Scientific Internships (New Platform Engineering and Platform Research)

Oxford Nanopore Technologies is headquartered at the Oxford Science Park outside Oxford, UK, with satellite offices and a commercial presence in many global locations across the US, APAC and Europe.

Oxford Nanopore employs from multiple subject areas including nanopore science, molecular biology and applications, informatics, engineering, electronics, manufacturing and commercialisation. The management team, led by CEO Dr Gordon Sanghera, has a track record of delivering disruptive technologies to the market.

Oxford Nanopore’s sequencing platform is the only technology that offers real-time analysis, in fully scalable formats from pocket to population scale, that can analyse native DNA or RNA and sequence any length of fragment to achieve short to ultra-long read lengths. Our goal is to enable the analysis of any living thing, by anyone, anywhere!

Oxford Nanopore Technologies produces the only sequencing platform that offers real-time analysis (for rapid insights), in fully scalable formats from pocket to population scale, that can analyse native DNA or RNA and sequence any length of fragment to achieve short to ultra-long read lengths

Our management team, led by CEO Dr Gordon Sanghera CBE, has a track record of delivering disruptive technologies to the market, furthering our goal of enabling the analysis of any living thing, by anyone, anywhere.

We are a multidisciplinary company with opportunities in a wide range of subject areas including Nanopore science, molecular biology and applications, informatics, engineering, electronics, manufacturing, and commercialisation.

Location: Oxford Nanopore Technologies, Oxford, UK

Duration: 3 months, with potential for extension

Start Date: Summer 2025

Hours: Full-time

About the role

Intern positions are available from the spring/summer of 2025 in our New Platform Engineering and Platform Research teams to suit dedicated undergraduate and postgraduate student scientists studying the physical sciences or engineering at university, and who have a curiosity about pursuing a career in science. 

You will be looking for an authentic and structured intern experience and be on-course to achieve at least a 2.1 degree in Chemistry, Physics, Engineering or Material Science.

Details

Our Intern positions are available from the Spring/Summer of 2025, to suit dedicated undergraduate and postgraduate student scientists studying Chemistry, Physics, Engineering or Material Science and who have a curiosity about pursuing a career in the physical sciences.

• Collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams to support early-stage prototyping of new sequencing platforms and the development of novel sensor array technologies.


• Work in a hands-on, laboratory-based environment. Learning & applying scientific technical skills in one or more key aspects of Oxford Nanopore’s sequencing platform technology, such as MEMS, microfluidics, materials and surface science, microfabrication, electronics, electrochemistry, and numerical simulations.


• Use research skills to assist in the planning, running, testing and reporting of R&D trials. Understanding and evaluating information to solve a given problem.


• Apply and develop programming skills to build scripts for test, data analysis and workflow automation.


• Manipulate and analyse data sets, ensuring accurate and relevant records of experimental work. Be prepared to share, present and discuss findings with the team and management.


• Use excellent verbal and written communication skills to summarize key findings with the team.


• Manage time and resources to achieve tasks within given deadlines to a high standard of quality.


• Demonstrate an intellectual curiosity to both challenge and learn.

Eligibility

Successful candidates will be available to accept a minimum 3-month to maximum 12-month placement, commencing from spring/summer 2025. Specific dates will be discussed at interview.

All roles require the intern to work full time hours for the duration of the placement, and be present in our Oxford HQ, on the Oxford Science Park.

Person Specification

• Essential: Willingness to learn under direction.


• Desirable: Self-directed learning ability.

Benefits

An opportunity to work on impactful projects in genomic sequencing, contributing to technology that can transform healthcare and research.

Mentorship from experienced engineers and scientists.

Access to cutting-edge resources and tools.

Networking opportunities within the biotech and engineering communities.

Competitive internship compensation.

Final stage selection will take place in Oxford HQ

All roles require the intern to work full time hours for the duration of the placement, and be present in our Oxford HQ, on Oxford Science Park

If you’re interested in gaining work experience in a highly skilled team of friendly scientists while contributing to the development of platforms for DNA/RNA sequencing development, we would love to hear from you!

Based within beautiful, landscaped surroundings with tree-lined walks, water features and a lake, all of which make for a wonderful working environment.

If you are looking to utilise your skills to really make a difference to humankind, then consider joining our team and apply today!

Please note that no terminology in this advert is intended to discriminate on the grounds of a person's gender, marital status, race, religion, colour, age, disability or sexual orientation. Every candidate will be assessed only in accordance with their merits, qualifications and abilities to perform the duties of the job.