GlycoCell Technical Specialist (Fixed Term)

We are delighted to welcome applications for a GlycoCell Technical Specialist to join us at the Nottingham Engineering Biology Labs, as a core member of the GlycoCell UKRI Engineering Biology Mission Hub!

This is a great opportunity to join the GlycoCell team and perform exciting, high-impact research as part of the UK's flagship new initiative and large investment in transformative Engineering Biology. GlycoCell is applying Engineering Biology approaches with glycoscience to develop vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics. 

Press releases:

https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/news/glycocell-engineering-biology-mission-hub

https://www.ukri.org/news/new-100m-fund-will-unlock-the-potential-of-engineering-biology/

GlycoCell webinar video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INkAhhOnvRQ

GlycoCell is a collaborative, multidisciplinary consortium spanning six UK academic institutions and industrial partners. This is an excellent career opportunity for those interested in innovative research leading to real-world impact, offering involvement in a dynamic team environment with opportunities for ongoing training and skills development. 

About the Role

A main focus of this role will be in running and maintaining the GlycoForge platform facility. GlycoForge is an innovative new type of focused biofoundry, developed by the GlycoCell team to enable high-throughput, low-cost and reproducible development of glycan-based biomedicines at scale. Featuring purpose-built, intuitive software and dedicated workstreams, GlycoForge has the capacity to rapidly generate prototype vaccines against diverse bacterial pathogens and all of their variants and as such is helping to accelerate responses to emerging infectious disease threats, antimicrobial resistance, and strengthen epidemic preparedness. 

The role holder will contribute to research projects and operation of the labs and facilities, working closely with all members of the team, including our external collaborators. The appointee will conduct work using approaches and systems already established in the group and building on these. Training in necessary specialist techniques will be provided to the role holder by team members.

About us

We are passionate about impact, so as well as doing and publishing excellent research, we often work with industry, and we undertake all steps of the innovation pipeline from ideation and invention through to commercialisation, including licensing our technologies to industry and founding startup companies to drive impact. 

Our Nottingham Engineering Biology Labs research cluster is a friendly, welcoming, inclusive and supportive research environment. Our members engage with furthering equality, diversity, and inclusion through our activities both within Nottingham and nationally. We are proud that both the University of Nottingham and our home School of Life Sciences hold Athena Swan Gold awards for advancing gender equality.

Employment details

This position is offered on a full-time (36.25 hours per week), fixed term contract until 13 February 2029 (with the possibility of extension subject to further funding), and will start in October 2026.

Please contact Professor John Heap: john.heap@nottingham.ac.uk if you have further questions about this role. Please note that applications sent directly to this email address will not be accepted.

Further details:

We are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) employer. Increasing the diversity of our community is extremely important to us and we are committed to the aims of Disability Confident Scheme. 

To help you succeed, we published Candidate Guidance to provide support on the application and interview process.

Discover our benefits, visit Your Benefits website.

Your application will be considered on an equal basis, subject to the relevant permission to work in the UK as set out by UK Visas & Immigration.

Advert information