Scientist I

Entrepreneur First; City of London; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A pioneering biotechnology startup in London is looking for a motivated Scientist I to support R&D projects in AI-driven drug discovery. The role involves performing aptamer discovery pipelines and supporting various biochemical functions. Candidates should have a Ph.D. degree and strong lab skills in molecular biology and biochemistry. Excellent communication and organisation skills are essential. This is an exciting opportunity to work with cutting-edge technology in a rapidly growing company.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in molecular biology and drug discovery.
• Proficient in mammalian cell culture.
• Excellent ability to document and communicate results.

Responsibilities

• Perform and optimise aptamer discovery workflows.
• Design and execute molecular biology experiments.
• Collaborate with ML scientists and drug discovery teams.

Skills

Experimental lab skills

Communication skills

Organisational skills

Data analysis

Attention to detail

Education

Ph.D. in biochemistry, chemical biology, cell biology or relevant discipline

Tools

PCR

SDS-PAGE

Flow cytometry

NGS

SPR

Job description

About the Role

As a Scientist I, you will support internal R&D projects, client projects and drug discovery programmes in the context of an early-stage AI drug discovery company. You will focus on performing aptamer discovery pipelines as part of our AI‑wet‑lab feedback loop, for therapeutic and diagnostic applications. This position will also support and perform biophysical, biochemical and oligochemistry functions with respect to the in vitro design and optimisation of aptamer‑based cytotoxic conjugates and radiopharmaceuticals. You will play a key role in the progression of internal therapeutic assets through the development of critical pharmacology assays and gain exposure to key aspects of preclinical discovery including in vitro and in vivo pharmacokinetic and efficacy studies. The position will offer outstanding opportunities to work on state‑of‑the‑art high‑throughput screening platforms, automation, and work at Imperial, the Translation & Innovation I‑HUB and London Biofoundry. This role is ideally suited for a motivated experimental scientist who is passionate about oligonucleotides, pharmaceuticals and technology.

About Us PentaBind is the first aptamer discovery company using AI and a fully‑integrated wet laboratory to design a new generation of alternative oligo therapeutics. Our pioneering platform already improves the experimental search space by 300x, generating therapeutic aptamers for urgent clinical needs within oncology, rare and neurodegenerative diseases. In collaboration with global partners, we also design custom aptamers for a variety of industries including diagnostics, health monitoring, and manufacturing. We are a VC‑backed pre‑seed startup with a lab in White City, supported by Hoxton Ventures, Twin Path, Entrepreneur First, KQ labs among others. Currently a team of 12, and growing to 21 people in the next 12 months. PentaBind has been shortlisted as New Startup of the Year by Cancer Research Horizons, and also as Deep Tech Investment of the Year by the UK Business Angels Association, a prestigious award sponsored by the Royal Academy of Engineering.

Our Vision PentaBind envisions a future where AI powers truly personalised and precise healthcare through next‑generation aptamer technology. We’re revolutionising medicine, transforming how therapies, diagnostics, and manufacturing are designed to improve lives worldwide.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform and optimise aptamer discovery workflows
• Design, execute, and troubleshoot biochemistry and molecular biology experiments
• Execute previously standardised SELEX, NGS, SPR, qPCR, flow cytometry and confocal based studies
• Suggest your own ideas, formulate plans and strategy proposals to present to the senior management
• Maintain excellent documentation of laboratory work
• Analyse and interpret experimental data, providing clear conclusions and recommendations to internal teams
• Support efforts in intellectual property generation, including patents and publications in high‑impact journals
• Collaborate with the ML scientists, drug discovery, assay development and chemistry teams

Minimum Requirements

• Have obtained, or currently finishing, a Ph.D. degree in biochemistry, chemical biology, cell biology or a relevant discipline
• Outstanding experimental (i.e., lab) skills with an attention to detail
• Experience in molecular biology, biochemistry, and/or drug discovery specifically in hit identification and qualification
• Proficient in mammalian cell culture
• DNA and protein handling skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Excellent organisational, data‑archiving and presentation skills
• English language speaking, listening and writing fluency

Nice to Have Requirements

• Industry experience
• Hands‑on experience with PCR, nucleic acid QC, and protein QC (e.g., SDS‑PAGE)
• Experienced in biophysical characterisation of nucleic acid‑protein or nucleic acid‑ligand interactions (e.g., SPR, BLI, ELISA, FP)
• Familiarity with delivery systems for nucleic acids, such as lipid nanoparticles or conjugates.
• Publication in a major scientific journal with molecular biology/biochemistry contributions

About the Company

Read more about PentaBind, our culture and what to expect via the button below.