Welcome to Next Phase Recruitment! We are very experienced in helping people to progress their careers in Research. Firstly, here is a general guide to a career path in this sector. Please also scroll further down the page to see and apply for our current jobs that match your search criteria. We also invite you to go to the main page of our website for a broader job search and call us on 01403 216216 for a confidential discussion about your career options.
Research Scientist
Research Scientists are often multi-disciplinary, with experience of using a range of scientific reearch techniques covering Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, and Genetics, depending on the environment. Often one of the most innovative sectors for Research Scientists is Synthetic Biology, which has a wide range of applications as well as the potential to impact on society significantly. Examples of the applications are bio production, use of waste feedstocks for the manufacture of high value products, manipulation of virus or mammalian cells to be used within Viral Vector manufacture, and Cell & Gene Therapies. Due to the relative youth of this sector this is an area where the most creative and forward thinking research scientists will be able to bring their ideas to the market, right at the cutting edge of new discoveries and innovations. New technologies such as CRISPR will transform the industry and are now becoming more commonplace, with so many applications yet to be explored and true impact to be measured.
Research Scientists tend to have quite standard job titles – Junior Research Scientist, Senior Research Scientist, Lead Scientist, Principal Scientist and so on.
Skills and Experience required to become a Research Scientist
- PhD or equivalent in a relevant field
- Post doctoral experience in a commercial environment
- Automation, statistics, design of experiments and/or programming
- Multidisciplinary industrial environment
- Excellent communication skills
- Ability to use your own initiative to work autonomously
- Knowledge of GMLP / GLP or ISO Standards
- Innovative, creative scientist who enjoys problem solving
Salary Levels
Research Scientists can receive a wide range of salaries depending on their seniority and areas of expertise. A graduate-level Research Scientist would expect to earn something around £23k - £25k initially and to then progress up through each next phase of their career as a Research Scientist, especially in specialist areas such as Viral Vector science, Fermentation and Genetic Manipulation.
London
In addition to being the capital city of the United Kingdom, London (aka Greater London) is one of the nine official regions of England and consists of 32 boroughs plus the City of London. London is a global city with a population of 9 million and is the most densely populated region in Europe.
London is one of the centres in Europe for cell therapy, gene therapy and advanced therapies (ATMPs). Next to Stevenage, Cambridge and Oxford, London is a major site for biotechnology innovation, pharmaceutical development and rare diseases. London is the world's leading financial centre for international business and as such the financial services industry in London, including banking, insurance, broking and fund management make the largest contribution to London's economy. Other major industries in the London region include real estate, legal, accountancy, creative industries such as fashion, design and art, media and TV, legal, construction, London tourism, pharmaceuticals, biotech and retail. In recent years many technology companies, especially those in FinTech, have set up in the area of East London known as the “Silicon Roundabout”, putting London on the map as a key area of growth.#
The vibrancy of the London life sciences cluster is reflected in the activities of various networking groups which provide regular opportunities to make new contacts via events, conferences and other meetings:
One Nucleus: Established in 1997, a not-for-profit Life Sciences & Healthcare membership organisation centred on the Greater London-Cambridge-East of England corridor. Through providing local, UK-wide and international connectivity, One Nucleus seeks to enable its members to maximise their performance.
The Royal Veterinary College (RVC): The RVC is pre-eminent among veterinary schools, and offers the highest quality in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and research - meeting the growing demand for veterinary professionals and biomedical scientists. It also provides support for the veterinary profession through its three referral hospitals, diagnostic services and CPD courses.
MedCity: MedCity represents the life sciences cluster of London and the Greater South East of England. Their expert knowledge, industry experience and sector-wide perspective means they can maximise opportunities for growth and collaboration within the region and beyond.
The BioIndustry Association: The BioIndustry Association (BIA) is the trade association for innovative enterprises in the UK's bioscience sector. Its mission is to encourage and promote a thriving, financially sound sector of the UK economy, built upon developments across the biosciences.
London has a wealth of iconic and world famous London attractions such as Buckingham Palace, St Paul’s Cathedral, the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, beautiful parks, numerous world class museums, a vibrant London theatre land and global cuisine, the combination of which attracted over 19 million visitors to London in 2016. London tourism numbers have received a substantial boost thanks to the hugely successful Olympic Games held in London in 2012.
London is a great place to further your career in life sciences. If you are a looking for pharmaceutical jobs in London, scientific careers in London or want to discuss cell therapy, gene therapy, ATMP, medical device, technology, biotech or pharmaceutical job opportunities inLondon, give our Next Phase team a call. The London area is continuing to expand as a centre for jobs in science, process development, technology, software development, project management, informatics, quality, reg affairs and supply chain.
At Next Phase we help people find new jobs in life sciences across the UK, Europe and USA. This page lists some of the job opportunities in London, and if you give us a call we can also talk to you about other scientific jobs, pharmaceutical career opportunities and the latest updates in cell and gene therapy and ATMP development in the London area.