Research Associate / Associate Research Scientist -Biology

Bicycle Therapeutics is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing a novel class of medicines, referred to as Bicycle® molecules, for diseases that are underserved by existing therapeutics. Bicycle molecules are fully synthetic short peptides constrained with small molecule scaffolds to form two loops that stabilize their structural geometry. This constraint facilitates target binding with high affinity and selectivity, making Bicycle® molecules attractive candidates for drug development. The company is evaluating nuzafatide pevedotin (formerly BT5528), a Bicycle® Drug Conjugate (BDC®) targeting EphA2, a historically undruggable target; a pipeline of Bicycle® Radioconjugates (BRCs) and imaging agents;; zelenectide pevedotin (formerly BT8009), a BDC® targeting Nectin-4, a well-validated tumor antigen; and, through various partnerships, the use of Bicycle® technology to develop therapies to treat diseases in a range of therapeutic areas. Bicycle Therapeutics is headquartered in Cambridge, UK, with many key functions and members of its leadership team located in Lexington, Massachusetts, USA. For more information, visit bicycletherapeutics.com Culture is key and all Bicycle employees actively embrace and role model our company values: We are Adventurous . We believe it’s the way to deliver extraordinary results for our patients.   We are Dedicated to our Mission . You can’t change the world if you don’t have determination. We are One Team . We only succeed when we work together. WORKING CLASSIFICATION : Onsite This is a fully onsite position based at our Cambridge, UK facilities. Given the laboratory-based nature of this role, daily onsite presence is required to work closely with our teams, access our cutting-edge resources, and drive our science and operations forward. The Mission We have an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic, laboratory-based Research Associate Scientist / Associate Research Scientist to join our Therapeutics Biology team. Situated as the critical translational engine within the wider Therapeutics division at Bicycle Tx, the Biology group sits at the intersection of discovery chemistry and preclinical development. In this role, you will work closely alongside Biology Lead Scientists to deliver robust, high-quality, and reproducible in vitro data sets to progress our discovery and preclinical programmes: Driving the Pipeline : Your bench-based data generation and primary screening efforts will directly accelerate candidate selection, turning novel peptide leads into validated drug candidates Targeted Therapeutics: You will be actively involved in advancing our cutting-edge Bicycle Drug Conjugate (BDC) and Bicycle Radio Conjugate (BRC) pipeline programmes Collaborative Science: Operating primarily at the bench, you will perform timely screening of compounds, execute diverse cell-based assays, and collaborate closely with the wider Biology group to turn breakthrough science into life-changing medicines Your Responsibilities In Vitro Assay Execution: Perform cell culture and execute cell-based assays to support the profiling of BDC and BRC molecules by conducting timely and rigorous screening of compounds to identify active molecules and support lead optimisation Data Generation & Quality: Deliver robust, accurate, and reproducible biological data packages to meet project timelines and support candidate selection Detailed Data Analysis: Analyse experimental data quantitatively and qualitatively, identifying key trends and maintaining high scientific standards Electronic Lab Notebook (ELN) Logging: Diligently and accurately record all experimental methods, raw data, and analyses in our BioELN system to guarantee data integrity and IP protection Scientific Communication: Present experimental data clearly at internal biology team meetings and multidisciplinary project team meetings Collaboration & Matrix Working: Partner proactively with colleagues across the wider Biology department and other lines (e.g., Chemistry) to coordinate workloads and support joint goals Lab Maintenance & Stewardship: Contribute to general laboratory maintenance, restocking, and safety standards to ensure an efficient working environment Continuous Innovation: Suggest, test, and implement practical laboratory innovations and assay improvements where appropriate Health & Safety Compliance: Work in strict accordance with existing SOPs, biosafety plans, and COSHH risk assessments   Skills and Competencies Knowledge & Expertise Core Expertise: Applies developing knowledge to complete a broad range of routine tasks independently. The ideal candidate will have hands-on experience in core laboratory techniques, including mammalian cell culture, PCR, and western blotting. They will build practical experience in our labs, strengthening their understanding of in vitro assays (such as viability and cytotoxicity), flow cytometry, and cellular imaging. This role operates under general supervision, with guidance provided on new assignments and a focus on building a solid understanding of the core scientific principles within our discovery programmes. Data/Insight: Perform well-defined analysis, gathering and interpreting data with guidance from Biology Lead scientists. Apply appropriate analysis using tools like GraphPad Prism, learning to identify trends and draw straightforward conclusions that contribute to project goals. The focus is on developing the ability to produce reliable and accurate data, which forms the foundation of our scientific decision-making. Influence & Collaboration: Contribute to team discussions and build effective working relationships. Share ideas and information with colleagues and project leaders, developing skills to communicate their scientific findings clearly. Support the wider team by contributing to general lab maintenance, helping to coordinate workloads, and working collaboratively to ensure the timely delivery of high-quality data. Job Complexity Task/Project Delivery: Manage and coordinate different assay types in parallel to meet screening timelines and being flexible to adjust workflows in response to changing project demands and compound priorities. Deliver work on key project components with limited supervision, applying standard methods to build a clear biological profile for our BDC and BRC compounds. Problem-solving: Apply established methods and adapt standard practices where appropriate. A key part of the job is the ability to identify unexpected or anomalous assay results and, with guidance from lead scientists, carry out preliminary troubleshooting. The candidate will be expected to exercise judgment within defined procedures to resolve straightforward issues and contribute to the team's ability to overcome daily scientific challenges. Strategic Impact: Directly support the achievement of our short-term operational targets and help progress compounds through the pipeline. Independence Autonomy : Operate with supervised autonomy, demonstrating a proactive approach to task prioritisation, preparing materials ahead of experiments, and manage daily laboratory schedules. They will independently execute routine assays and compound screenings once training is complete, while working under general supervision for