Phage Display - Scientist / Senior Scientist

Phage Display - Scientist/Senior Scientist

Date Posted: 2026-08-14

Location: Chelmsford, Essex, GB, CM1 1

Closing Date: 2026-09-11T18:59:16.55

About Us

Gastrobody Therapeutics is an early stage, University of Cambridge spin-out company developing ultrastable, orally-administered protein therapeutics to treat gastrointestinal tract diseases, including inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Our platform combines computational protein design, protein engineering, and experimental validation to create highly stable, functional therapeutic binders suitable for oral delivery. We are building a multidisciplinary team at the intersection of computational biology, protein engineering, and translational therapeutics.

The Role

We are seeking to expand our team with an experienced phage/yeast display scientist to join the platform technology team. The successful candidate will apply display technologies to generate, identify, and optimise protein binders against therapeutic targets to support and accelerate our drug discovery programmes. This role is ideally suited to a scientist with strong expertise in phage/yeast display and protein engineering who is excited to work in a highly collaborative and fast-paced start-up environment. The candidate will contribute across multiple discovery-stage projects, helping to advance the development of next-generation orally administered biologics. The candidate will work in a dynamic, project-focused environment, aiming to accelerate the development of life-changing medicines.

Responsibilities

• Employing display technologies to select and optimise protein binders against therapeutic targets, including library design.


• Designing and executing display selection campaigns using phage, yeast, or mammalian display platforms.


• Screening and validating hits using high-throughput assays including ELISA, Spy-BLI, and cell-based assays.


• Analyzing and interpreting experimental data to support iterative optimisation of binder affinity, specificity, and developability.


• Subcloning plasmid constructs for protein expression and engineering.


• Performing protein expression, purification, and biophysical characterisation of engineered binders (BLI, SPR, DSF or DSC).


• Supporting library generation and affinity maturation workflows.


• Collaborating closely with multidisciplinary scientists across discovery, protein engineering, and computational biology teams.

Requirements

• PhD in a relevant area of biology, biochemistry, molecular biology, protein engineering, or related discipline.


• At least 3 years of hands-on experience carrying out display campaigns.


• Theoretical and practical expertise in phage, yeast, and/or mammalian display technologies and selection methodologies.


• Experience working with antibody or protein display libraries.


• Strong and evidenced molecular biology & cloning proficiency.


• Experience in protein expression, purification, and biochemical and biophysical characterisation.


• Ability to work independently in a fast-moving startup environment.


• Have strong interpersonal skills and interact effectively with scientists across disciplines to generate timely and informative data.

Desirables

• Experience in biophysical techniques (BLI and/or SPR, DSF and/or DSC).


• Experience with next-generation sequencing and sequence analysis workflows.


• Experience working in a biotech or start-up environment.


• Experience with high-throughput screening or automation platforms.


• 2+ years of experience post-PhD in academic, start-up, or industry.

What We Offer

• Opportunity to join a founding scientific team tackling a major challenge in therapeutics


• High ownership and scientific impact


• Collaborative, interdisciplinary environment


• Competitive salary and benefits


• Opportunity to shape the scientific direction of the company from an early stage

To apply, please send your CV and a brief cover letter outlining your skills, experiences and motivation for why you would be a strong fit for the role.

#s1-Gen

Phage Display - Scientist/Senior Scientist About UsGastrobody Therapeutics is an early stage, University of Cambridge spin-out company developing ultrastable, orally-administered protein therapeutics to treat gastrointestinal tract diseases, including inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Our platform combines computational protein design, protein engineering, and experimental validation to create highly stable, functional therapeutic binders suitable for oral delivery. We are building a multidisciplinary team at the intersection of computational biology, protein engineering, and translational therapeutics. The RoleWe are seeking to expand our team with an experienced phage/yeast display scientist to join the platform technology team. The successful candidate will apply display technologies to generate, identify, and optimise protein binders against therapeutic targets to support and accelerate our drug discovery programmes.This role is ideally suited to a scientist with strong expertise in
phage/yeast display and protein engineering who is excited to work in a highly collaborative and fast-paced start-up environment. The candidate will contribute across multiple discovery-stage projects, helping to advance the development of next-generation orally administered biologics.The candidate will work in a dynamic, project-focused environment, aiming to accelerate the development of life-changing medicines. The role will include the following responsibilitiesEmploying display technologies to select and optimise protein binders against therapeutic targets, including library design. Designing and executing display selection campaigns using phage, yeast, or mammalian display platforms. Screening and validating hits using high-throughput assays including ELISA, Spy-BLI, and cell-based assays. Analysing and interpreting experimental data to support iterative optimisation of binder affinity, specificity, and developability. Subcloning plasmid constructs for protein expression and
engineering. Performing protein expression, purification, and biophysical characterisation of engineered binders (BLI, SPR, DSF or DSC). Supporting library generation and affinity maturation workflows. Collaborating closely with multidisciplinary scientists across discovery, protein engineering, and computational biology teams. RequirementsPhD in a relevant area of biology, biochemistry, molecular biology, protein engineering, or related discipline. At least 3 years of hands-on experience carrying out display campaigns. Theoretical and practical expertise in phage, yeast, and/or mammalian display technologies and selection methodologies. Experience working with antibody or protein display libraries. Strong and evidenced molecular biology & cloning proficiency. Experience in protein expression, purification, and biochemical and biophysical characterisation. Ability to work independently in a fast-moving startup environment.Have strong interpersonal skills and interact effectively with
scientists across disciplines to generate timely and informative data. DesirablesExperience in biophysical techniques (BLI and/or SPR, DSF and/or DSC). Experience with next-generation sequencing and sequence analysis workflows. Experience working in a biotech or start-up environment. Experience with high-throughput screening or automation platforms.2+ years of experience post-PhD in academic, start-up, or industry What We OfferOpportunity to join a founding scientific team tackling a major challenge in therapeutics High ownership and scientific impact Collaborative, interdisciplinary environment Competitive salary and benefits Opportunity to shape the scientific direction of the company from an early stage To apply, please send your CV and a brief cover letter outlining your skills, experiences and motivation for why you would be a strong fit for the role. ()