Led by a world-class faculty of scientists, technologists, policy makers, economists and entrepreneurs, the Ellison Institute of Technology aims to develop and deploy commercially sustainable solutions to solve some of humanity’s most enduring challenges. Our work is guided by four Humane Endeavours: Health, Medical Science & Generative Biology, Food Security & Sustainable Agriculture, Climate Change & Managing Atmospheric CO2 and Artificial Intelligence & Robotics.

Set for completion in 2027, the EIT Campus in Littlemore will include more than 300,000 sq ft of research laboratories, educational and gathering spaces. Fuelled by growing ambition and the strength of Oxford’s science ecosystem, EIT is now expanding its footprint to a 2 million sq ft Campus across the western part of The Oxford Science Park. Designed by Foster + Partners led by Lord Norman Foster, this will become a transformative workplace for up to 7,000 people, with autonomous laboratories, purpose-built laboratories including a plant sciences building and dynamic spaces to spark interdisciplinary collaboration.

The Materials & Devices for Life Sciences (MDLS) Institute at the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT) is advancing human health by scaling interdisciplinary science at the interface of biology and engineering. Building on the breakthrough of protein nanopore technology that revolutionised genomics, the MDLS institute is expanding this approach to detect a wider range of biological molecules, including volatiles in human breath. In parallel, the Institute is developing state-of-the-art methods that integrate living tissues with synthetic scaffolds to model and repair organs. These efforts converge across three interrelated programmes; Nanopore Sensing and Sequencing, 3D Tissue Construction, and Device Engineering to create next-generation technologies that translate discovery into clinical impact.

EIT Oxford fosters a culture of collaboration, innovation, and resilience, valuing diverse expertise to drive sustainable solutions to humanity’s enduring challenges.

We are seeking ambitious and creative Postdoctoral Research Scientists to join the Materials & Devices for Life Sciences (MDLS) Institute at EIT Oxford. Our research focuses on developing nanopore technologies and powerful new devices to transform clinical and personal diagnostics, and the scalable development of personalised therapeutics through the exploration of both synthetic tissue-like materials and living tissues prepared by 3D printing.

MDLS brings together molecular sciences, nanotechnology, and bioengineering to create transformative materials and tools for the biomedical sciences. We are recruiting Postdoctoral Research Scientists to advance these efforts across a broad range of areas, including:

• Nanopore technologies for small-molecule diagnostics
• Single-molecule technologies for biopolymer analysis
• Programmable membrane proteins for nanoscale transport and sensing
• Precision biomolecule processing for single-molecule technologies
• 3D tissue engineering with stem cells
• Synthetic and hybrid tissue engineering
• Versatile nanopore devices for sensing, sequencing, and beyond
• Devices for advanced tissue engineering

As a Postdoctoral Research Scientist, you will design and conduct experiments addressing fundamental technological challenges, lead the development and refinement of emerging technologies, contribute to impactful scientific publications, and actively support the mentorship of junior researchers. Working at the intersection of chemistry, biology, physics, and engineering, you will play an integral role in shaping MDLS’s evolving vision to redefine the possibilities of biotechnology.

MDLS offers a dynamic, collaborative, and well-resourced environment, with access to advanced instrumentation, fabrication facilities, and an ecosystem of allied institutes working at the interface of technology and life sciences. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to a research programme that is technique-agnostic, impact-driven, and unafraid to push boundaries.

We welcome candidates with a PhD in a relevant discipline and a strong record of research excellence. Enthusiasm for cross-disciplinary research, curiosity-driven problem solving, and the ambition to translate discoveries into real-world applications are key.

Requirements

Essential Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

Benefits

We offer the following benefits:

• Enhanced holiday pay
• Pension
• Life Assurance
• Income Protection
• Private Medical Insurance
• Hospital Cash Plan
• Therapy Services
• Perk Box
• Electrical Car Scheme

Why work for EIT:

At the Ellison Institute, we believe a collaborative, inclusive team is key to our success. We are building a supportive environment where creative risks are encouraged, and everyone feels heard. Valuing emotional intelligence, empathy, respect, and resilience, we encourage people to be curious and to have a shared commitment to excellence. Join us and make an impact!

Terms of Appointment:

• You must have the right to work permanently in the UK with a willingness to travel as necessary.
• You will live in, or within easy commuting distance of, Oxford.
• During peak periods, some longer hours may be required and some working across multiple time zones due to the global nature of the programme.