Scientist

About Us

We are a team of passionate individuals from 15 countries developing the world’s first biosecurity platform built to combat critical pest threats to human health, food security and the environment.

With a deep commitment to trust, integrity and collaboration, Flyttr has become the trusted partner of governments, industries, philanthropies and communities seeking to make bold advancements on the biggest pest threats of our time. We work with urgency because lives and livelihoods depend on it. Successful candidates will find Flyttr to be an exhilarating place to do their best work and will find that every person at Flyttr plays a critical role in a dynamic, exciting, team-oriented culture.

Purpose of the Job

As a Scientist for Flyttr, you will join a dynamic project dedicated to the research and development of our self-limiting technology in insects that spread disease, damage crops and harm livestock.

You will join our strain development team, a team who are focused on the development of transformation methods and handling techniques that will streamline our strain development processes, followed by the generation and characterisation of self-limiting insect strains for future use in field operations. In alignment with the project scope, you will work under the direction of the Team Lead to bring valuable technical knowledge and be responsible for generating novel genetically engineered strains and designing experimental protocols that are focused on delivering results and progress, measurable against company priorities.

To be successful at this job, you will need to show a keen interest in insect biology, have a self-starting attitude, show strong organisational skills, and demonstrate original thinking and attention to detail. Your duties will range widely from equipment procurement to experimental design, execution, analysis and reporting as well as helping to maintain a safe and functional working environment. You will be able to record data precisely and timely, as well as prepare presentations to report to your line manager. You will be able to manage both planned and unplanned workstreams, responding to company priorities.

You will have strong experience of generating and interpreting data, and will take a hands-on approach, working closely with the team as well as our molecular department to test, improve, and validate new insect husbandry, genetic transformation methods and strain phenotypes. You will be able to work independently while maintaining a strong team ethos, to demonstrate good laboratory practices, and to follow SOPs. Excellent communication skills, ability to line manage a team and an enthusiasm for Flyttr’s mission are essential.

Responsibilities

Your key responsibilities will involve developing methods for the successful generation of genetically engineered insects.

Working under the guidance of the Strain Development Team Lead you will:

• Join a small team tasked with developing the transformation methods necessary to generate self-limiting insects.

• Generate self-limiting strains and assess them against Flyttr’s target product profile metrics.

• Conduct experiments according to specified protocols.

• Design and run experiments independently, but in full alignment with program goals and with the endorsement of your line manager and Team Leader.

• Characterise the behaviour and biology of transgenic strains.

• Maintain insect colonies.

• Ensure that processes, methods, and experiments are well designed and focused on delivering results and progress, measurable against the project goals.

• Carry out literature reviews to guide experimental testing: collect, analyse, and interpret data.

• Carefully record data and document activities and processes within laboratory books or other applicable records.

• Manage and train any direct report in line with SOPs and training records.

• Manage members of the team and act as their daily point of contact.

• Maintain up to date health and safety records and updating SOPs, COSHH and risk assessments.

• Provide clear communication regarding outcomes of processes, experiments, and planning with the Team Lead.

• Report data in meetings throughout the organisation, to audiences with various technical knowledge, and write clear and concise reports for internal review.

• Have a clear understanding of the commercial impact of the work and responsibilities and strive to optimise performance.

• Support the smooth running of the laboratory, ordering supplies. Servicing equipment, maintaining tidiness, improving processes, and compliance to established procedures, regulations, and health and safety. Observing daily processes and identifying points for improvement.

• Follow Health & Safety and containment requirements for all activities.

• Provide occasional weekend support as part of a rota within the R&D team.

Skills, Experience, and Education Requirements

• A BSc or MSc in a relevant discipline (e.g. entomology, biology, biochemistry).

• Track record of scientific diligence including valuing careful generation and recording of data, demonstrating good laboratory practices, including following SOPs.

• Experience with animal husbandry and/or insect colonies is desirable.

• Experience with insect/arthropod transformation is highly desirable.

• Demonstrate technical abilities appropriate for the role.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English are essential.

• Experience in managing direct reports effectively.

• Demonstrated ability to communicate with a wide variety of stakeholders including junior and senior staff members.

• Strong attention to detail, with excellent timekeeping standards and responsiveness.

• Proficiency in R/R Studio or Excel and experience in using statistics is highly desirable.

Behavioural Requirements

• Commitment to, and passion for, the Flyttr mission and values.
• Responsive to the needs of an international business working across different time zones, adapting working patterns in-line with business requirements.
• Positive, humble, co-operative and professional always.
• Works with urgency and solves things promptly.
• Resilient and persistent in an innovative and constantly changing environment.
• Proactive, resourceful, and comfortable building processes from scratch.
• Values collaboration and works effectively with global colleagues.

Flyttr is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences and do not discriminate on the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.