Job Description

Join us as an Assistant Scientist and make an invaluable contribution to our Food Safety & Biosecurity!
As an Assistant Scientist, you'll support molecular analysis within the Mycology Team, contributing to the detection and monitoring of plant diseases. You'll help ensure timely and accurate sample processing using industry-standard techniques and protocols.
What you'll be doing:

• Conducting molecular analysis of plant and fungal samples using conventional PCR, real-time PCR, and sequencing, following protocols and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Upholding best practices in the laboratory by adhering to quality systems such as ISO 17025 and ISO 9001.
• Assisting colleagues in prioritising sample workflows.
• Supporting troubleshooting efforts when issues arise.
• Managing stock levels of reagents and consumables.
• Cleaning and maintaining commonly used equipment and facilities.
• Contributing to literature reviews as needed.

What we're looking for:

• A science qualification or equivalent relevant experience.
• Strong teamworking skills, attention to detail, and a proactive approach to asking questions when unsure.
• Ability to follow protocols/SOPs and maintain high standards of organisation to meet deadlines.
• Experience in molecular diagnostics, including nucleic acid extraction and detection techniques.
• Familiarity with working under accredited quality standards such as ISO 17025 and ISO 9001.
• Good IT skills, particularly with Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• A keen interest in plants and plant diseases. Experience with sequence interpretation tools (e.g., Geneious, NCBI BLAST) would be an advantage.

What's in it for you?

• ?25 days' holiday (rising to 29) with the opportunity to buy & sell extra leave.
• Flexible working hours, on-site gym, restaurant, and free parking
• The opportunity to take a paid day out of the office, volunteering for our charity partners or a cause of your choice
• Company matched pension, life assurance, a cycle2work scheme, 15 weeks' fully paid maternity, adoption and shared parental leave, paternity pay of two weeks...and plenty more.
• Voluntary benefits designed to suit your lifestyle - from discounts on retail and socialising, to health & wellbeing, travel and technology
• Fera operates a LTIP ( Long Term Incentive Plan) under which all employees are awarded points towards shares in the Employee Benefits Trust on an annual basis. The Employee Benefits Trust holds shares on behalf of our employee, at the point of an equity event the shares will realise a cash value.

What we hope you'll do next:
Choose 'Apply now' to fill out our short application, so that we can find out more about you. If you have any questions you'd like to ask before applying, you can contact
We're an equal opportunity employer, which means we recruit and develop people based on their merit and passion. We're committed to providing an inclusive, barrier-free recruitment process and working environment for everyone. If you need the job description or application form in an alternative format or if you'd like to discuss other changes or support you might need going forward, please email at and we'll get back to you.
At Fera, we're making the world a better, healthier and safer place. We're a joint venture partnership between Bridgepoint and Defra and we're working proactively to protect the world we live in and the food we eat. Our teams are investigating plant and bee health, crop protection and sustainable agriculture. Join us and discover better as you deliver world-class science for the future.

Skills Required