As reported by BBC News, the UK government’s chief scientist, Professor John Beddington, has received a knighthood in the Queen’s birthday honours list.
Formerly the head of environmental sciences and technology at Imperial College in London, Professor Beddington was appointed to the role of chief scientist in 2008.
Beddington notoriously attracted a huge amount of media attention last year when he said the world would face a “perfect storm” by 2030 – by which he was referring to the impact of climate change on food, energy and water security.
Speaking of his knighthood, Beddington stated, “I am delighted by this honour, and particularly delighted because it recognises the importance of science and engineering in the UK.”
Other recipients of honours in the Queen’s birthday list included:
Professor Colin Humphreys, Director of research at the University of Cambridge’s Department of Material Sciences and Metallurgy.
Professor Athene Donald – Deputy Head of the Cavendish Laboratory and director of the Women in Science, Engineering and Technology Initiative at the University of Cambridge becomes a Dame for services to physics.
Professor Julia Goodfellow – Chief executive of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, also is made a Dame.
A global consumer healthcare company is looking for an experienced Principal Scientist to join their team based in the London area.
Our client is a global consumer healthcare company who are looking for an experienced scientist with the technical expertise that is relevant to, or can be applied to, oral care including dentin hypersensitivity/pain management and/or tooth erosion, such as drug delivery systems, surface modification, polymers/coatings and medical devices.
Reporting to the Director in New Product Research, as Principal Scientist you will have responsibility for building the brand technology pipeline by identifying, creating and driving new internal and external technology opportunities, ensuring these new technologies address key consumer needs, becoming a recognised technical expert in dentin hypersensitivity/pain management and/or tooth erosion and designing exploratory in vitro and in vivo work programs for proof of principal testing with colleagues in the Medical affairs, clinical operations and new product development groups.
The ideal candidate for this Principal Scientist job will possess a PhD or equivalent in biology, biochemistry, chemistry, microbiology or science/healthcare related discipline and a proven track record identifying and delivering new active agents and technologies. Experience of working in a cosmetic/regulated environment, reapplying technologies from other industries to develop and deliver new products to market is also essential for this Principal Scientist job.
This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced Principal Scientist to join a leading consumer healthcare company who offer an excellent benefits package, with excellent commuting links to London and the South.
Apply Now
For more information, or to apply for this Principal Scientist job, please contact Julie Marshall at CK Science on 01438 723 500 or email jmarshall@ckscience.co.uk.
A biotechnology company is currently looking for an Automation Scientist to join their team based in Cambridgeshire, UK.
As an Automation Scientist, you will be working with scientists in Research and Development where you will help evaluate current laboratory practices and help devise methods of automating practical work so that they can be performed in a more streamlined and efficient.
Working as an Automation Scientist, you will help install, test and validate new laboratory automation to ensure that it is fit for purpose and will help support and modify existing laboratory automation to ensure that it operates to a high standard and evolves to meet the changing needs of scientists.
This Automation Scientist role will also require you to help train and advise users on the optimal use of laboratory automation. Communication and collaboration with others forms a major part of this role. As part of the Automation team you will work at the bench to test laboratory automation and validate that the automation performs to the required standard and delivers benefits to the scientists.
The ideal candidate for this Automation Scientist job will have a degree or HNC/D in Life Sciences, Computing or near equivalent. You will also need laboratory skills in microbiology, molecular biology or assay work to work with scientists performing diverse laboratory processes before and after automation.
This Automation Scientist also demands a candidate with experience in inautomated liquid handlers, plate readers, automation software and equipment (Tecan, PerkinElmer, Biotek, Genetix and Velocity 11). Familiarity with additional automation platforms is also a plus.
This is a fantastic opportunity to join a leading biotech company in the beautiful surroundings of Cambridgeshire, UK.
Apply now
For more information, or to apply for this Automation Scientist job now, please contact Julie Marshall at CK Science on 01438 723500 or email jmarshall@ckscience.co.uk.
A Research Scientist is required to join an innovative Diagnostic Device Organisation based in London, UK.
Working as a Research Scientist, you will be responsible for the development of procedures for the conjugation of antibodies to a variety of fluorescent and phosphorescent labels and the immobilisation of antibodies and antigens to thermoplastic solid supports. You will also be involved in the design, formulation and development of novel immunoassays and microfluidic based assays for use on optical detection technology.
This is an outstanding opportunity to join a rapidly growing Diagnostic Organisation who are developing industry leading technology, which in return offers an attractive salary and benefits package.
To be considered for this Research Scientist role, you will hold a degree in Biochemistry, Chemistry or a relevant subject (or equivalent experience) and proven practical experience in the list or requirements.
The successful candidate for this Research Scientist job will have the following skills and experience:
Modification of surfaces for protein attachment (this may have been gained working within diagnostic devices, sensor technology or in a relevant field).
Antibody conjugation.
Drying down / dry formulation of reagents.
Proven practical experience developing immunoassays or microfluidic assays (advantageous but not essential).
Apply Now
For more information, or to apply for this Research Scientist job now, please contact Andrew Bolton at CK Science on 01438 723 500 or email abolton@ckscience.co.uk.
As reported on the Times Online website, the UK faces a brain drain as young scientists flee to other countries to find new science jobs.
The UK has failed to respond to recent funding in science in America, Germary and France.
America: $100 billion investment in science, science funding will still increase by 5.9% per year.
France: Investment in scientific research increased by $47 billion.
Germany: By 2013 an extra $16 million will be spend on science.
In a letter to The Times, 28 Fellows of the Royal Society said that strong UK investment in science is essential for the country’s economic recovery. Its signers included included Cosmochemistry pioneer Grenville Turner of the University of Manchester and Planetary Scientist Colin Pillinger of the Open University.
The scientists credited the Labor Party for doubling the spending on scientific research in the past decade. However, they were alarmed by the fact that neither the Labor, Conservative or Liberal Democrat parties have committed to maintaining funding in science beyong the UK general election on May 6th. In fact, Labor have announced cuts of more than $900 million in university research budgets, whilst the Conservatives have said that major science budget cuts were “inevitable” regardless of which party wins the election.
It is feared that if the next government plans to cut funding in science to contain its $274 billion national debt, then it is like that the UK could face a brain drain of scientific talent to the United States.
Our client is currently seeking to recruit an Assay Scientist to work with them on a permanent basis at their site in Liverpool.
As Senior Assay Scientist, you will be involved developing and maintaining an extensive portfolio of bioanalytical assays across a range of therapeutic areas for the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and healthcare sectors.
Reporting to the Laboratory Director, working as Senior Assay Scientist your main responsibilities will include:
Providing professional, scientific and technical support to laboratory team.
Liaising with the Laboratory Director, lead on identifying and developing new assays, products and services.
Preparation of research and scientific documentation in support of assay development, system and service validations and process changes.
Providing specialist and scientific knowledge and expertise to the clinical trials team in developing the company’s clinical trial capabilities and performance.
Liaising with Laboratory Manager to ensure the effective management and delivery of clinical trials within the laboratory to specified commercial and contractual specifications.
Ensuring effective management and operation of laboratory instrumentation, sample processing and reporting and all other general laboratory activities.
Liaising with Quality Manager, ensure all laboratory staff and systems operate effectively within the Quality Management System.
Liaising with the Data Manager, ensure the effective management, analysis, control and security of all data generated by or received by the laboratory.
Contributing to the wider scientific and commercial development of the company through the Group Scientific Committee and specified project work.
The ideal candidate for this Senior Assay Scientist role will be educated to degree level or equivalent, or higher in a Pharmaceutical or Biomedical subject and have postgraduate bioanalytical and scientific laboratory experience. A strong track record in developing new bioanalytical assays (LCMS) from first principles to implementation is also required. Entitlement to work in the EEA is essential.
How to apply:
For more information, or to apply for this Senior Assay Scientist role, please contact Philippa Robertson on 0114 2839956 or email probertson@ckscience.co.uk. Please quote refernce SH19195 in all correspondence.
About CK Science
CK Science is the largest independent scientific recruitment company in the UK. Our team of specialist recruiters are here to help you achieve your career ambitions within the scientific industry. We actively offer you careers advice, help with writing your CV, assistance with interview preparation and up-to-date information about the industry. We pride ourselves on providing an honest, straight-forward and trustworthy service to both our clients and candidates.
Our client, an innovative and growing Diagnostic Device organisation, are currently looking for an Assay Scientist to join their state-of-the-art Research & Development facilities based in London.
Joining their Assay Development Team, as Assay Scientist, you will be responsible for the design, formulation and development of novel immunoassays and microfluidic based assays for use on optical detection technology. You will also be involved in the development of procedures for the conjugation of antibodies to a variety of fluorescent and phosphorescent labels and the immobilisation of antibodies and antigens to thermoplastic solid supports.
To be considered for this Assay Scientist role, you will have a degree / PhD in Chemistry, Biochemistry or a relevant subject (or equivalent experience), proven practical experience of immunoassay design and development and practical knowledge of techniques for antibody purification, conjugation and immobilisation. Demonstrated experience of design and development of microfluidic based assays would be desirable but not essential.
This is an outstanding opportunity to join a rapidly growing Diagnostic Organisation who are developing industry leading technology, which in return offers an attractive salary and benefits package.
How to Apply
For more information, or to apply for this Assay Scientist job, please contact Andrew Bolton on 01438 723 500 or email abolton@ckscience.co.uk.
If you do not hear back from us within 5 working days of your application for this role, it means that on this occasion you have not been short listed for the next stage of the recruitment campaign. Entitlement to work in the EEA is essential. Please quote reference ST19487 in all correspondence.
About CK Science
CK Science is the largest independent scientific recruitment company in the UK. Our team of specialist recruiters are here to help you achieve your career ambitions within the scientific industry. We actively offer you careers advice, help with writing your CV, assistance with interview preparation and up-to-date information about the industry. We pride ourselves on providing an honest, straight-forward and trustworthy service to both our clients and candidates.
As reported on the Times Online website, Gordon Brown has announced that a state-of-the-art laboratory complex based in London has won £250 million of public funding. The laboratory, named the UK Centre for Medical Research and Innovation will lead British medical research and is backed by Cancer Research UK, the Wellcome Trust and University College London.
The Medical Research Council (MRC) has already invested £47 million in the project and it is said that it will be one of the largest of its kind when it opens in 2015.
The new complex will be the new home for the National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) and the World Influenza Centre, and will bring together 1, 250 scientists to study fundamental human biology and turn their discoveries into new therapies for conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer.
Speaking of the project, Mr Brown stated,
“There is nothing more important for the future of our society and economy than what we are setting in motion today,” he told an audience of senior scientists today.
“I believe that the project will transform lives, will make for a stronger economy that will put us right in the forefront of research around the world, and will give people a huge amount of hope about the future.”
Sir Paul Nurse, the Nobel prize-winning scientist who chairs the centre’s steering committee, said that the project should be secure regardless of the result of the election. “The truth is it is such a good idea it would be inconceivable whatever the colour of the incoming government not to fund it,” he said. “There have been informal conversations and I believe all three parties have indicated their general support.”
Should Labour win the election, Mr Brown has said that he plans to appoint a Minister for the Life Sciences. This new minister would be responsible for co-coordinating biomedical research across government and for helping scientist to commercialise their work.
A temporary downstream purification position is now available in this global R&D company. They are seeking a highly self motivated individual to support development activities on a project in the final stages of development. You will work as part of a team however they will expect that you are an experienced downstream scientist who will be able to perform your duties with minimal orientation.
Suitable candidates must have the following experience and be able to program using the Unicorn software, must be familiar with AKTA platforms particularly the AKTA Pilot and Explorer 3, must be able to pack medium size chromatography columns (10-30 cm i.d. columns), perform quantitative and qualitative protein assay techniques and be familiar with non-chromatographic protein purification methods.
This is a 6 month contract position which may be extended however this is not guaranteed. An excellent opportunity to join a leading pharmaceutical R&D company in Hertfordshire with excellent commuting links to London and the North. Entitlement to work in the UK is essential.
How to Apply
For more information, or to apply for this Downstream Purification Scientist position, please contact Julie Marshall on 01438 723500 or email jmarshall@ckscience.co.uk. Please quote reference ST19479 in all correspondence.
If you do not hear back from us within 5 working days of your application for this role, it means that on this occasion you have not been shortlisted for the next stage of the recruitment campaign.
About CK Science
CK Science is the largest independent scientific recruitment company in the UK. Our team of specialist recruiters are here to help you achieve your career ambitions within the scientific industry. We actively offer you careers advice, help with writing your CV, assistance with interview preparation and up-to-date information about the industry. We pride ourselves on providing an honest, straight-forward and trustworthy service to both our clients and candidates.
In partnership with the NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, scientists at the University of Manchester and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) will be working together to investigate how the biological clock controls inflammation in lung diseases, such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
It is hoped that the £500,000 study, which will be funded by GSK, will lead to the development of new drugs that will target how the internal body clock regulates the severity of inflammation. The team at the University of Manchester will be headed up by Professors Andrew Loudon, David Ray and Kath Else. This team will work closely with colleagues in the Discovery Biology group at GSK.
Speaking of the collaboration, Professor Loudon or the faculty of life sciences, stated:
“Many inflammatory diseases are highly rhythmic in presentation and often worse at night. We believe there is also a strong rhythmic control. It has long been speculated that asthma and other inflammatory conditions have an underlying clock mechanism controlling the severity of the disease. These clocks are all over the body, including in cells responsible for the immune response in the lung. In addition the way we metabolise drugs is highly rhythmic. Our aim is to gain a sufficient understanding of this process so we can target key parts with specific new drugs.
“We are working with GSK not only to develop new drugs to alleviate symptoms but also reveal optimal timing of therapy, known as chronotherapy. This is a new and exciting area of research. It is being taken very seriously in France, for example, where researchers have for some time been studying the importance of timing of chemotherapy in cancer. This study is just one at the beginning of an exciting new phase in circadian rhythm research.”
Inflammatory diseases of the lung are a major cause of mortality world-wide. In the case of COPD, the progression of this inflammatory disease is irreversible once commenced. In the UK 27,478 people died as a result of COPD in 2004. Other diseases with an inflammatory aspect include asthma, which is a predisposition to chronic inflammation of the lungs in which the airways are reversibly narrowed.
As reported by BBC News, the UK government’s chief scientist, Professor John Beddington, has received a knighthood in the Queen’s birthday honours list.
