Research Assistant - Pathogen

At the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT), we’re on a mission to translate scientific discovery into real world impact. We bring together visionary scientists, technologists, engineers, researchers, educators and innovators to tackle humanity’s greatest challenges in four transformative areas:

• Health, Medical Science & Generative Biology
• Food Security & Sustainable Agriculture
• Climate Change & Managing CO₂
• Artificial Intelligence & Robotics

This is ambitious work - work that demands curiosity, courage, and a relentless drive to make a difference. At EIT, you’ll join a community built on excellence, innovation, tenacity, trust, and collaboration, where bold ideas become real-world breakthroughs. Together, we push boundaries, embrace complexity, and create solutions to scale ideas from lab to society. Explore more at www.eit.org.

Welcome to the Pathogen Project:

Within this ecosystem, the Pathogen Project exemplifies EIT’s dedication to ground-breaking science. It seeks to transform pathogen risk management, detection and response by leveraging Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS)-based metagenomic and pathogen-specific analytical tools. The goal is to power metagenomic devices using long-read sequencing technologies by building a comprehensive database of pathogen information to inform response. Enabled by Oracle Inc.’s cloud-computing scale and security, the Pathogen Project is advancing toward certified diagnostic tools for deployment in laboratories, hospitals, and public health organisations worldwide. 

Your Role:

At EIT we are seeking an experienced and detailed orientated Research Assistant to join the Pathogen Program and support the generation of high-quality microbiology and genomics data.

We’re building a reference and innovation laboratory focused on large-scale antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) profiling of bacterial isolates, alongside sequencing-based characterisation. The goal is to generate high-quality datasets at scale to support research and technology development in infectious diseases.

The laboratory is being developed as a highly automated environment, integrating robotics, data systems, and advanced instrumentation to enable scalable and reproducible workflows.

Working under the supervision of senior scientists, you will contribute to the execution and improvement of phenotyping workflows (AST/MIC), while also supporting sample preparation and sequencing workflows when needed. You will be working with automated laboratory systems and will have the opportunity to contribute to the design and optimisation of automation-ready workflows.

This role operates in an objectives-driven, fast-paced environment, with a strong focus on delivery, data quality, and team outcomes.

This is a hands-on role in a fast-paced environment, ideal for someone who enjoys working at the bench and is motivated to contribute to building efficient, scalable, and technology-driven laboratory systems.

Key Responsibilities

Laboratory Testing, Design and Data Generation

• Perform AST and MIC testing of bacterial isolates following established protocols (EUCAST/CLSI).
• Contribute to the design and improvement of laboratory workflows, including assay setup, sample handling, and data generation processes.
• Prepare and handle microbial cultures under BSL-2 conditions, including plating, inoculation, and incubation.
• Operate phenotyping platforms (e.g. Thermo Fisher Sensititre or equivalent systems).
• Support sample processing workflows for sequencing, including DNA extraction and library preparation.
• Ability to work collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams, contributing to shared project and team objectives

Laboratory Operations, Quality and Automation

• Execute laboratory workflows with a strong focus on quality, consistency, and reproducibility.
• Record experimental data accurately in laboratory systems.
• Perform quality control checks and flag deviations or unexpected results.
• Maintain laboratory equipment, consumables, and workspaces in good working order.
• Work with and support automated laboratory platforms, including setup, operation, and basic troubleshooting.
• Ensure compliance with biosafety and laboratory standards.

Workflow Development, Automation and Collaboration

• Work closely with microbiologists, genomics scientists, and automation engineers to support and improve workflows.
• Contribute to the design and optimisation of high-throughput laboratory processes.
• Support the implementation and continuous improvement of workflows on robotic and automated systems.
• Participate in team discussions and contribute ideas to improve efficiency, robustness, and scalability.

Essential skills

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Microbiology, Molecular Biology, or a related life science discipline.
• Hands-on experience in a wet-lab environment (academic or industry).
• Familiarity with basic microbiology techniques (e.g. culturing, plating, aseptic technique).
• Strong attention to detail and ability to follow and improve protocols.
• Good organisational and record-keeping skills.

Desirable skills

• Exposure to AST/MIC testing or clinical microbiology workflows.
• Experience working under BSL-2 conditions.
• Familiarity with laboratory data systems (LIMS).
• Experience with sequencing workflows (DNA extraction, library prep) or interest in genomics.
• Exposure to laboratory automation platforms (e.g. liquid handlers such as Hamilton or Opentrons).

Our Benefits:

• Salary: £Competitive + travel allowance + bonus
• Enhanced holiday pay
• Pension
• Life Assurance
• Income Protection
• Private Medical Insurance
• Hospital Cash Plan
• Therapy Services
• Perk Box
• Electric Car Scheme

Working Together – What It Involves:

• You must have the right to work permanently in the UK with a willingness to travel as necessary.
• You will live in, or within easy commuting distance of, Oxford (or be willing to relocate).
• This is a lab based role