Our companies are made up of insanely talented people driven to change the world — and many of them are hiring. If you have drive, expertise, and a taste for adventure, we wholeheartedly encourage your interest.
Alchemab Therapeutics
Industrial Placement Student – Industrial Placement Student – Using CRISPR Technology to create knockout cell lines to complement antibody target validation
Location: Whittlesford, Cambridge, UK
Start Date:
September 2025 | Duration: 9–12 months
Department:
Research - Biology
About Alchemab
Alchemab Therapeutics is a pioneering biotech company based in Cambridge, UK. We use a unique platform to identify novel drug targets and therapeutics by analysing antibody repertoires of patients who are resilient to disease. Our work spans neurodegeneration and oncology, built on a foundation of deep science, cutting-edge technology, and a passionate team committed to transforming lives.
Led by world-renowned scientist Dr. Jane Osbourn, our team is driven by four core values:
🧬 Think Patient First – Everything we do is rooted in positively impacting patients
🤝 Achieve As One – Collaboration and mutual support power our progress
💪 Embrace Responsibility – Every team member is empowered to make a difference
🌱 Create Something Enduring – We're building solutions for today and tomorrow
The Industrial Placement Programme
We’re looking for highly motivated individuals ready to take on a meaningful challenge and join us as Industrial Placement students. Our 9–12 month placement programme offers a unique opportunity to step into the world of drug discovery and gain hands-on experience in a fast-paced biotech environment.
During your placement, you’ll work on a dedicated project with the support of a collaborative and experienced team. You’ll play a key role in contributing to our mission and vision, while being guided by experts who are passionate about mentoring and sharing knowledge.
You’ll be immersed in exciting and impactful scientific work, developing innovative solutions as part of a multidisciplinary team. Alongside your project work, you’ll receive regular coaching and support to help you achieve both your objectives and personal development goals.
This is more than just a placement—it’s a chance to build skills, grow your network, and lay the foundations for a successful future career. You’ll be surrounded by curious, passionate, and open-minded colleagues who are eager to learn, explore science, and grow together in a truly collaborative culture.
The role will be in the Research Biology Team, predominantly focused on the following project:
🔍 Industrial Placement Student – Using CRISPR Technology to create knockout cell lines to complement antibody target validation
🔍 Project Overview
Are you excited by the potential of gene editing and how it can unlock discoveries in drug development? This placement offers a hands-on opportunity to help us expand Alchemab’s antibody validation platform.
You'll be at the forefront of experimental science—designing and generating knockout cell lines using CRISPR-Cas9 and lentiviral delivery methods. This work will strengthen our platform for confirming target specificity and deepening our understanding of novel disease targets.
🧪 Scientific Background & Project Aims
Antibody characterisation is one of the key components of Alchemab’ s platform
By preventing the expression of a protein of interest in cells using CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, we can confirm whether antibodies are binding specifically to the intended target. If binding disappears in the knockout line, it provides evidence of specificity — and helps flag potential non-specific antibodies. Knockout lines are also useful tools for studying the biological function of novel targets, where literature may be limited.
In this project, you’ll use our existing lentiviral CRISPR system to:
🎯 Project Goals
🧪 Techniques You’ll Learn
You’ll gain a rich mix of molecular and cell biology skills, including:
Alongside these technical skills, you’ll also develop valuable experience in experimental design, data analysis, time management, and scientific communication.
📘 Why This Placement Is a Great Fit for You
This is a perfect opportunity to explore CRISPR technology in a real-world biotech setting. While the project addresses important and impactful themes, it is designed to be completed without the pressure of strict deadlines. You will also be free to present and discuss your work openly, as there are no confidentiality constraints associated with this initiative.
You’ll also benefit from structured mentoring and exposure to different teams, gaining a broader perspective on how gene editing supports therapeutic development.
💡 Value to Alchemab
This project will build out a knockout platform that strengthens our target identification and validation strategy. Once established, it will complement existing overexpression systems and help us confirm the selectivity and function of novel antibodies—especially where limited knowledge exists on the target’s biology. The flexibility of the lentiviral system means this approach could also be extended to primary cells or even iPSCs in the future.
✅ Requirements
🌿 Where You’ll Be Working
You’ll be based in Whittlesford, just south of Cambridge, in a state-of-the-art biotech facility surrounded by peaceful countryside. With Whittlesford Parkway station just a short walk away, commuting is easy, with direct links to Cambridge and London.
Our location offers the best of both worlds—a cutting-edge research environment in a scenic setting, perfect for collaboration, innovation, and even a refreshing lunchtime walk! Join us and be part of something truly exciting.
🎉 Connecting, Celebrating, and Giving Back
At Alchemab, we believe that great science thrives in a strong, connected community. Our Social and Charity Committees bring people together beyond the lab, organising exciting events, activities, and fundraising initiatives that make a real difference. From social gatherings and wellness activities to charity challenges and volunteering, there's always something happening to build friendships, have fun, and give back. Our vibrant culture ensures that everyone feels part of something bigger—both inside and outside of work!
Please note:
The successful candidate will be employed by SRG and based on-site at Alchemab Therapeutics. Candidate details will only be shared with SRG at the offer stage, in line with data protection standards.
Recruitment Process: