Scientist, Immunology

Introduction

Enara Bio’s purpose is to shine a light on unconventional T cell targets to develop cancer immunotherapies designed to provide lasting benefit for broad patient populations. Our proprietary EDAPT™ platform enables us to discover a novel and differentiated class of cancer-specific targets from the genomic dark matter, which we call Dark Antigens™. We are pioneering approaches to exploit these Dark Antigen targets with a range of immunotherapeutic modalities, including bispecific T-cell engagers, adoptive cell therapies and cancer vaccines. Enara Bio was founded in 2016 and has been well funded to invest in the build out and growth of our R&D efforts and our fantastic team. The company is based in Oxford, UK

Job Summary

We are seeking a highly motivated Scientist with a strong background in Immunology and a keen interest in the role of T-cells in Immuno-Oncology. The successful candidate will conduct highly sensitive T-cell assays to evaluate Enara Bio’s novel tumour-specific antigens and develop new approaches to targeted anti-tumour therapies. Your in-depth knowledge of immunology will be essential in prioritizing the antigens and therapeutic modalities.

Working collaboratively in a supportive environment, you will play a critical role in identifying effective immunotherapeutic approaches against novel cancer targets to make a meaningful difference for patients suffering from cancer. You will work closely with our Immunopeptidomics and Computational Biology, and development groups to provide experimental support and ensure successful collaboration. We provide mentorship and training to support our teams and encourage growth opportunities.

You will be expected to:

Play an integral role in a cross-functional team of Immunologists, bioinformaticians and immunopeptidomic scientists to validate cutting edge therapeutic molecules against novel cancer targets.
Conduct a broad range of T-cell assays, including, cytotoxicity and cytokine assays, T-cell profiling of low frequency cells (use of ELISPOT, multimers), FACS sorting/analysis, CTL cloning, and recombinant T-cell receptor expression/characterization. We provide training where necessary.
Adhere to established laboratory protocols and actively contribute to the development of new techniques and protocols to improve our research capabilities.
Ensure compliance with all Health and Safety rules and guidance, and contribute to the maintenance of our lab safety culture.
Design experiments and apply problem-solving skills to answer challenging questions.
Analyse, interpret, and communicate data, ensuring the highest standards of quality and reproducibility, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify optimal immunotherapeutic approaches.
Prepare comprehensive reports of experiments and findings to support the filing of patents and regulatory documents.
Contribute to a vibrant and inclusive working environment where new ideas and improvements are encouraged and shared among team members.

Key Responsibilities

Isolate and culture immune cells from blood, ensuring consistent and reproducible sample preparations for a range of immunological assays.
Assist in maintaining cancer cell line banks and manage their inventory.
Conduct and evaluate T-cell assays using a range of laboratory techniques, including ELISPOT, ELISA, Flow cytometry, quantitative PCR, image-based and electrical impedance-based killing assays.
Produce viral vectors for the expression of tumour targets and T-cell receptors in various cell types. We provide training where required.

Minimum Qualifications and Experience required

Have a BSc/MSc in a relevant scientific discipline with a strong expertise in Immunology.
Demonstrate proficiency in relevant Immunological laboratory techniques.
Have strong communication skills with the ability to articulate complex data and prioritize key findings.
Embrace a collaborative approach and energize colleagues through providing advice and support, as well as seeking advice from others to enhance our research aims.
Possess a passion for innovative science and the opportunities that our platform presents for patients.

We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds and levels of experience.

Further information

Further information:
The Enara Bio team is driven to make a meaningful difference for people affected by cancer. Our culture is defined by our behavioural ethos:

Act with unconditional positive regard and integrity
Support each other to grow and develop
Promote a collaborative, passionate and fun working environment
Innovate by discussing issues, data and ideas openly
Respect each other and value our diversity
Embrace our shared goals and take ownership of our journey