Job Title: Scientist, Biochemistry (Protein Expression, Enzymology & Discovery)
Location: On-site – NW1 London
Company Stage: Early-stage biotech
Employment Type: Full-time
Reports To: Principal Scientist
About the Role
FabricNano is a venture-backed biotechnology company rebuilding itself around a simple idea: expand the use of enzymes and proteins in industrial processes. We’re now a handful of people concentrating on practical enzyme projects that have clear commercial outcomes.This creates an opportunity for you to be a founding voice in an exciting and fast paced company, rather than joining an established team.
We are looking for a PhD-level Biochemist to join our team to help build core biochemical capabilities from the ground up. This role is ideal for someone who wants high ownership, rapid iteration, and who is excited about seeing their work directly influence product and company direction.
You will lead efforts focusing on production, engineering, and possible immobilization of commercial proteins and/or proteins expressed in Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and/or Pichia pastoris to develop technologies aimed at improving processes utilizing enzymes in industry, carbon sequestration, metal-reclamation, and more. At our stage, you won’t just answer scientific questions; you will help decide which ones are worth investigating.
FabricNano is based in LabReady, a flexible, fully serviced co-working laboratory at Regent’s Place in central London, located in the heart of the Knowledge Quarter. The space provides access to state-of-the-art equipment, dedicated meeting rooms and on-site operational support, shared with a community of start-ups and innovators. With multiple Underground lines and major rail stations within walking distance, the lab is easily accessible from across London and beyond.
What You’ll Do
- Contribute to the planning and development of novel biotech products
- Establish and optimize gram-negative and gram-positive bacterial and Pichia pastoris–based protein expression and secretion workflows, from construct design through purification
- Design and execute enzymology experiments, including kinetic characterization, mechanism-of-action studies, and performance optimization
- Build reproducible, scalable biochemical assays to support rapid iteration and decision-making
- Investigate and engineer metal–protein interactions, including metal selectivity and stability effects
- Develop and evaluate potential protein immobilization strategies for improved activity, stability, or reuse on novel materials
- Generate clear internal documentation (e.g., ELNs), SOPs, and data packages to support IP, fundraising, and partnerships
Required Qualifications and Qualities
- PhD in Biochemistry, Chemical Biology, Molecular Biology, or a related field
- Ability to contribute quickly to existing projects while also helping to find other commercially exciting opportunities
- Deep hands-on experience in protein biochemistry, assay development, product development and immobilization
- Strong experimental intuition and ability to troubleshoot complex biochemical systems
- Ability to move quickly while maintaining data quality and reproducibility
Highly Desirable Skills & Experience
- Background in biotech product development
- Bacterial and Pichia pastoris protein expression, including strain selection, secretion optimization, and scale-up
- Enzymology, including steady-state kinetics, inhibition studies, structure–function relationships, stability testing, and protein engineering
- Experience with enzymes of industrial relevance
- Metal-dependent biochemistry, such as metalloenzymes, metal selectivity, and metal analysis (e.g., ICP-MS)
- HPLC and LC-MS knowledge
- Protein immobilization techniques (covalent, affinity-based, or physical adsorption approaches)
- Peptide chemistry and protein purification experience
What We’re Looking For (Startup Mindset)
- Excitement about seeing your work directly influence product and company direction
- Commercially minded - an ability to propose and criticise projects according to whether they have real viability in the market
- Willingness to wear multiple hats and learn outside your core expertise
- Strong communication skills and comfort explaining complex science simply
Why Join Us
- Opportunity to shape the company’s scientific foundation
- Fast feedback loops and real impact on commercial outcomes
- Competitive salary, equity, and benefits
- Collaborative, low-ego, science-driven culture