About the Role

We are seeking a Surface Chemist to join our Hardware team. Based in our headquarters in Scale Space, White City, London, and reporting to the Cartridge Team Leader. This primarily on-site, lab-based role will involve the modification and characterisation of materials and surfaces to optimise nanopore assays at the microscale. You will carry out proof of concepts and develop and scale up the most promising solutions working cross-functionally with experts in molecular biology and electronics, software and mechanical engineering.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Design, test and optimise surface treatments and functional coatings for metals, inorganic materials and plastics used in nanopore biosensing.
• Characterise physicochemical behaviour at the solid/liquid interface using electrochemistry, optical imaging, and techniques like scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy.
• Conduct nanopore experiments to compare chip designs, chip materials, and assess the impact of different surface treatments under application conditions.
• Analyse experimental data, prepare technical reports and presentations and contribute to drafting of patents and scientific publications.
• Collaborate cross-functionally on projects to implement and scale up promising solutions.
• Liaise with vendors and assist in conversations with manufacturing partners.
• Stay up to date with emerging trends in surface science and bioassays by reviewing the literature and attending national and international conferences.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or Master’s degree in Chemistry, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering or a related field with a focus on surface chemistry.
• Experience assessing and altering the adhesion, wettability, conductivity, or biocompatibility of materials.
• Background using silanes, surfactants, proteins or antibodies.
• Familiarity with analytical tools and methods for determining analyte presence and analyte quantity, as well as material properties such as adhesion, wettability, conductivity, adsorption, passivation.
• Hands-on experience of tools and software useful for analysing and interpreting experimental data e.g., ImageJ, MATLAB, Python.
• Strong problem-solving, teamwork, and communication skills.

Desirable:

• Awareness of micropatterning techniques such as screen-printing, pad printing, photolithography, inkjet printing, and soft lithography.
• Experience using microfluidics.
• Knowledge of nanopore technology, immunoassays and other types of biosensor.
• Familiarity with different bonding technologies.