Company Description Hello! We are looking for a PhD candidate excited about translating blood-based phenotyping into clinically robust assays.

Job Description This project will sit at the intersection of biomarker science, assay development, translational diagnostics, and patient stratification. It is a strong fit for candidates who want their doctoral work to move beyond the bench and into real healthcare workflows. Depending on the selected candidate’s background, the research may include pre-analytical optimization, assay workflow development, analytical validation, clinical study support, and the generation of evidence needed to make blood-based precision tools robust and usable in real-world settings.

About your role | What will you be doing?

• Design and optimize assay workflows for blood-based samples.
• Investigate how sample collection, handling, storage, and preparation affect downstream performance.
• Support validation studies with academic and clinical partners.
• Build clear SOPs, validation plans, reports, and experimental documentation.
• Collaborate with optics and data science teams to understand how assay conditions influence signal quality and model performance.
• Contribute to publications, technical reports, and translational research outputs.

Qualifications

• MSc in Biomedical Sciences, Bioengineering, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, Pharmacy, Medicine, or a related field.
• Eligibility to enroll in a PhD programme.
• Strong understanding of experimental design and data interpretation.
• High attention to detail, reproducibility, and scientific documentation.

Bonus/Nice to have

• Exposure to GCP/GLP, ISO 13485, IVDR, or regulated development environments.
• Experience with immunoassays, molecular diagnostics, multi-omic workflows, or clinical studies.
• Interest in bridging wet-lab work with photonics and AI-enabled diagnostics.
• Laboratory experience with biological or clinical samples, biomarker studies, assay development, or translational research.

Additional Information This PhD is for candidates who want to work where life sciences, engineering, and data meet. You will help shape how blood-based assays are developed and validated inside a deep-tech startup working on technologies with genuine patient relevance.

Additional Information

iLoF in a nutshell As personalized medicine becomes the norm, scientists, patients, and healthcare systems worldwide face massive barriers in providing the right treatment to the right patient.

Recognized by CB Insights and Financial Times as one of the most promising Digital Health companies in the world, iLoF is building an AI-powered platform capable of transforming precision medicine.

Our goal is to become the platform that democratizes access to personalized medicine for millions of people living with complex diseases around the globe.

Thanks to our proprietary optical fingerprint library of disease biomarkers and biological profiles we can offer personalized patient screening and stratification in a faster and more affordable way, saving up to 40% of the cost and 70% of the time while enabling a more human patient experience.

Supported by leading institutions like Microsoft Ventures, Mayfield, and the Oxford University, iLoF is currently focusing on validating its platform technology in one of the biggest challenges of our times: Alzheimer's, while maintaining ongoing verticals on Digestive Cancer, Stroke, and Infectious diseases.

Our Team ‍

We are a mix of scientists, entrepreneurs, and inventors based in Oxford and Porto, with a passion for healthcare!

Recognized by CB Insights as one of the most promising Digital Health companies in the world and by the Financial Times as a Transformational Business in Healthcare, iLoF has been regularly featured in leading outlets like Tech Crunch, Wired, and Sifted and listed as a rising star in AI-Driven Drug Discovery, Health Screening & Data Analytics.

What We Value

• A Be Kind attitude is the main guideline within iLoF
• A hand in the hammer and another free to support your co-workers as a true team player
• An honest and egoless attitude towards discussions and critics working in good faith
• The braveness to speak your heart in any situation
• Through words or actions be always sure to make a difference at any moment!
• Be proud to drive your responsibilities to success and help others do the same, embracing ownership!

Perks

• An exciting future with a deep-tech company selected by Financial Times and CB Insights as one of the most transformative companies in the world
• A high‑paced, flexible environment: adaptable working hours, strong remote work culture
• A stimulating atmosphere with room for creativity – fast‑paced, fun, and energetic start‑up with a friendly culture
• Weekly happy hours with amazing food and drinks
• Free coffee and snacks ☕
• The opportunity to work with a world‑class, talented team – and potentially change healthcare as we know it for millions of patients living with complex diseases around the globe ‍⚕️

We share a passion for being part of a mission that matters, and we are always looking for curious and collaborative people who share our values and want to be part of our journey.

If that sounds like a fit for you, click the apply button and join us.

You’ve read all this way but you’re missing a skill or two? No problem, it’s our job to upskill you to take your career to the next level. What we’re trying to say is, don’t be afraid to apply if you don’t tick all the boxes.