Research Scientist (KTP Research Fellow) - Synthetic Chemistry (KTP Finisher)

The Role

Join an award-winning reagents company and help bring cutting-edge fluorescent and protein labelling probes from the laboratory to the global research market. This unique 9-month Innovate UK-funded role, delivered jointly by Hello Bio and the University of Bristol, offers an exceptional opportunity for a synthetic organic chemist looking to gain commercial experience, take ownership of products from concept to launch, and accelerate transition from academia into industry.

Hello Bio Ltd is an award-winning Bristol-based life sciences company developing and supplying high-quality research reagents used by scientists worldwide. Their products help researchers investigate key research areas such as neurological disorders, cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Joining a successful Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) project, you will drive the delivery and commercialisation of this programme of work. You will synthesise and test novel fluorescent compounds for life science research and novel probes for protein-labelling applications. This is an ideal position for someone looking to transition from an academic to an industrial role and provides direct exposure to commercial product development, quality control, manufacturing and product launch. Your work will directly contribute to products that enable researchers around the world to answer important biological questions using state-of-the-art imaging technologies.

Subject to business needs and successful project delivery, there may be opportunities for future employment.

What will you be doing?

Working collaboratively with the Hello Bio team, you will be responsible for the synthesis, purification and analytical characterisation of novel molecules for a range of new products. You will play a leading role in taking products from development to commercial launch.

During this crucial completion phase of the project, your laboratory work will focus on three key product development areas:

• Next-Generation Tagging Systems: You will execute complex, multi-step syntheses to produce novel ligands and functionalised probes for covalent, self-labelling protein tag systems.
• Novel Fluorescent Molecules: You will synthesise and test novel, first-to-market fluorescent compounds, including advanced photoactivatable probes and sensitive target-specific dyes.
• Biochemical Assay Kits: You will develop, optimise and reproduce a range of colorimetric and fluorometric biochemical assay kits for cellular analysis.

You'll have significant autonomy to solve synthetic challenges while working closely with experienced commercial scientists. Beyond bench synthesis, you will play a vital role in the commercialisation pipeline. You will oversee the Quality Control testing of these new tools and prepare the necessary technical data for their commercial launch.

You should apply if…

You will have completed (or be close to completing) a PhD in Synthetic Organic Chemistry (or related) and have experience designing and troubleshooting multi-step syntheses. You should be experienced in analytical data interpretation and the critical evaluation of scientific literature. Experience in the characterisation of small molecules within biological systems is advantageous but not essential.

Importantly, this is an industry-focused position rather than an academic, postdoctoral role. We are looking for an individual who is keen to transition from academia into a commercial environment. You should have a genuine interest in the commercial side of life science reagents, understanding that your work will directly support our product pipeline.

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