Tachigen

Better crop varieties are needed urgently. Creating one takes years. Tachigen, a London-based biotechnology company, is dedicated to reducing this time to just months. Through bacterial strain engineering, we bypass the legacy methods that make crop development slow. Join us in building the foundational layer of agricultural biotechnology.

About Us

Small team, nothing hidden.&nbsp; Everyone works together, and we own the outcome together.

Teamwork

You will know what to deliver, by when, and exactly what time and money exist to do it.

Communication

We are tackling the greatest bottleneck in agricultural biotechnology which requires outside the box thinking

Creativity

Experiments fail. Approaches turn out to be wrong. That is the work, not a performance problem.

Authenticity

Our products must hold up to third party standards

Excellence

The best ideas can come from anyone. We operate on merit and adapt the process for whoever needs it.

Equality

Our Values

George Bassel

Maurice Moloney

Meet Our Team

<html><head></head><body>Laboratory Technician
Employment type: Full time
Location: London, White City
About the role
We are seeking a motivated and organised Laboratory Technician to support our lab team. This is an opportunity to develop your practical skills in a collaborative, biotech-focused environment.
This job is part of an Advanced Research + Invention Agency-funded project.
Key responsibilities
<ul>
<li>Prepare reagents, solutions, media and laboratory materials in accordance with approved procedures.</li>
<li>Support routine laboratory activities, which may include sample preparation, cell culture, molecular biology or analytical testing, depending on the team's needs.</li>
<li>Follow protocols carefully and record experimental work, sample details and results accurately.</li>
<li>Clean, maintain and organise laboratory equipment, work areas and stock.</li>
<li>Monitor laboratory consumables, assist with stock checks and help prepare orders.</li>
<li>Support equipment checks, maintenance schedules and calibration records.</li>
<li>Follow health and safety, quality and biosafety procedures, including the correct handling and disposal of biological and chemical materials.</li>
<li>Work collaboratively with scientists and other colleagues to support project priorities and meet deadlines.</li>
<li>Report equipment issues, deviations and potential safety concerns promptly.</li>
</ul>
About you
<ul>
<li>You have a relevant qualification in biotechnology, biology, biomedical science or a related subject, or equivalent practical laboratory experience.</li>
<li>You are comfortable carrying out practical laboratory tasks and following written procedures.</li>
<li>You have a careful, methodical approach and strong attention to detail.</li>
<li>You can keep clear and accurate records and manage tasks in an organised way.</li>
<li>You communicate effectively and work well as part of a team.</li>
<li>You are willing to learn new techniques and follow established safety and quality standards.</li>
<li>Previous experience in a biotechnology or research laboratory is desirable.</li>
</ul>
What we offer
<ul>
<li>A full-time role in a collaborative biotechnology environment.</li>
<li>Opportunities to build your laboratory skills and develop your scientific knowledge.</li>
<li>Supportive colleagues and access to relevant training.</li>
</ul>
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Laboratory Technician

<html><head></head><body>Plant Transformation Lead
Employment type: Full time, permanent
Level: Mid-level
Industry: Biotechnology
About the role
We are seeking a Plant Transformation Lead to support and develop plant transformation activities within Tachigen. You will plan and deliver experiments, optimise transformation workflows and work closely with colleagues across plant science, molecular biology and tissue culture. This role is suited to someone with practical experience in plant transformation who is ready to take ownership of projects and contribute to transformative transformation technology.
This job is part of an Advanced Research + Invention Agency-funded project.
Key responsibilities
<ul>
<li>Plan, conduct and document plant transformation experiments, from cell culture and tissue preparation and transformation through to regeneration and screening.</li>
<li>Develop, optimise and troubleshoot transformation and tissue culture protocols for relevant plant species and genotypes.</li>
<li>Assess transformation outcomes using appropriate molecular and phenotypic methods, and interpret results to guide next steps.</li>
<li>Maintain accurate, timely records of experimental work, materials, results and protocols in line with internal quality and data integrity requirements.</li>
<li>Coordinate day-to-day transformation activities, including prioritising work, monitoring progress and communicating timelines to project teams.</li>
<li>Work collaboratively with colleagues in plant science, microbial strain engineering, greenhouse operations and related functions.</li>
<li>Support the maintenance of plant material, laboratory equipment and tissue culture facilities, following relevant health, safety and biosafety procedures.</li>
<li>Identify opportunities to improve reproducibility, efficiency and quality, and contribute to the implementation of improved methods.</li>
<li>Present findings clearly in ELN, written reports and team discussions, and contribute to project planning and technical decision-making.</li>
</ul>
Essential requirements
<ul>
<li>A degree in plant science, plant biotechnology, molecular biology or a closely related discipline, or equivalent practical experience.</li>
<li>Practical experience with plant tissue culture and plant transformation techniques.</li>
<li>Experience with molecular analysis methods used to screen or characterise transformed plant material.</li>
<li>Strong experimental planning, organisation and problem-solving skills.</li>
<li>Careful attention to detail and a commitment to accurate record-keeping and reproducible science.</li>
<li>The ability to work independently on routine activities while collaborating effectively within a multidisciplinary team.</li>
<li>Clear written and verbal communication skills.</li>
<li>Familiarity with transformation approaches such as Agrobacterium-mediated transformation or biolistic delivery.</li>
</ul>
Desirable experience
<ul>
<li>Experience working with more than one plant species or genotypes</li>
<li>Experience optimising regeneration, selection or screening conditions.</li>
<li>Knowledge of relevant laboratory, greenhouse, biosafety and quality procedures.</li>
<li>Experience coordinating experiments or providing technical guidance to colleagues.</li>
</ul>
What we offer
<ul>
<li>A full-time, permanent position in a collaborative biotechnology environment.</li>
<li>The opportunity to contribute to meaningful plant science and biotechnology programmes.</li>
<li>Scope to develop technical expertise and take increasing ownership of transformation projects.</li>
<li>A supportive team environment focused on scientific rigour, learning and continuous improvement.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;</body></html>

Plant Transformation Lead

<html><head></head><body>Senior Microbe Strain Engineer
Employment type: Full time, permanent
Seniority: Senior
Industry: Biotechnology
About the role
We are seeking a Senior Microbe Strain Engineer to lead the design, engineering and optimisation of microbial strains for plant biotechnological applications. You will combine expertise in microbial genetics and synthetic biology to develop robust strains that perform reliably.
Working across multidisciplinary teams, you will shape strain-engineering strategy, guide experimental programmes and support the translation of promising designs into practical application. This role is suited to an experienced scientist or engineer who enjoys solving complex technical challenges and supporting the development of colleagues.
This job is part of an Advanced Research + Invention Agency-funded project.
Key responsibilities
<ul>
<li>Lead the design, construction and characterisation of microbial strains using genetic engineering, synthetic biology and molecular biology approaches.</li>
<li>Develop and apply strain-engineering strategies to improve target traits such as robustness.</li>
<li>Plan, execute and interpret experiments, using appropriate analytical methods and data to inform design decisions.</li>
<li>Optimise strains in relevant laboratory systems, collaborating with colleagues on end-use applications.</li>
<li>Establish sound experimental workflows, documentation practices and quality standards, ensuring work is reproducible and traceable.</li>
<li>Analyse complex datasets and communicate findings, risks and recommendations clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders.</li>
<li>Provide technical leadership and mentorship to the engineering team, supporting good laboratory practice and a collaborative research culture.</li>
<li>Contribute to project planning, timelines, resource allocation and cross-functional decision-making.</li>
<li>Keep up to date with relevant scientific developments and identify technologies or approaches that could strengthen the organisation’s capabilities.</li>
<li>Work in accordance with applicable biosafety, health and safety, regulatory and environmental requirements.</li>
</ul>
Essential experience and qualifications
<ul>
<li>A degree in microbiology, biotechnology, bioengineering, molecular biology or a related discipline; a postgraduate qualification or equivalent relevant experience is desirable.</li>
<li>Substantial experience in microbial strain engineering within biotechnology, industrial microbiology or a related research environment.</li>
<li>Practical expertise in microbial genetics and strain construction, including the use of GOLDENGATE and Gibson-based cloning</li>
<li>Experience designing experiments to improve microbial performance and interpreting results to guide iterative development.</li>
<li>Familiarity with microbial cultivation and fermentation, including an understanding of factors that affect performance during scale-up.</li>
<li>Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to draw clear conclusions from complex or incomplete data.</li>
<li>Experience maintaining accurate experimental records and communicating technical work through reports, presentations or publications.</li>
<li>The ability to work independently, prioritise competing demands and collaborate effectively across disciplines.</li>
</ul>
Desirable experience
<ul>
<li>Experience with high-throughput strain engineering, screening or automation.</li>
<li>Knowledge of systems biology, metabolic modelling, omics approaches or data-driven strain design.</li>
<li>Experience transferring strains or methods between research, process development and manufacturing teams.</li>
<li>Experience mentoring scientists or providing technical leadership within a project team.</li>
</ul>
What you will bring
<ul>
<li>A practical, rigorous approach to experimental design and scientific decision-making.</li>
<li>Curiosity and creativity when tackling challenging biological problems.</li>
<li>Clear communication skills and confidence working with colleagues from different technical backgrounds.</li>
<li>A commitment to safe, responsible and reproducible science.</li>
<li>A collaborative mindset, with the ability to support and develop others while taking ownership of your work.</li>
</ul>
Contract and working arrangements
This is a full-time, permanent position. The role will involve laboratory-based work and collaboration with colleagues across relevant scientific and operational teams. Specific working arrangements will be discussed during the recruitment process.</body></html>

Senior Microbial Strain Engineer

<html><head></head><body>Microbial Strain Engineer
Employment type: Full-time, permanent
Seniority: Mid-level
Industry: Biotechnology
About the role
We are seeking a skilled Microbial Strain Engineer to develop and optimise microbial strains for biotechnology applications. You will plan and carry out laboratory experiments, analyse results and work closely with colleagues across research, process development and manufacturing. This role is suited to someone with practical strain-engineering experience who can take ownership of projects and contribute to a collaborative, scientifically rigorous team.
This job is part of an Advanced Research + Invention Agency-funded project.
Key responsibilities
<ul>
<li>Design, construct and characterise microbial strains using appropriate genetic engineering and molecular biology techniques.</li>
<li>Develop and optimise workflows for strain construction, screening and performance evaluation.</li>
<li>Plan and conduct experiments to assess strain growth, productivity, stability and other relevant phenotypes.</li>
<li>Analyse and interpret experimental data, draw sound conclusions and recommend next steps.</li>
<li>Maintain accurate, complete and traceable laboratory records and communicate findings through reports and presentations.</li>
<li>Work with colleagues in analytical science, bioinformatics and process development to progress projects.</li>
<li>Contribute to the development and improvement of laboratory methods, protocols and equipment use.</li>
<li>Follow applicable health and safety, biosafety, quality and data-integrity procedures.</li>
<li>Support the transfer of promising strains and methods to larger-scale development or manufacturing teams.</li>
</ul>
About you
<ul>
<li>A degree in microbiology, biotechnology, molecular biology, biochemical engineering or a related discipline, with relevant industry or research experience; or equivalent practical experience.</li>
<li>Hands-on experience engineering or modifying microbial strains, preferably in an industrial biotechnology or applied research setting.</li>
<li>Practical knowledge of molecular biology techniques such as Gbison/GOLDENGATE DNA assembly, cloning, transformation or genome editing.</li>
<li>Experience cultivating microorganisms and evaluating growth or production performance using relevant laboratory methods.</li>
<li>Ability to plan experiments, troubleshoot technical challenges and manage several tasks effectively.</li>
<li>Confidence analysing data and presenting clear, evidence-based conclusions.</li>
<li>Strong written and verbal communication skills and a collaborative approach to problem-solving.</li>
<li>A careful, organised working style, with a commitment to laboratory safety and high-quality record-keeping.</li>
</ul>
Desirable experience
<ul>
<li>Experience using high-throughput screening, automated laboratory equipment or design-of-experiments approaches.</li>
<li>Working knowledge of bioinformatics tools, sequence analysis or data visualisation.</li>
<li>Experience working within quality-managed or regulated laboratory environments.</li>
</ul>
What we offer
<ul>
<li>A full-time, permanent position in a collaborative biotechnology environment.</li>
<li>Opportunities to contribute to meaningful research and development projects.</li>
<li>Support for professional development and continued learning.</li>
<li>A supportive team culture that values scientific rigour, open communication and continuous improvement.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;</body></html>

Microbial Strain Engineer

<html><head></head><body>Laboratory Manager
Contract: Permanent, full time
About the role
We are seeking a Laboratory Manager to lead the day-to-day operation of our biotechnology laboratory. You will help ensure the laboratory is safe, well organised and equipped to deliver high-quality, reliable work.&nbsp;
This job is part of an Advanced Research + Invention Agency-funded project.
Key responsibilities
<ul>
<li>Manage the daily operation, facilities and resources of the laboratory.</li>
<li>Lead, support and develop laboratory staff, including coordinating workloads, training and performance.</li>
<li>Maintain a safe working environment and ensure compliance with relevant health and safety requirements, risk assessments and laboratory procedures.</li>
<li>Oversee the maintenance, calibration and servicing of laboratory equipment, coordinating repairs and resolving operational issues.</li>
<li>Manage stock, procurement and suppliers to ensure laboratory materials and equipment are available when needed.</li>
<li>Develop, review and implement standard operating procedures and other laboratory documentation.</li>
<li>Promote good laboratory practice, accurate record-keeping and consistent working standards.</li>
<li>Support quality management activities, inspections and audits, and ensure that actions are followed through.</li>
<li>Monitor laboratory capacity, budgets and resource use, identifying opportunities to improve efficiency.</li>
<li>Work collaboratively with scientific and cross-functional teams to support research, development and operational objectives as needed.</li>
<li>Identify and address risks, incidents and opportunities for continuous improvement.</li>
</ul>
About you
<ul>
<li>Experience managing or supervising a laboratory in biotechnology, life sciences or a related scientific environment.</li>
<li>A relevant degree or equivalent experience in a scientific discipline.</li>
<li>Strong knowledge of laboratory health and safety, equipment management and operational procedures.</li>
<li>Experience supporting quality systems, controlled documentation and audit readiness.</li>
<li>Demonstrated ability to lead, motivate and develop a team.</li>
<li>Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise competing demands and manage resources effectively.</li>
<li>Clear communication skills and the ability to build productive relationships across teams.</li>
<li>A practical, collaborative approach and a commitment to maintaining high standards.</li>
</ul>
What we offer
This permanent, full-time position offers the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to a biotechnology laboratory and support the people and processes behind its scientific work. Further details about the working arrangements and benefits will be discussed during the recruitment process.</body></html>

Job Openings

Laboratory Technician

Plant Transformation Lead

Senior Microbial Strain Engineer

Microbial Strain Engineer

Laboratory Manager