Principal Scientist – Sensors & Diagnostics – Scotland - Glasgow / Edinburgh Corridor
Most biosensor projects don't fail because of the assay. They fail because nobody fully understands the sensor.
If you've built electrochemical biosensors in industry, you'll know that generating a signal is only part of the challenge. The difficult part is creating a sensor that remains sensitive, stable, manufacturable and commercially viable once it leaves the lab.
We're looking for a Principal Scientist to lead the development of next-generation electrochemical biosensors and diagnostic assays whilst remaining deeply involved in the science itself.
This is not a management role disguised as a scientific role.
It's for somebody who wants to lead the science, shape technical direction, mentor other scientists and solve difficult problems, whilst still remaining closely connected to experimental design, data interpretation and sensor development.
Why This Principal Scientist Role Is Interesting
Most senior scientists eventually get pushed in one of two directions.
They either:
- Stay hands-on and become increasingly specialised.
- Move into leadership and slowly drift away from the science.
This role offers the opportunity to do both.
You'll lead a highly capable team developing advanced electrochemical biosensors whilst remaining deeply involved in the scientific and technical challenges that determine whether a sensor platform ultimately succeeds or fails.
The work sits at the intersection of:
- Electrochemistry
- Sensor engineering
- Diagnostics
- Assay development
- Product development
- Commercialisation
The Problems You'll Be Solving
You'll be helping drive development across areas including:
- Electrochemical biosensors
- Diagnostic assay development
- Sensor architecture and design
- Biofunctionalisation
- Electrochemical signal generation
- Signal acquisition and optimisation
- Sensor integration
- Wet-to-dry assay translation
- Sensor manufacturability and scalability
- Performance verification and optimisation
You'll be working with scientists, engineers and commercial teams to turn robust scientific concepts into commercially viable diagnostic products.
We'd like to speak to Scientists who have experience In
- Electrochemical biosensors
- Biomedical diagnostics
- Immunosensors
- Enzymatic sensors
- Nucleic acid sensors
- Electrochemical characterisation techniques
- Assay development
- Biofunctionalisation
- Sensor development
- Translational R&D
Experience gained within:
- Diagnostics companies
- Medical devices
- Spin-outs
- Venture-backed technology businesses
- Commercial R&D organisations would all be highly relevant.
The sort of person who will thrive here
You're probably somebody who:
- Enjoys understanding how sensors actually work
- Likes solving difficult technical problems
- Challenges assumptions rather than accepting them
- Enjoys mentoring and developing others
- Can balance scientific rigour with commercial reality
- Still gets excited by experimental results
- Wants to build technology that has real-world impact
You may currently be a:
- Principal Scientist
- Lead Scientist
- Senior Scientist
- Principal Development Scientist
- Sensor Scientist
- Electrochemist
Or perhaps you're already doing much of the role but without the title.
The Important Bit
We're not looking for somebody to manage science.
We're looking for somebody to lead it.
Salary: Negotiable
Vacancy Location: Scotland
For more about this opportunity please contact Adam Mayne (adam.mayne@vrl.co.uk)