Greater London, England, United Kingdom
Onsite
Salary for this Role:
From £47,080 with benefits, subject to skills and experience
Job Title:
Senior Laboratory Research Scientist - Instrument Development and Prototyping - Andrea Serio - Serio LabReports to:
Andrea Serio [C]Closing Date:
30/Jul/2026 23.59 GMTJob Description:
Senior Laboratory Research Scientist – Hardware Instrument Development and Prototyping
Reporting to: Andrea Serio – Group Leader
Contract term: This is a full-time, fixed term (2-year) position on Crick terms and conditions of employment.
Salary for this Role: From £47,080 with benefits, subject to skills and experience
About the Serio Lab & VISIBLE
The Serio Lab brings together stem-cell biology, bioengineering, microscopy, automation and disease modelling to build next-generation experimental systems for human biology.
At the centre of this work is VISIBLE – a new imaging-driven platform designed to transform how complex biological models such as organoids and engineered tissues are built, monitored and analysed. Combining live imaging, automation, environmental control and biofabrication within one modular system, VISIBLE enables researchers to interact with biological systems in entirely new ways.
We are now looking for talented scientists and engineers to help take VISIBLE from an advanced academic platform into an exciting future spin-out company. This is a rare opportunity to work at the intersection of science, technology and entrepreneurship, while remaining embedded within a world-leading biomedical research institute.
About the role
We are seeking a Senior Laboratory Research Scientist to lead hands-on hardware development, instrument prototyping and technical build activities across the VISIBLE platform.
Working within a highly interdisciplinary team, you will develop, assemble, integrate and troubleshoot complex instrumentation spanning microscopy, robotics, motion control, sensors, electronics, environmental control, fluidics, biofabrication and automated laboratory systems. You will work closely with researchers, engineers and software developers to convert prototype designs into robust, practical and deployment-ready systems.
This role would suit a hands-on engineer, instrumentation specialist or technical scientist who enjoys building complex systems, solving practical hardware challenges and developing innovative tools for cutting-edge biological research.
This is a rare opportunity to join VISIBLE at a defining moment, as the project moves from an advanced academic platform toward a potential spin-out company. The successful candidate will be part of the team helping to shape the technology, workflows and technical direction of VISIBLE from the inside, with the possibility of contributing to the foundations of a new company.
While the post will initially be based at the Crick, and remain subject to Crick terms and conditions, there may be an opportunity for the successful candidate, subject to company formation, relevant approvals, business needs and separate agreement, to be considered for a future role within the founding or early technical team of the spin-out. Any future participation in the company, including potential equity or incentive arrangements, would be determined separately and subject to the governance, policies and terms of the future company.
Click to find out more about the Serio Lab
What you’ll be doing
You will be responsible for:
About you
(Minimum Criteria: *)
You will have:
Essential:
Desirable
About us
The Francis Crick Institute is Europe’s largest biomedical research institute under one roof. Our world-class scientists and staff collaborate on vital research to help prevent, diagnose and treat illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, infectious diseases and neurodegenerative conditions.
The Crick is a place for collaboration, innovation and exploration across many disciplines. A space where the brightest minds can pursue big and bold ideas and discover answers to crucial scientific questions. We support them in a dynamic environment which fosters excellence with state-of-the-art infrastructure, cutting-edge facilities, and a creative and curious culture. We’ve removed traditional boundaries of departments, divisions and disciplines and instead have an open approach that supports every researcher. This gives us the freedom to take risks and carry out high-quality, pioneering research. Creating a space for discovery without boundaries helps us to turn our science into benefits for human health and the economy.
About Working at the Crick
Our values
Everyone who works at the Crick has a valuable role to play in advancing the Crick’s mission and shaping our culture!
At the Francis Crick Institute, we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential to driving innovation and scientific discovery. We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to succeed, regardless of their background, identity, or personal circumstances. We actively encourage applications from individuals of all genders, ethnicities, abilities, and experiences. We are a Disability Confident: Committed employer and want to ensure that everyone can apply and be part of our recruitment processes and so we'll make reasonable adjustments if you need them - just let us know when you apply. If you need assistance with applying (i.e., would like to apply by phone or post) please email: ruby.oluwafemi@crick.ac.uk.
Find out more about life at the Crick.
What will you receive?
At the Francis Crick Institute, we value our team members and are proud to offer an extensive range of benefits to support their well-being and development:
Please note you must meet the essential criteria listed within the Role Profile, to have your application reviewed.
We reserve the right to withdraw this advert at any given time due to the number of applications received.
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