---
title: 'Research Associate - Aptamer at Level Zero Health'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/research-associate-aptamer-level-zero-health-london-48v8j6xk6cta'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-15'
---

# Research Associate - Aptamer at Level Zero Health

- **Company:** Level Zero Health
- **Location:** London, United Kingdom
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-07-20
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-15
- **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/level-zero-health/86e7a4ca-9657-43fa-aa44-324cf84fa94c

## Job description

## About Level Zero

Level Zero is pioneering next-generation biosensor technology for precise, real-time monitoring of critical endocrine biomarkers. Recognised as one of the top 20 startups across all categories worldwide at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 - and backed by top-tier organisations like SOSV and Entrepreneur First - we’re pushing the boundaries of biochemistry and nanotechnology to revolutionize personalised health. Founded by two seasoned engineers, we bring extensive experience in R&D, technical innovation, and commercial strategy to transform the way people monitor their health. Our mission is bold: to revolutionise health management by delivering clinical-grade data directly to individuals, wherever they are. We’re seeking driven innovators to join us in pushing the boundaries of biosensing and health tech, making personalised health monitoring a reality for everyone. To achieve this ambitious vision, we’re assembling the best team in the world - dedicated to turning cutting-edge science into life-changing, real-world solutions.

## About this Role

We’re looking for a Research Associate to help drive aptamer discovery and early-stage biosensor R&D at Level Zero. Working closely with R&D and sensor design leadership, you’ll run SELEX campaigns for small-molecule targets, execute core wet-lab workflows (affinity chromatography, qPCR, gels, nucleic acid purification, NGS), design assays, write protocols, and combine experimental rigor with oligo design and bioinformatic analysis to identify and validate top aptamer candidates.

## What you'll do

- Conduct SELEX experiments for small molecule targets to identify new aptamers, involving wet lab bio/chem processes including affinity chromatography, qPCR, PAGE gels, nucleic acid purification, and next-gen sequencing.
- Conduct nucleic acid oligo design and bioinformatic analyses to identify aptamer candidates
- Validate aptamer binding using methods such as Isothermal Titration Calorimetry (ITC), Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR), plate-based fluorescence assay, melt curve analysis and other methods.
- Contribute to early-stage R&D, design assays, write protocols, and collaborate with sensor design leadership to define and refine future directions

## What You Bring

The ideal candidate must have:

- A minimum of Bachelors degree or higher with at least 2 years of industry experience (full-time wet lab)
- Proficiency in nucleic acid chemical biology workflows or molecular biology workflows such as affinity chromatography, qPCR, PAGE gels, nucleic acid purification, or binding assays (SPR, ITC, fluorescence, ELONA).

Nice to have:

- Knowledge or experience in the handling and study of hydrophobic compounds (e.g., hormones), the handling and study of bio-fluids, and the development of simulated bio-fluid model solutions, biosensing principles, & nucleic acid chemical biology.
- Bioinformatics experience, Bash, Python, R languages, next-gen seq data processing, sequence motif analysis, nucleic acid 2D-prediction, or nucleic acid design (e.g., primer design).
- Knowledge or experience next-gen sequencing and Illumina systems, nucleic acid synthesis and purification.
- Knowledge or experience with biophysical characterization, ITC, SPR, CD spectroscopy, biosensing, fluorescence characterization approaches, or macromolecular structural characterization using NMR, SAXS, docking or MD simulations
- Prior work in a start-up or small company environment

## Who You Are

We value culture as much as we value technical expertise, creating an environment that’s equal parts collaboration, curiosity, and fun.

We’re a fast-paced, mission-driven young team on a quest to make a lasting impact, fueled by uncompromising integrity, unwavering support for one another, and the thrill of exploring uncharted territories. Our passion for excellence drives everything we do, and we welcome individuals who share our commitment to shaping the future.

If our vision excites you, here are the qualities we look for:

- You highly value integrity and tackling challenges with honesty and transparency.
- You’re a self-starter who loves diving into the unknown, collaborating on complex problems, and taking full ownership of results.
- You excel at open, clear communication and see every piece of feedback as a springboard for growth—especially in a science and data-focused environment.
- You’re motivated by creating real impact, particularly when it comes to advancing human health.
- You strike a balance between independence and collaboration, knowing when to seek support or invite others to join in.
- You’re confident in defending your ideas, while also valuing respectful, constructive debate as a path to better solutions.
- You thrive in the dynamic atmosphere of a startup, constantly evolving your skill set and fearlessly applying what you learn.

## What we offer

- A full-time role with a competitive salary and equity options, reflecting our value in your expertise and potential.
- An environment where you’ll collaborate directly with the founding team at a leading biosensor startup, gaining access to industry experts and thought leaders.
- The chance to grow with us, including ample opportunities for leadership, career advancement, and exploration.
- Travel to New York and other potential sites for R&D purposes.
- The excitement of working on cutting-edge technology, shaping strategic decisions, and driving innovation at an early-stage venture alongside a superstar team.

Be Part of Our JourneyIf you're ready to be at the forefront of biosensing innovation and thrive in fast-paced, learning-rich environments, we'd love to hear from you.

If your skills and experience do not align perfectly with this role, yet you believe you have something unique to offer, we're keen to listen. Reach out to us with a short statement on how you can contribute and let's discuss where you might fit into our team.

## About Level Zero Health

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Level Zero Health is building a wearable device for continuous, real-time hormone monitoring using nanotechnology and DNA-based sensors, aiming to unlock personalized care and the world’s largest hormone-health dataset.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Pre-Seed)
- **Headquarters**: San Francisco, United States (with offices in London, United Kingdom)
- **Founded**: 2023
- **Founders**: Ula Rustamova (CEO) and Irene Jia (CTO)

## Core Business
- Primary industry: Biotechnology / MedTech / Wearable Health
- Target customers: Initially B2B (healthcare provider networks), with a focus on fertility (IVF) and testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) use cases; ultimately B2C for continuous hormone monitoring.
- Mission: “Building the world’s largest hormone-health dataset to unlock next-level insights and personalized care.”

## Products & Services
- **[Single-Use Intermittent Hormone Monitoring Patch](https://levelzerohealth.com)** – A prescription-use patch that provides intermittent hormone readings (e.g., for IVF cycle monitoring) with minimal user involvement. Designed to correlate with blood draws (>90% correlation targeted). Expected to seek FDA and CE clearance in 2026.
- **[Continuous Hormone Monitoring Wearable](https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/18/level-zero-health-banks-6-9m-to-prove-wearable-medtech-can-take-the-strain-out-of-hormone-testing/)** – The long-term “holy grail” product (target launch ~2028) that will continuously measure progesterone, estrogen, and testosterone from interstitial fluid, enabling real-time data and automated treatment adjustments.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation / Market Cap**: Not disclosed (private)
- **Key Metric**: Total funding $6.9M (oversubscribed pre-seed round closed March 2025)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Redalpine (lead), HAX (SOSV), Entrepreneur First (EF), industry experts
- **Growth Signals**: 
  - 61.5% headcount growth year-over-year (now ~16 employees)
  - Received Gold Medal with Congratulations from the Jury at the 45th International Exhibition of Invention in Geneva (for biosensor work)
  - Active clinical trials and correlation studies underway
  - Already has a prototype and a stepping-stone single-use product in development

## Competitive Advantages
- **Minimally invasive** – Uses tiny needles to sample interstitial fluid, avoiding painful blood draws.
- **Real-time, continuous data** – Unlike traditional finger-stick tests, the wearable can provide dynamic hormone patterns.
- **Proprietary sensing** – Combines nanotechnology with DNA-based electrochemical sensors developed by a world-class R&D team (PhD-level biosensor scientists).
- **B2B-first strategy** – Enters the market via healthcare providers, reducing go-to-market risk while building clinical evidence.

## Strategic Focus
- Immediate priority: Complete clinical trials and obtain regulatory clearance (FDA and CE marking) for the single-use intermittent patch by 2026.
- Medium-term: Demonstrate >90% correlation between interstitial fluid hormone levels and blood measurements.
- Long-term: Launch the continuous monitoring wearable (~2028) and build a large-scale hormone-health dataset to enable AI-driven personalized care.

## Why Work Here
- **Deep tech / R&D culture** – The team is heavily research-oriented (33% of staff in research roles), with backgrounds from Imperial College London, Philips, Dyson, and Palantir.
- **Mission-driven** – Tackling a massive unmet need in hormone health (fertility, TRT, contraception) with potential to change standard of care.
- **Hands-on engineering** – Open roles include Biosensor Research Scientist, Automation Engineer, Hardware Electronics Engineer, Mechanical Design Engineer, and Microsystems Engineer – all on-site in London.
- **Early-stage impact** – As a small (~16 person) team, new hires can own significant projects and influence product direction.
- **Female-founded** – Co-founded by Ula Rustamova (ex-Palantir, serial wearable founder) and Irene Jia (ex-Philips medtech R&D leader), fostering an inclusive environment.
- **Work policy**: On-site in London (UK office) with a small presence in San Francisco. All current job postings are based in London.

## Sources
1. [levelzerohealth.com](https://levelzerohealth.com)
2. [TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/18/level-zero-health-banks-6-9m-to-prove-wearable-medtech-can-take-the-strain-out-of-hormone-testing/)
3. [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/level-zero-health)
4. [CB Insights](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/level-zero)
5. [Lever Careers](https://jobs.lever.co/level-zero-health)

## Other roles at Level Zero Health

- [Lead Biosensor Scientist - Continuous Monitoring](https://feeny.ai/job/lead-biosensor-scientist-continuous-monitoring-level-zero-health-london-xna427zawrjh) — London, United Kingdom
- [Hardware Electronics Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/hardware-electronics-engineer-level-zero-health-london-xmtj85qsvx14) — London, United Kingdom
- [Automation Engineer - Wet Lab](https://feeny.ai/job/automation-engineer-wet-lab-level-zero-health-london-05gj2axm8cjt) — London, United Kingdom
- [Research Associate - Immunoassay](https://feeny.ai/job/research-associate-immunoassay-level-zero-health-london-mgzzwrpyfr5f) — London, United Kingdom
- [Microsystems Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/microsystems-engineer-level-zero-health-london-4k6yrt3v74t7) — London, United Kingdom
- [Mechanical Design Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/mechanical-design-engineer-level-zero-health-london-yqr3qcgjwazf) — London, United Kingdom
- [Biosensor Research Scientist (Electrochemical sensors)](https://feeny.ai/job/biosensor-research-scientist-electrochemical-sensors-level-zero-health-london-xq6z37nj7859) — London, United Kingdom