Summary

CyanoCapture is a VC-backed biotech company from the University of Oxford, using the forefront of bioengineering for carbon capture. The company is using a recently discovered fast-growing photosynthetic bacteria that can rapidly absorb CO2 and convert this into organic compounds of interest. CyanoCapture is looking to scale-up its proof-of-concept work to pilot trials in the UK, United Arab Emirates and Portugal in 2025. The first-of-a-kind technology has been backed by Shell, Elon Musk's XPRIZE and Innovate UK, alongside a number of VCs and private investors.

After winning a $4 million grant from Horizon Europe, CyanoCapture is leading a consortium of 11 institutions to launch a first-of-a-kind pilot project in Portugal next year which will demonstrate the conversion of CO2 from flue gases into biocrude oil using CyanoCapture's proprietary fast-growing strains.

As the company is looking towards commercialisation in parallel to its final stages of technological development, we are seeking an ambitious individual to join the company as the Protein Biochemist to work on the de novo design, characterisation and expression of high value recombinant proteins using a new fast-growing photosynthetic bacteria. The successful candidate must be highly disciplined and capable of multitasking. To succeed in this role, the candidate must possess a can-do attitude whilst having clear judgement under pressure. They will assist the CSO and CTO in translating the R&D from bench-to-pilot and have a keen interest in being a part of the commercialisation journey for a brand new game-changing technology for affordable carbon capture.

Join a fast-moving team

Awards: $4 million EU Horizon (2024), £400,000+ Innovate UK awards (2022 - 2023), $100,000 Shell New Energy Challenge (2022), $250,000 Elon Musk XPRIZE (2021), University of Oxford All Innovate (2021).

Media: The company has received traction from the Oil & Gas sector and press coverage from media outlets including, Sifted covering our recent work in the United Arab Emirates, The Guardian and the BBC. The Horizon project ($4 million) was awarded to a consortium of 11 institutions in Europe led by CyanoCapture, to fund the launch of a 50 T CO2/year biogenic carbon capture and biocrude production system in Portugal which will operate for a period of three years (2023 – 2027).

Job Description

As a Protein Biochemist, you will be working in a close-knit team to develop a first-of- its-kind technology. There are many challenges associated with innovation and the company is taking a big leap to attempt what others have failed to do, but what the world desperately needs. Your role will require you to bring your diverse technical expertise and apply it in a new field with many unknowns.

On a day-to-day basis, the role will involve mostly conducting laboratory projects to design and execute experiments involving the expression, purification and characterisation of recombinant proteins of interest. You will be responsible for bringing new ideas to the table and using a set of advanced statistical and bioinformatics tools for screening.

Outside of your role as a protein biochemist, you will be taught our own cloning system that we use and be given the opportunity to develop skills in synthetic biology and strain engineering.

The successful candidate will enjoy the thrill of contributing intellectually to the company and also work on building novel strains of fast-growing cyanobacteria. With <20% of your time, you will be directly involved in designing cloning strategies and conduct both in silico and wet lab work to engineer strains for the de novo biosynthesis of high value recombinant proteins as directed by the CSO or CTO. The mark of a good scientist for our team, is having the willingness to take risk, being unafraid to fail fast and constantly bringing new ideas to the table.

We believe that science is done best when it can be contextualised in the real world. We therefore give CyanoCapture scientists opportunities to take on secondary responsibilities (<10% of time) in the company where their skills are identified. This can include, but is not limited to parts of business development, technoeconomic modelling, programming, mechatronic engineering and inventing new lab tools with the engineers, patent writing, or building and leading new industry-academic collaborations.

What are we looking for?

We are looking for the brightest and best scientists who flourish when given autonomy to generate ideas of their own. The kind of mindset motivated by the thrill of discovering new breakthroughs in synthetic biology and is willing to fail often and fast to get there. We are therefore only looking for exceptionally fast learners who are highly motivated by the challenge of working in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

- Lead the design and execution of experiments focused on protein expression, isolation, purification, and characterization to support ongoing research in enhancing CO2 capture efficiency and biomolecule production in cyanobacteria.

- Develop and optimize advanced analytical techniques for protein quantification, including ELISA, mass spectrometry and Western blotting.

- Investigate structure-activity relationships (SAR) of proteins to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying their functions.

- Design and validate assays for the detection, quantification, and functional analysis of both protein and non-protein biomolecules.

- Collaborate with molecular biologists and bioengineers to integrate protein work into broader synthetic biology and metabolic engineering projects.

- Analyze experimental data using advanced statistical and bioinformatics tools, and present findings to internal teams and external collaborators.

- Contribute to the preparation of scientific manuscripts, patent applications, and grant proposals, ensuring that the company remains at the forefront of protein biochemistry and biotechnology research.

- Stay current with the latest advancements in protein biochemistry, applying new methodologies and concepts to enhance research outcomes.

Requirements

* PhD in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Structural Biology, or a related field, with a strong focus on protein chemistry. MSc graduates with a strong CV are also considered

* Extensive hands-on experience in protein expression, isolation, purification, and characterization techniques.

* Proficiency in advanced analytical methods for protein quantification and analysis, such as mass spectrometry, NMR, and chromatography.

* Strong understanding of structure-activity relationships (SAR) in proteins and their application to biological function.

* Experience in assay development, including designing, optimizing, and validating assays for protein and non-protein biomolecules.

* Ability to work independently and collaboratively within an interdisciplinary research team.

* Strong problem-solving and analytical skills, with a proven ability to design and execute complex experiments.

* Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with a track record of publishing in peer-reviewed journals.

* Experience mentoring junior scientists or graduate students is desirable but not required.

* Basic lab competencies (PCR, gel electrophoresis, DNA amplification, DNA assembly, cloning, BLAST)

* Strong understanding of cell biology, cloning and genetics

* Competent in statistics for life sciences research

* Able to reason through unseen problems using first principles

* Able to spot new R&D opportunities and think creatively

* Basic coding experience (Python, R, C++)

Compensation

Competitive salary + incentive structures.

25 days of paid annual leave + Bank Holidays. Up to 14 days of optional unpaid leave.

Travel

You may be offered opportunities to travel abroad for short durations for business, presenting research at conferences or working on pilot projects.

All candidates submitting a CV and cover letter, regardless of experience level or age, will be considered for this role.