Assay Development Scientist (Formulation Science)

About Us

Our core values are to be bold, kind and resilient.

Better Dairy is building the future of food by producing molecularly identical dairy proteins without using any animals. We develop and deploy cutting edge technology to create functional and/or bioactive dairy proteins to make tasty, healthy, and sustainable food products which are free of lactose, hormones, or pollutants, and are lower in cholesterol. A true animal-free revolution.

The Role

We are seeking a highly motivated Assay Development Scientist with experience in early-stage formulation development to join our R&D team. The ideal candidate is a proactive problem solver who is eager to take on responsibilities that contribute to both their scientific growth and the success of the company. This is a critical role in identifying, developing and validating assays to build our product understanding and ensure quality control in workflows linking multiple departments. With a specific focus on protein formulation, this role will be instrumental in establishing the foundation for stable, effective, and marketable products. We are looking for individuals with a strong background in molecular biology, biochemistry or formulation sciences, along with experience in developing assays to support an R&D environment. The successful candidate will thrive in a high-accountability, high-autonomy setting and be willing to contribute at all levels of the organisation.

Responsibilities

• Identify, develop, qualify and implement gold standard assays to enhance our product understanding, quality control and process optimisation across teams.
• Design, execute and analyse biochemical and biophysical characterisation and formulation studies to support protein stability and functionality.
• Independently establish, maintain and interpret accurate experimental records using standard processes and effectively communicate these to relevant internal and external stakeholders, including team peers and senior management.
• Investigate and troubleshoot challenges or unexpected outcomes during assay development and optimisation, applying scientific and technical expertise to resolve issues efficiently.
• Continuously evaluate and refine assay methodologies to improve assay quality and efficiency and keep up-to-date with the changing landscape of precision fermentation and novel foods.
• Collaborate cross-functionally to align assay development activities with company objectives.
• Contribute to a high performance team culture through operational excellence, good laboratory practice and organisation.

Required Experience

• A minimum of 4 years of industrial or academic experience working in a related discipline (e.g. molecular biology, biochemistry or formulation science). Candidates with PhDs are welcome but not required.
• Experience with formulation development, biophysical characterisation, and protein stability testing.
• Depth of knowledge and proficiency in one or more experimental techniques including, but not limited to: particle size and aggregation analysis; size exclusion chromatography (SEC); dynamic light scattering (DLS); biochemical and fluorescent based techniques such as ELISA.
• Knowledge of design of experiments (DoE) and statistical principles.
• Strong attention to detail, critical thinking, reputation for rigorous scientific research.
• Strong organisational skills which support independent running of parallel projects.
• Ability to prioritise tasks in a dynamic working environment.
• A continuous improvement mindset and desire to learn and develop.

Desirable Experience

• Knowledge of structural biology and methods to investigate protein-protein interactions to assess protein activity, stability, and binding properties in relevant biological or industrial contexts.
• Knowledge of freeze-drying and/or spray-drying techniques.

Working at Better Dairy

At Better Dairy you will join a dynamic and diverse team that is excited and motivated to build this future for dairy. We've been ranked #7 on the 2024 Startups 100 Index and made the Europas 100 Hottest Startups list in 2024, our environment is fast-paced and fun, and we believe it’s a great place to build your career. We are tackling a huge problem and are having a lot of fun along the way.

You can learn more about us here:

• Reuters: Would you try this cow-free lab-grown cheese?

• Sky News: A vegan cheese that tastes like the real thing?

• Financial Times: In photos:biotech start-ups challenge dairy industry

• BBC Radio 4: Animal-free dairy: Could this be the future of milk?

• The Economist: Startups are producing real dairy without a cow in sight

Our lab and office space is located in Hackney Wick. Our environment is genuinely diverse and collaborative. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to any protected characteristics. We also embrace our diverse workforce and strive to create a climate where we celebrate our diversity in all forms by treating each other with respect, listening to different viewpoints, and creating a workplace where your authentic self belongs and thrives. We believe in an agile working culture for all our roles.

Some of the perks our team can enjoy include:

• A competitive salary

• 25 days of holiday, plus bank holidays

• Access to Private Healthcare & Mental Health support services

• A stakeholder pension

• Share Option Scheme

• Weekly team breakfast and monthly team lunch

• Ongoing learning and development opportunities

• Free On site Gym

• Cycle2Work

• Eye-care vouchers