Scientist I – Bioprocessing x2
Darlington (National Biologics Manufacturing Centre) | On-site | £26,939 – £34,939
About the Role:
We are seeking two Scientists (Bioprocessing) to join our National Biologics Manufacturing Centre in Darlington.
This is a unique cross-team role designed to give early-career scientists end-to-end exposure across biologics process development, including Upstream (USP), Downstream (DSP), and Analytical functions.
This is a great opportunity to work across teams — building a broad understanding of how biologics are developed, processed, and characterised.
This is an excellent opportunity for someone looking to develop a well-rounded skillset across the full bioprocessing pipeline, working on a variety of modalities including monoclonal antibodies, recombinant proteins, mRNA, and viral vectors.
What You’ll Be Responsible For:
Cross-Team Bioprocessing Support
- Support projects across:
- Upstream processing (cell culture, fermentation)
- Downstream processing (purification, chromatography)
- Analytical testing and characterisation
- Rotate across teams or work on integrated projects spanning multiple areas
Upstream & Downstream Activities
- Assist with cell culture and/or fermentation processes
- Support purification processes including chromatography, filtration, and buffer exchange
- Contribute to scale-up and process development activities
Analytical & Data
- Support basic analytical testing to monitor product quality and process performance
- Compile and interpret data, contributing to reports and project deliverables
- Ensure accurate documentation and data integrity
Collaboration & Project Delivery
- Work closely with multidisciplinary teams across the organisation
- Contribute to delivery of multiple concurrent projects
- Support external-facing programmes, including communicating results to stakeholders
Laboratory & Operational Support
- Maintain laboratory equipment and support general lab operations
- Perform routine checks, calibrations, and housekeeping activities
About You
You are an early-career scientist or recent graduate with a strong interest in biologics and a desire to build a broad technical foundation.
You’ll bring:
- A degree (or equivalent) in a relevant scientific discipline
- Basic understanding of one or more of the following:
- Cell culture / upstream processing
- Protein purification / downstream processing
- Analytical techniques (e.g. ELISA, qPCR, chromatography)
- Strong attention to detail and willingness to learn
- Good communication skills, with confidence presenting data
Desirable (but not essential):
- Hands-on experience in bioprocessing or biologics (USP, DSP, or analytical)
- Exposure to laboratory environments or academic research projects
- Interest in developing across multiple technical areas rather than specialising early
This role is ideal for someone who:
- Wants to gain end-to-end understanding of biologics development
- Is flexible and happy to work across teams
- Is motivated, curious, and keen to develop in a fast-paced environment
Why Join?
- Unique opportunity to build experience across USP, DSP, and Analytical in one role
- Exposure to cutting-edge biologics and advanced therapies
- Strong foundation for long-term career development in bioprocessing
- Collaborative, supportive team environment
- Competitive salary (£26.9k–£34.9k)
Location & Working Pattern
- Based on-site in Darlington (Nigel Perry Building)
- Fully lab-based role with hands-on experimental work
The Opportunity
This is an excellent opportunity for someone at the start of their career to gain breadth of experience that is difficult to access elsewhere, building a strong foundation across the full biologics value chain while working on impactful, real-world projects.
Unfortunately we aren't taking any applications from candidates who will require sponsorship now or in the future for these roles.