Research Assistant (Zuercher Lab) Generative Biology Insititute

At the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT) were on a mission to translate scientific discovery into real world impact. We bring together visionary scientists technologists engineers researchers educators and innovators to tackle humanitys greatest challenges in four transformative areas.

• Health Medical Science & Generative Biology
• Food Security & Sustainable Agriculture
• Climate Change & Managing CO₂
• Artificial Intelligence & Robotics

This is ambitious work - work that demands curiosity courage and a relentless drive to make a difference. At EIT youll join a community built on excellence innovation tenacity trust and collaboration where bold ideas become real-world breakthroughs. Together we push boundaries embrace complexity and create solutions to scale ideas from lab to society.

Welcome to the Generative Biology Institute:

Led by Founding Director Jason Chin the Generative Biology Institute (GBI) at the Ellison Institute of Technology is tackling the key challenges in making biology engineerable and thereby unlocking the unrivalled power of biology for the benefit of humanity.

The vision of the GBI is to lay the foundations for engineering biology and unlock its potential for good. To achieve this we must overcome two key challenges. First we need the ability to write in the natural language of biology enabling the rapid and scalable synthesis of entire genomes with precision. Second we must understand what to write - determining which DNA sequences will generate biological systems that perform the desired functions. Addressing these challenges will allow us to harness the full power of biology to create transformative solutions across health agriculture clean energy and more.

The Generative Biology Institute commenced operations in 2025 occupying newly renovated bespoke space in the Oxford Science Park. The team will later move to a purpose-made facility in the Oxford Science Park currently under construction. Once complete this state-of-the-art facility will include more than 40000 m² of research laboratory and office space. It will house over 30 groups and up to 600 employees at scale focused on solving the two critical challenges in making biology engineerable and applying the solutions to addressing the global challenges encapsulated in EITs Humane Endeavours.

The Zuercher Lab

We are seeking ambitious creative and highly skilled Postdoctoral Researchers to join the Zuercher Lab at GBI. The Zuercher Lab led by Principal Investigator Jerome Zuercher focuses on two interconnected areas with many projects involving aspects of both topics (Genome synthesis and Genetic Isolation).

Genetic Isolation

A direct consequence of the universality of the genetic code is the possibility for genetic information to be transferred between evolutionarily distant species. Such horizontal transfer of genetic information (as opposed to vertical genetic transfer where information is passed on from an organism to its progeny) is common in nature and has shaped evolution over billions of the context of genetic engineering however this type of genetic spillover ishighly concerning. Prevention of interference of artificial genetic information with natural biology is critical to allow biotechnological progress to be both safe and ambitious.

Furthermore biotechnology will playa central rolein addressing pressing challenges in food security pharmaceutical development sustainable fuel sources and efficient carbon fixation. Thus essential parts of the economy will increasingly rely on bioproduction facilities harbouring tailor-made microbes. It is therefore critical that such facilities are extremely reliable. However due to the universality of the genetic code engineered organisms are just as susceptible to viral invasion as natural fact a single viral particle that finds its way into a bioproduction facility can force its operational shutdown.

Altering the genetic code of a cellprovidesan opportunity torendernatural and synthetic genetic information incompatible. This breakthrough offers a means to protect the environment from genetically engineered organisms and vice versa engineered organisms critical for bioproduction from viral invasion. Through concertedefforts in genome recoding and translational engineering it was possible to create the first organism with a synthetic genetic code. Since this organism speaks a different language than organisms found in nature it is genetically isolated; it can neither give nor receive genetic information from the environment.

The lab continues the development of altered genetic codes to increase the safety of biotechnology and aims to rewrite even the most complex biological systems in alternative synthetic genetic codes.

Genome Synthesis

Our ability to write DNA has recently expanded to the genomic scale. The possibility of defining every single base in the genome of a cell enables manipulation of the most fundamental cellular properties such as the genetic code.

However current genome synthesis methods are slow narrow in scope and limited in scale. To date the genomes of only two bacteria have been successfully synthesized. This project aims to develop methodologies to make the synthesis of model organism genomes (i.e.E. coli) more rapid and enable the synthesis of the genomes of non-model bacteria to broaden the scope of genome synthesis.

The ability to routinely synthesize the genomes of a diverse set of organisms will not only allow reprogramming of the genetic code but alsofacilitate testing of generative genome the combination of microbial genomesynthesis and artificial intelligence will enable biological design at the organism scale with implications in bioproduction human health agriculture and beyond.

Learn more at

How to Apply

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling your cover letter please clearly explain your fit interest and relevant experience for joining the group.

All applications must be submitted exclusively though the EIT job portal. If you would like to discuss this role in more detail prior to submitting an application please contact Jerome Zuercher at . Due to the volume of applications the review and decision process may take 36 months.

Key Responsibilities:

• Assist in scientific studies and experiments by collecting and analysing data under the guidance of the senior scientists
• Perform routine laboratory tasks such as preparing samples setting up equipment and maintaining lab safety protocols
• Analyse experimental data using software tools. Prepare reports and presentations of findings
• Support the Research Group in the development of written materials including publications conference presentations and laboratory protocols
• Carry out desk-based research to establish the state of the art in scientific areas related to the work of GBI
• Stay current on scientific advancements and technologies related to the field of synthetic biology through journals conferences and other academic resources
• Provide general day to day support to the wider team and any other duties requested of you by your group leader

This list is not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to undertake additional tasks and duties commensurate with the role.

• A Bachelors degree in a relevant scientific field (e.g. Biology Chemistry Engineering Computer Science)
• Previous experience in working in a research laboratory
• Ability to work effectively in a high-growth fast-paced dynamic environment.
• Highly organised with an ability to manage multiple projects.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills inter-personal skills and the ability to work with a wide range of people from diverse backgrounds.
• Experience with problem solving involving multiple internal and external stakeholders

Our Benefits:

• Salary: Competitive travel allowance bonus
• Enhanced holiday pay
• Pension
• Life Assurance
• Income Protection
• Private Medical Insurance
• Hospital Cash Plan
• Therapy Services
• Perk Box
• Electric Car Scheme

Working Together What It Involves:

• You must be eligible to work in the UK with a willingness to travel as necessary. We are open to sponsoring employment visas for this role; however sponsorship is not available for all visa types or in all circumstances. Eligibility will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

• You must be based in or within easy commuting distance of Oxford (or be willing to relocate).
• During peak periods some longer hours may be required and some working across multiple time zones due to the global nature of the programme.
• This is a 2 year fixed term contract role

Required Experience:

Junior IC