Company Description Hello! We are looking for an ambitious PhD candidate to help shape the next generation of optical instrumentation behind iLoF’s precision-medicine platform.

Job Description This project is ideal for someone excited by experimental science, photonics, and translational healthcare. The research will focus on designing, building, and validating robust optical systems capable of extracting rich, reproducible biological signatures from blood-based samples. Depending on the selected candidate’s profile and the academic partner, the work plan may include spectroscopy architectures, optical system integration, calibration strategies, signal quality optimization, and experimental validation in clinically relevant settings.

About your role | What will you be doing?

• Design, assemble, align, and test optical setups and experimental workflows for biological sample characterization.
• Develop benchmarking experiments and analysis routines to compare system performance and guide design decisions.
• Work closely with clinical assay and data science teams so that instrumentation choices translate into meaningful biological and modelling outcomes.
• Contribute to technical documentation, scientific publications, and intellectual property generation.

Qualifications

• MSc in Physics, Optical Engineering, Nanoscience, or a related field.
• Eligibility to enroll in a PhD programme.
• Hands-on experience with optical experiments, spectroscopy, instrumentation, or experimental physics.
• Comfort with Python or similar tools for analysis and instrument control.
• Strong experimental rigor, problem-solving ability, and attention to documentation quality.

Nice to have

• Experience with Raman, FTIR, fluorescence, scattering, or related optical methods.
• Familiarity with optical simulations, microfluidics, fibre optics, or biomedical optics.
• Interest in translational healthtech and interdisciplinary teamwork.

Additional Information This is a chance to do doctoral research in an environment where physics does not stop at proof-of-concept. You will work on real instrumentation challenges, iterate quickly with an interdisciplinary team, and help turn cutting-edge optics into clinically useful technology.

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.