Scientist, Oligo Discovery Biology (Sequencing Assays) Full-time NEW

Scientist Position at GSK

GSK is seeking a highly motivated Scientist to join the growing Oligo Discovery Biology group. In this new role, you will be pivotal in driving the team's sequencing strategy, responsible for developing and executing next-generation sequencing (NGS) workflows to measure the efficacy and specificity of GSK's diverse oligonucleotide modalities (ASOs, siRNAs, SSOs & RNA editors). Your work will be critical in supporting the platform's high-throughput screening efforts and advancing our therapeutic programs.

This role will provide you the opportunity to lead key activities to progress your career. These responsibilities include some of the following:

1. Design, optimize, and execute next-generation sequencing (NGS) assays (e.g., RNA-seq, Amp-Seq) to characterize oligonucleotide activity, including on-target efficacy and transcriptome-wide off-target effects.
2. Independently manage the wet-lab workflow from nucleic acid extraction (RNA/DNA) through to NGS library preparation and quality control.
3. Perform primary analysis of sequencing data for quality assessment and collaborate with bioinformatics colleagues on the interpretation of complex datasets.
4. Analyze and interpret experimental results, clearly communicating findings and their impact to the project team and stakeholders.
5. Collaborate effectively with team members and cross-functional partners in biology, chemistry, and bioinformatics to advance platform capabilities and portfolio projects.
6. Maintain meticulous records of experiments, sample metadata, and results in an electronic laboratory notebook (ELN).

We are seeking professionals with the following required skills and qualifications to help us achieve our goals:

• MS with 3+ years, or BS with 5+ years, in molecular biology, cell biology, biochemistry, or a related field.
• 2+ years of experience with next-generation sequencing.
• Experience with independently planning and executing experiments and analyzing and interpreting results
• Experience with next-generation sequencing (NGS) workflows, specifically including library preparation for bulk RNA-seq.
• Experience with core molecular biology techniques, including DNA/RNA extraction, quantification, and quality control.
• Experience with quantitative PCR methods such as RT-qPCR and/or digital PCR (dPCR).
• Experience with laboratory automation and liquid handlers (e.g., Tecan, Echo, Viaflo) for high-throughput sample processing.
• Experience in drug discovery and/or high throughput screening, particularly with oligonucleotide therapeutics.

If you have the following characteristics, it would be a plus:

• Previous experience in biotech or pharmaceutical research environments.
• Basic experience with command-line environments (Linux/Unix) for preliminary data quality control and analysis is a significant plus.
• Experience with mammalian cell culture and transfection techniques.
• Experience with advanced sequencing applications such as single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq), spatial transcriptomics, or long-read sequencing (PacBio, Oxford Nanopore).
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and experience keeping clear laboratory records.
• Sense of urgency, flexibility, independence and accountability
• Ability to communicate both verbally and in writing with all levels both inside and outside of organization.
• Maintain a high level of integrity while balancing multiple priorities and responsibilities.
• Must be a committed team player prepared to work in and embrace a team-based culture.
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to independently design experiments, troubleshoot technical issues, and analyze results.