Associate Scientist

Today, precision medicine coupled with advanced diagnostics is taking over. However, those innovations in medicine come with an ever-increasing price tag driven by more expensive and complicated solutions making them less accessible unless we do something about it.

Signatur Biosciences was established with the mission of making cutting-edge diagnostic tools accessible to more patients around the world. As a startup we have developed a technology to profile complex molecular signatures in a single reaction using qPCR machines already in place in every biomedical lab around the world. Signatur Biosciences is a startup with a remote workforce, predominantly in London, UK, and is establishing a new laboratory facility in Liège, Belgium.

We're worried about accessibility in precision diagnostics and are building a team of individuals who share our passion for solving this problem through close collaboration and a sense of urgency. We're building a different kind of company, where employees think like owners, act with authority, and collaborate closely with one another.

We are seeking a highly motivated and driven Senior Technical Assistant to join our team to help establish our new Belgium laboratory facility (full time, on site). In this role, under the direction of the Head of Laboratory Operations, you will be responsible for developing, implementing and maintaining all necessary procedures and process required for a state-of-the-art ISO13485 compliant laboratory facility and for the generation of data to support the development of next generation molecular diagnostic products. You will join Signatur Biosciences at an exciting time as we are a small start-up company looking to grow. You will be part of an expanding laboratory operations team but also interact with colleagues across the company who have the shared mission to make precision diagnostics more accessible. If you are a highly motivated and driven self-starter with a passion for novel diagnostics development, we'd love to speak with you

About the role: As an Associate Scientist, you will be responsible for conducting qPCR experiments in accordance with protocols and work instructions to support research, development and manufacturing activities. You will play a crucial role in advancing innovative diagnostic solutions by performing molecular biology techniques, analyzing experimental data, and ensuring the highest standards of quality and accuracy.

Technical Expertise

Expert in PCR

Experience with nucleic acid extraction

Proven track record of timely and accurate laboratory record keeping

Experience in working collaboratively and coordinating laboratory activities

Skills, Experience & Attributes

Minimum Bachelor or equivalent Science degree in biology, molecular biology, synthetic biology, bioengineering, or similar

At least 3 years of hands-on molecular biology laboratory experience (not including course work)

Experience working within a Quality Management System for In Vitro Diagnostic development (ISO13485)

AI-augmented mindset: comfortable adopting AI tools to accelerate day-to-day tasks; genuinely curious about applying emerging AI capabilities to scientific and operational challenges

Experience in extraction of nucleic acid from FFPE blocks

Previous start-up industry experience

Experience in using automated PCR set-up

Experience of working within biobanking requirements

Experience in writing study protocols following relevant international guidelines (e.g. CLSI)

Mentoring and/or coaching team members

Main Responsibilities:

People and Functional Development

Responsible for adherence to laboratory procedures to ensure a safe and effective laboratory environment

Assist in the sourcing, storage, handling and maintenance of records with regards biological samples in accordance with the relevant requirements

Be responsible for adhering to the work instructions and training for specific laboratory processes/equipment as a lab process expert

Contribute to the laboratory processes / procedures implementation in accordance with In Vitro Diagnostic development (ISO13485)

Support the Head of Laboratory Operations in the implementation and monitoring of metrics (Key Performance Indicators) of laboratory efficiency & effectiveness

Contribute towards the continuous improvement and operations of Signatur Biosciences

Training and coaching of laboratory team members

Project and Product Delivery

Contribute to the efficient translation of study plans and protocols into detailed laboratory work instructions/worksheets to enable laboratory execution

Conduct laboratory studies in accordance with work instructions and/or study protocols in support of research and/or product development projects including:

Performing qPCR experiments manuall