What is cell biology? What is fermentation?
Cell biology is the study of cell structure and function which revolves around the concept that the cell is the fundamental unit of life. By understanding how cells work in healthy and diseased states, cell biologists working in animal, plant, and medical science develop new vaccines, more effective medicines, plants with improved qualities, and (through increased knowledge) a better understanding of how all living things live.
Biotechnology uses techniques and information from cell biology to genetically modify crops to produce alternative characteristics; to clone plants and animals; to produce and ensure high-quality food is available at lower costs; to produce purer medicines and in-time organs for the many people who need transplants. Cell biology encompasses all of this and can make an exciting career.
Fermentation is the process of sugars being broken down by the enzymes of microorganisms when oxygen is absent. In other words, it's the chemical process by which a substance breaks down into a simpler substance. Microorganisms such as bacteria and yeast are commonly used in the fermentation process as they have unique sets of metabolic genes that break down different types of sugar metabolites.
Thanks to fermentation, food scientists are able to create products as diverse as beer, wine, bread, cultured milk and yoghurt, cider, kimchi, and sauerkraut.
What are the key trends in cell biology and fermentation?
Because there are so many strains of molecular biology, it's difficult to pinpoint one key trending area in cell biology or fermentation, so here are a few areas that are reporting progress and findings.
In personalised medicine, the individual genetics and phenotypic characteristics of many diseases are being looked at to tailor to each patient a more effective and safer therapy. Cancer research has been at the forefront of these personalised therapeutics. Through the use of genotypic data mixed with other strategies, we are better able to understand the cause and treatment of human diseases.
RNA molecule research has also led us to better understand how genetic diversity works. New methods now allow analysis at the single-cell and single-molecule level and have provided us with a greater ability to understand the significance of further regulatory functions with greater precision than before.
Another key trend in cell biology is the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and big data, which help cell biologists to fully understand how the parts of a cell interact with each other.
While fluorescent microscopy is a great tool, it has its drawbacks. There are limits to the number of fluorescent tags that can be introduced into a cell, and side effects such as phototoxicity can hinder researchers’ ability to conduct live-cell imaging. This new use of AI is helping to create 3D live videos of a cell and how the various components work together.
Which type of cell biology and fermentation roles do we recruit for?
We have a very strong foundation in cell biology recruitment and work with the very best — giving us a wide range of cell biologist jobs. Here are a few examples of roles we have recruited for recently:
- Upstream Scientist
- Downstream Scientist
- Fermentation Scientist
- Research Scientist
- Senior Research Scientist
- Senior Scientist
- Principal Scientist
- Cell Culture Scientist
- Head of Microbial Fermentation
- Head of Mammalian Cell Culture
- Team Leader Microbial Fermentation
- Team leader Mammalian Cell Culture
- Molecular Biologist
- Protein Scientist
- Protein Purification Scientist.
The way we work
We work in a consultative way with both our clients and candidates. When you are looking for a new permanent job or new contract role within the cell biology sector, SRG, as market leaders, are the best-placed recruitment consultancy to help you find the right place for your next move.
Our team is specialised and fully understands the roles that they deal with. We really get to know the people we work with, whether our clients (their culture, their environment, their team) or candidates (motivations, career aspirations, the environment you want to work in). We never try to send people to companies that don’t suit them, and when working with our client companies, nor do we bombard them with CVs to fill our own internal quota numbers.
Take a look at our roles to see where your next opportunity could be. Our consultants are talking to clients all the time and they can make approaches on your behalf so please get in touch to see how we can help you.
Alternatively, if you are looking for talent to enhance or grow your team, call us to talk about who we are currently working with and how we can help: 0161 868 2200.
