battery materials, pharmaceuticals, fast-moving consumer goods, coatings). You will be encouraged to explore new techniques, whether they are new to our organization or novel techniques emerging from academia. Relevant Training — whether self-taught, peer training, or through formal courses — will be encouraged.

Some exciting projects the team have recently worked on are:

Narrator (Nanopharma): The application of state-of-the-art digital techniques and automation to explore Lipid Nanoparticle (LNP) manufacture for supporting RNA vaccines and therapeutics. Our automation scientists are helping to chart our way intelligently through large libraries of lipids to create optimised drug delivery formulations.

DIY4U (FMCG): The generation of a fabrication lab combining an automated platform with digitally enabled manufacturing for the fast customisable, at point of purchase, fabrication of FMCG products such as laundry detergent.

Constellation (Energy Sector): This project used AI and automation to optimise the performance of battery cells for the electric vehicle (EV) market.

The Role

Key tasks in the Scientist role will include (but are not limited to the below), please download the job description for full details available on the CPI careers page:

• To support the technical delivery of new automation platforms for the production and characterisation of formulations in line with the business strategy.
• To (plan and) deliver technical programmes of work on automation platforms and high throughput equipment. (Please refer to job descriptions for further information).
• To write and optimise workflows for automation project work (and review them). (Please refer to job descriptions for further information).
• To support the maintenance, calibration, safety, and quality, for the effective running of automation platforms.
• To use skills in data analysis for effective automation and train others in their use, e.g., design of experiments, statistics, management of large data sets, effective data logging systems.
• To keep self up-to-date with developments in areas relevant to the role, and/​or legislative and SHE-related changes as communicated by senior colleagues, ensuring understanding of these and any associated new best practice, methods, or techniques.

The person we are seeking

Successful candidates will be educated to a minimum of HNC, Foundation Degree, Degree, or master’s degree level (or equivalent) in a biosciences relevant discipline (e.g., chemistry/​biochemistry/​biology/​pharmaceutical) plus (significant) relevant industrial experience;

• Will exhibit professional knowledge / mastery of (please refer to job descriptions for further information) principles and practices in one or more of the following:
  • Advanced drug delivery systems (such as vehicles for mRNA transfection).
  • The production/​characterisation of (lipid) nanoparticles.
  • Use of liquid handling robots (e.g., Opentron, Janus, Hamilton systems) and writing workflows to control them.
• Will possess experience in a lab-based role obtained through either industry or academia.
• Will be learning to / has confidence to (please refer to job descriptions for further information) apply own judgement and initiative within standard engineering or scientific practices, as well as an understanding of when to seek advice from colleagues.

Its highly desirable that you:

• Have a technical understanding of (or direct experience in) the production/​characterisation of lipid nanoparticle formulations and/​or novel drug delivery systems.
• Have experience in design of experiments.
• Have experience in python scripting in day-to-day activities relevant to data analysis and controlling robotic platforms.
• Have an understanding (or experience) in machine learning techniques (applied in a scientific context).
• Understand more than one of the areas of professional mastery listed under the essential category.

What does CPI offer you?

At CPI, we offer a wide range of benefits to our employees, this includes:

• Up to 36days holiday, including bank holidays – Plus a holiday purchasing scheme
• Generous pension scheme
• Life assurance and accident insurance schemes
• Flexible working
• Learning and Development Opportunities
• Free parking

Find out more about our culture and benefits.

Additional information

*Scientist 1 (£25,000-£33,000) , Scientist 2 (£30,000-£38,000)

CPI is an organisation based in the UK. Commencement of employment is conditional to demonstrating right to work in the UK, sponsorship may be available.

Job tags

Salary

£25k - £38k per annum