R&D Scientist – Molecular Assay Development

Genepika is dedicated to advancing genetics-related research, engineering, and product development. Innovations in the field of molecular biology over recent decades have revolutionized the capabilities of genetic tools available to researchers. Applications such as gene editing and drug discovery have extensively explored the potential of nucleic acid-based technology for advancing healthcare. One promising application for genetic tools is the development of novel molecular diagnostic devices, significantly accelerated by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The wide-spread authorizations of point-of-care (POC) diagnostic platforms has demonstrated their importance in resource-scarce settings and in streamlining clinical services. Clinical data shows that early detection of viral infections via POC diagnostic can greatly improve treatment success rates, despite these devices having lower sensitivity and accuracy compared to traditional laboratory diagnostics. Although scaled manufacturing of complex POC diagnostic devices remains challenging, there is an opportunity to develop more scalable molecular platforms to increase the public access to these technologies.

At Genepika we believe it is crucial to improve the public reception and, more importantly, understanding of these molecular technologies and their capabilities. Therefore, we are committed to building a new generation of molecular diagnostic devices for consumer applications, bringing the benefits of rapid diagnostics to everyday life. We are seeking an R&D Scientist with extensive experience in developing molecular assays for diagnostic applications to join our founding team. As an R&D Scientist, you will be responsible for developing molecular assays for portable diagnostic devices. The role will focus on running experiments to optimize assay performance to meet design objectives. Once completed, they will be working with other team members to integrate the assay onto a portable diagnostic device.

Required Qualifications

• MSc with 1-2 years of relevant work experience (including academic institutions), or PhD with relevant thesis topics

• Hands-on experience with diagnostic assay development and optimization.

• Experience with both antigen-based diagnostic assays as well as DNA/RNA-based molecular assays; ideal candidates should have worked on projects developing both types of assays for diagnostic applications

• Able to design and conduct experiments to meet development objectives with minimal supervision

• Thorough understanding of fundamentals behind antigen-binding kinetic, competitive-binding assays, and various nucleic acid amplification methods

• Understanding of chemistry behind different modalities for diagnostic signal output such as colorimetric or fluorescence

• Have previous experience working with complex sample matrices and sample processing techniques

• Have previous experience creating and testing custom formulations for different sample buffers

• Demonstrated excellence in data analysis and research communication through academic publication record and conference presentations

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous industrial experience developing diagnostic assays

• Working knowledge of industrial-scale antibody and nucleic acid production

• Working knowledge of microfluidic principles and lateral flow devices

• Familiar with laboratory equipment calibration

• Familiar with regulatory requirements of diagnostic devices

• Familiar with ISO13485 standards

Other Requirements

• This is an in-person position; candidate must be able to travel to lab location

• Must be able to adapt quickly to changing priorities in a startup environment