Job Description

Grade and Salary:

Grade 6 (30,805 - 36,130) / Grade 7 (37,174 - 46,735) per annum

FTE and working pattern:

1FTE, 35hrs per week, Monday : Friday

Contract:

Fixed Term for 50 Months

Holiday Entitlement:

33 days annual leave plus 9 buildings closed days (and Christmas Eve when it falls on a weekday)

Detailed Description

The Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC) are seeking to appoint a full-time Upstream Bioprocessing Scientist or Senior Scientist who will be responsible for supporting and taking an active lead on microbial fermentation and mammalian cell culture (Upstream Bioprocessing) projects that are performed within the IBioIC's FlexBio Bioprocessing Scale-up facility within Heriot-Watt University's School of Engineering and Physical Sciences (EPS) and within the Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering (IB3).


The role will be mostly lab-based with some office-based work and primarily involves supporting fermentation and scale-up projects to ensure they are conducted for industry and academic clients in a safe, professional, timely and organised manner. The role holder is expected to work with the wider scale-up team (including downstream processing team), facility manager and IBioIC management team to ensure the scale-up facility facilitates the commercialisation of biotechnology projects and company from lab-scale to pilot-scale using a fee-for-service model of operation.


As a technically competent person in the field of microbiology and fermentation/cell culture/bioprocess engineering, the role holder is required to support (grade 6) or lead (grade 7) on day-to-day execution and planning of specific scale-up projects from tech transfer (establishment of lab scale processes in our facility (flask/spinner) into larger bioreactors (2 to 300L scale). The candidate will have direct contact with clients during the preparation, planning, execution, evaluation and reporting stages of projects. The role involves supervision and training of technical staff and potential line management (grade 7 only) of technical staff, being responsibility for their direct reports personnel management, training and development, as well as hands on participation in technical tasks as determined by the workload and technical expertise required.


The role holder will be line managed by the Upstream Bioprocessing Manager.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Project Management & Technical Delivery

Grade 7 (Senior Scientist):


Lead the design and delivery of industry-led fermentation and upstream bioprocessing projects, including technology transfer, process optimisation, and protocol development. Independently plan, manage and execute multiple lab- to pilot-scale fermentation projects, ensuring timely delivery. Support and lead as required on interpretation of complex bioprocess data and report findings to clients and internal stakeholders. Provide strategic input on project design, scope, and future development with clients

.

Grade 6 (Scientist):


Support senior team members in project execution, particularly in pilot-scale fermentation and cell culture runs from lab-scale and into bioreactors. Assist in the implementation of new and established protocols and process optimisation tasks under guidance. Participate in data collection and analysis, providing initial interpretation and contributing to team discussions.

Team Leadership & Mentoring

Grade 7:


Line-manage and mentor junior staff, ensuring workloads are aligned with project priorities and supporting their professional development. Take a lead in regular lab and operations meetings, promoting collaborative problem solving and continuous improvement.
Grade 6:


Act as a mentor to junior interns or students. Participate in team meetings and contribute ideas for process or facility improvements.

Client Engagement, Project Design & Communication

Grade 7:


Attend and contribute to client meetings, often at short notice, with the ability to ask in-depth technical questions. Develop and propose bespoke work packages based on client process understanding and project goals. Communicate complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences in both the preparation, execution and reporting phases of projects.
Grade 6:


Attend client meetings with senior staff for exposure and development. Contribute to preparation of client protocols, method protocols, presentations, data summaries, and progress reports.

Health & Safety and Facility Operations

Grade 7:


Take the lead in developing and reviewing risk assessments, Process COSHH documentation, and maintaining a safe lab environment. Assist as required in coordinating preventative maintenance and troubleshoot equipment issues in liaison with suppliers.
Grade 6:


Follow safety protocols and assist with the preparation of risk assessments and Process COSHH forms. Support facility maintenance tasks and log any equipment faults for senior staff follow-up.

Collaboration & Cross-functional Integration

Grade 7:


Lead and collaborate directly with DSP (downstream processing) colleagues prior to and during projects, ensuring seamless project integration. Deputise for facility managers to represent FlexBIO in bioprocessing capabilities in new client and facility promotion meetings.
Grade 6:


Collaborate with DSP and other teams on joint tasks or experiments as directed by senior staff.

Strategic Input & Funding Support

Grade 7:


Contribute to funding bids, particularly those related to equipment, staffing or project expansion. Align technical project work with IBioIC's strategic aims and objectives.
Grade 6:


Provide supporting data or evidence for inclusion in bids and proposals. Contribute ideas for improving lab practices or services, aligned with strategic goals.

Training & Knowledge Exchange

Grade 7:


Design and deliver upstream bioprocessing training courses for industry and academia. Actively network at external events, representing IBioIC as a subject matter expert.
Grade 6:


Support delivery of training courses by preparing materials and helping during sessions. Attend networking events for professional development and relationship building.

Continuous Professional Development (CPD)

Both Grades:


Engage in relevant CPD activities to maintain and build expertise in fermentation and bioprocessing technologies. Keep up to date with biotechnology sector trends, technologies, and innovations. Take part in internal professional development courses

Education, Qualifications and Experience

Essential Criteria

Grade 6

: BSc in Biotechnology, microbiology, fermentation science, biochemical engineering or related discipline with at least 6-12 months working experience OR MSc in related bioprocessing discipline with hands on experience (3-6 months) eg. Work placement or internship.

Grade 7

: PhD in the above disciplines OR MSc with at least 5 years' experience working within bioprocessing. Hands-on experience with lab-scale cell cultivation processes : shake flask and/or small bioreactors (e.g. < 1L scale (

both grades

). Hands-on experience operating stirred tank bioreactors at lab or semi-pilot scale (e.g. 1L:50L)

: Grade 7 only

Strong technical knowledge of microbiology and microbial fermentation and/or cell culture processes (

both grades

) Excellent time management (

both grades

) and strong project management skills (

Grade 7

) Demonstrable experience working with a range of microbial and/or mammalian cell types (e.g. E. coli, Pichia, Bacillus, fungi, microalgae, animal/human cells) Experience supporting (

Grade 6

) or leading and/or supervising (

Grade 7

) within teams (e.g. supervising students or technicians) Excellent spoken and written communication skills. Open and transparent communication style that works well in a team environment.

Additional

Desirable Criteria

if essential met

Experience preventing, identifying, and troubleshooting contaminations (

Grade 6:

Support troubleshooting /

Grade 7:

Lead resolution) Understanding (

grade 6

) and experience (

grade 7

) of health and safety practices in a lab/pilot facility, including risk assessments and COSHH Relevant lab or non-lab experience with administration: eg. procurement, inventory, cost tracking, facility coordination (

Grade 7:

Significant lab experience with lab administration and organisation, including improvements) Experience with mammalian or plant cell culture systems (

both grades

) Experience scaling up fermentation processes to a?2L in stirred tank bioreactors (

Grade 6:

awareness beneficial /

Grade 7:

Strongly preferred) Experience operating microbial fermenters greater than 100 litre capacity

(Grade 7 only)

Familiarity with fermenter control systems and programming (e.g. cascade control of DO, pH, feeds) (

Grade 7 only)

Experience with mathematical/engineering principles for scale-up (e.g. k_LA, shear stress, tip speed)
(

Grade 6:

Awareness /

Grade 7:

Application and analysis)


Understanding (

Grade 6

) or experience applying (

Grade 7

) of analytical techniques supporting fermentation and cell culture (e.g. OD, HPLC, GC, metabolite profiling) Training : related to assisting and leading on technical training courses (materials, demonstrations, talks) : (

Grade 6

: Assist delivery /

Grade 7:

Design and lead)

About our Team

The Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC) www.ibioic.com aims to accelerate the commercialisation of the industrial biotechnology sector in Scotland, the UK and worldwide. IBioIC's Bioprocessing Scale-Up Centre (FlexBio) based at Heriot Watt University (HWU), supports industry and academia, allowing them the opportunity to execute scale-up studies using state-of-the-art fermentation and downstream processing equipment.


Hosted within the Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering (IB3), FlexBio provides clients with access to expertise and equipment to carry out semi-pilot scale fermentation and downstream processing. This primarily encompasses microbial culture at scales up to 300 litres, along with a variety of downstream processing techniques for cell and molecule separation. These methods are used in the production of bio-based products for various industrial biotechnology market segments, and include whole cells, as well as enzyme, peptide, and small molecule-derived products.


Many of our industry client work within the exciting areas of biotechnology such as marine, agriceuticals, biomass, carbon capture, biomaterials and food, all helping to deliver the national biotechnology plan and working towards aEUR~net-zero'. Learn more about what we doaEUR https://www.ibioic.com/bioprocessing-scale-up-centres

How to Apply

aEUR


Please submit via the Heriot-Watt on-line recruitment system (1) Cover letter describing their interest and suitability for the post; (2) Full CVaEUR


Applications can be submitted until midnight on

Wednesday 28th May 2025.

At Heriot Watt we are passionate about our values and look to them to connect our people globally and to help us collaborate and celebrate our success through working together. Our research programmes can deliver real world impact which is achieved through the diversity of our international community and the recognition of creative talent that connects our global team.


Our flourishing community will give you the freedom to challenge and to bring your enterprising mind and to help our partners with solutions that can be applied now and in the future. Join us and Heriot Watt will provide you with a platform to thrive and work in a way that also helps you live your life in balance with well-being and inclusiveness at the heart of our global community.


Heriot-WattaEURUniversity is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to the creation of an environment in which individuals are selected, trained, promoted, appraised and otherwise treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and abilities.aEUR Equality and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all.


Heriot-WattaEURUniversity values diversity across our University community and welcomes applications from all sectors of society, particularly from underrepresented groups. For more information, please see our websiteaEUR https://www.hw.ac.uk/uk/services/equality-diversity.htm aEURand also our award-winning work in Disability Inclusive Science CareersaEUR https://disc.hw.ac.uk/ aEUR.


We welcome and will consider flexible working patterns e.g. part-time working and job share options.


Use our total rewards calculator:aEUR https://www.hw.ac.uk/about/work/total-rewards-calculator.htm aEURto see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University.