High-Throughput Molecular Assay Scientist

Who We Are

At Wild Bio we are radically enhancing crops to feed the world sustainably and promote a wilder planet. Wild plants have had half a billion years to evolve natural solutions for thriving in almost every environment on Earth. Our proprietary genetics platform harnesses these wild innovations to enhance the world’s most important crops. Wild-enhanced crops would simultaneously boost farm yields and promote gigaton-scale carbon mitigation strategies. If you’re looking for a start-up that has enormous potential for impact on growers, consumers, and the planet, please read on.   
 
Wild Bio is a well-funded, fast-paced Oxford University spin-out working from state-of-the-art labs and offices at Milton Park, Oxfordshire. We are about to enter an exciting phase of growth and are looking for a driven and curious Scientist to join us and significantly contribute to delivering the change we believe in.   
 
Our Values
 
Our work is guided by three core values that define who we are and how we approach our mission: 
 

• Curiosity: We fuel our desire to explore the unknown, pushing the boundaries of knowledge and sparking innovation. We ask questions, seek answers, and embrace lifelong learning.
• Community: We believe in the strength and support gained through collaboration and inclusion. As part of a global community, we nurture connections to drive meaningful impact for both people and planet.
• Courage: We face challenges head-on, take calculated risks, and stand up for our beliefs. Our bravery propels us to take action, even in the face of adversity.

 
If these values resonate with you, we invite you to join our team of passionate scientists and innovators working at the cutting edge of bioscience. 
 
The Role 

We’re looking for a Scientist to own the design and delivery of high-throughput assays across our plant cell and tissue culture systems: the experiments that tell us, quickly and reliably, which of our trait designs work. You’ll join our Trait Discovery Team, and to begin with you’ll lead the build of a scalable screening platform in our established protoplast system, used to test large libraries of AI-designed promoter variants and shortlist the strongest for transformation into our crops. 
 
You’ll set the strategy for what the assay needs to do, from how libraries are delivered into cells to the reporters, normalisation and readouts we rely on, and put robust, well-controlled experiments in place. You’ll do this hand in hand with our plant tissue culture teams, coordinating the work they do on these assays, consulting them on assay design, and training them where needed to run new experiments. As our R&D priorities evolve, you’ll bring the same rigour to new assay needs, for example designing enzyme assays to evaluate engineered hairy root lines in our Carbon programme.

Job Responsibilities

As part of our Trait Discovery Team, you’ll be the driving force behind the assays that turn computational predictions into experimental data, helping us to identify the strongest trait designs for crop engineering. 
 
You will:  

• Lead the development and implementation of molecular screening assays, including reporter choice, normalisation, assay format, and readout.
• Design DNA libraries for screening in our plant cell and tissue systems, working closely with internal teams and external partners.
• Plan and execute downstream assays, building experiments with the right controls and replication, defining success criteria up front, and delivering clear go/no-go recommendations.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across teams to optimise and scale molecular assays and write robust protocols for deployment across the wider teams.
• Coordinate, mentor, and train junior colleagues, involving them in assay design and helping them build their expertise in different molecular assays and high-throughput screens.

Job Requirements

• PhD in plant science, biochemistry, functional genomics, or a related field, or equivalent industry experience.
• Proven experience designing and delivering high-throughput molecular assays (e.g. massively parallel reporter assays (MPRAs), pooled library screens, or plate-based enzyme activity screens), from concept through to results.
• Strong molecular biology skills, including the design and cloning or synthesis of plasmid DNA libraries. Experience with barcoded libraries and/or NGS-based readouts is a plus.
• Experience with plant transient and transformation systems (e.g. protoplast transfection, leaf infiltration, or hairy root transformation) and associated reporter assays is desirable.
• A rigorous approach to experimental design, with a keen eye for the controls, normalisation, and replication needed to trust a result.
• Confidence analysing quantitative assay data and turning it into a clear recommendation.
• A pragmatic, decisive approach and a track record of delivering projects to tight timelines.
• Experience supervising, training, or mentoring junior colleagues, and a real interest in helping others develop.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to partner with computational, molecular, and plant transformation colleagues.
• A genuine enthusiasm for picking up new techniques quickly and getting stuck into new problems.

Benefits

• Group life cover x 4 of base salary 
• Critical illness cover x 4 of base salary
• Pension scheme with a 5% Company contribution
• Private medical insurance including dental and optical
• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave
• Regular company socials 
• Complimentary refreshments throughout the week  
• Team meals including breakfast on a Monday and lunch each Friday, creating opportunities for informal networking and team bonding 
• Training and development opportunities 
• Flexible working opportunities 
• Opportunity to work with cutting edge science

Location
We’re headquartered in Milton Park, a business and technology park in Oxfordshire. This is an on-site role, though we offer flexibility and hybrid working when possible.