Pivot Park Screening Centre (PPSC) is a quickly growing company in drug discovery research with a main focus on ultra-high throughput screening. Using our state-of-the-art robotic systems we work together with customers ranging from big pharma companies to small & medium biotech companies and universities. We offer services in early drug discovery in the field of assay development, compound screening and biological profiling during hit to lead phase. PPSC is also actively involved in the European Lead Factory (ELF; IMI initiative) as the beating heart of the European Screening Centre. Besides strengthening the PPSC core business we are also expanding in areas like Hit-to-Lead profiling and mass-spec technologies. To expand our capacity, we are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated bachelor/master level scientist.
Job Description
You and your colleagues from the automation team are responsible for setting up, programming and maintaining the automated (robotic) screening facilities. This includes the data processing tools that we use in the projects. The actual screening is performed in close collaboration with our assay development scientists who have the in-depth knowledge about assay technologies. Automation scientists are also participating in international programme teams doing the work for our clients.
Main duties and responsibilities:
- The automation team has the ownership over the instrumentation, which brings tasks like:
- Keeping systems in good shape by regular end user maintenance
- Contacts with suppliers and technicians
- Validation and verification of instrumentation
- Programming systems and instruments
- Data processing of screening results
- Propose improvements in workflows and investments in equipment
- Work with assay development colleagues:
- to transfer assays onto the robotic system
- to perform screening campaigns, cherry picking and active confirmation on the robotic systems.
- As project team member ensure that screens are performed as agreed with our clients
- On-Call service:
Screens are performed in 24 hour runs and automation scientists will have random shifts, to resolve run time errors outside working hours (by remote connection and onsite visits). As a result, the automation specialist should have an acceptable (maximum 30 minutes) travelling time from home to work.
Our job requirements:
Minimum requirements:
- Bachelor/Master in life sciences, chemistry, biology or related fields
- Minimum of 2 years experience in life science automation (robotic systems, data processing)
- Affinity with biochemical and cellular assay technologies
- Good communication skills, in Dutch and English and willing to collaborate with colleagues and customers
Plusses:
- Chemoinformatics background
- Knowledge about chemical structures, preferable a focus on drug like structures
- Experience in maintaining and repairing instruments
- Experience in compound (high throughput) screening
- In-depth knowledge of general IT (Windows, MS office)
- More in-depth IT knowledge like
- Programming languages
- Data mining techniques
- Databases
- Data processing (e.g. ActivityBase, eNotebook, KNIME, etc)
Your competencies:
- Team player
- Accurate
- Eye for details
- Commercial mind-set
- Good social skills
- Responsible
- Flexible mindset
Job application and information:
If you are interested in this position and you would like to apply or you would like to have more information about the procedure please contact HR (humanresources@pivotpark.com).
Applications* must include all of the following:
- A personal motivation letter
- A Curriculum Vitae including the names and contact details of some references
*Only complete applications will be considered. Screening of applicants will start as soon as applications are received and will continue until the position has been filled.