Research Technician - Open Bind

Fixed Term up to 31st March 2026

About Us

Diamond Light Source is one of the world’s most advanced scientific facilities. We’re home to the UK’s synchrotron light source – a giant microscope producing beams of light 10 billion times brighter than the sun. Probing the structure and composition of matter, our work drives innovation in everything from vaccines to nanotech.

About the Role

In June 2025, the UK’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) announced an £8 million investment through its Sovereign AI Unit to establish the OpenBind Consortium, a pioneering initiative hosted at Diamond Light Source to revolutionize AI-driven drug discovery. OpenBind will spearhead the generation of the world’s largest open dataset of protein-ligand crystal structures paired with affinity measurements, targeting over 500,000 datasets in five years - a twenty-fold increase over all publicly available data generated in the past half-century. 

This landmark dataset will address a critical bottleneck in pharmaceutical R&D: the scarcity of large-scale, high-quality data linking small molecules to their protein targets. By integrating automated chemistry, protein engineering, high-throughput crystallography, and cutting-edge AI/ML models, OpenBind aims to unlock a new era of generative drug design - enabling breakthroughs in previously intractable diseases and dramatically reducing the cost and timeline of drug development. 

We now have an opportunity for a Research Technician to join the OpenBind team at Diamond Light Source. Appointees will contribute Support the ultra-high-throughput generation and dissemination of protein-ligand crystal structures and affinity data for the OpenBind Consortium. Contribute to the creation of a globally accessible, ML-ready dataset that accelerates drug discovery through automation, reproducibility, and scale.

You will:

• Assist in the training of the clients to use XChem equipment and the laboratory.
• Perform crystallisation experiments and assess the results, either using crystallisation robots or manually as required.
• Document and analyse experimental data, reporting results to the senior scientist on the project; assist with presentation of results to clients.
• General laboratory administrative duties including ordering and maintaining stock of routine supplies.
• Ensure users comply with the H&S regulations of the laboratory and ensuring good laboratory practice is in place.

About You

You will have a BSc in Biochemistry/Biology or equivalent vocational qualification or relevant laboratory-based experience, as well as:

·      Experience in laboratory-based research.

·      Practical experience with protein biochemistry.

·      Computer literacy using Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Benefits

Diamond offers an exceptional benefits package to support staff in achieving a positive work/life balance. This includes 26 days annual leave plus Christmas closure, public holidays, 2 annual volunteering days and flexible working hours. We also offer an excellent defined benefit pension scheme. Staff also have access to a range of amenities on site including a nursery, cafes, a restaurant and sports and leisure facilities. A relocation allowance may also be available where applicable.

As standard this role requires a fully onsite working arrangement

To Apply

Please use the online application process to apply and tell us why you believe you are suitable for this role.

The closing date for applications is 25th September

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