Principal Scientist – Downstream Process Optimisation

About Loopworm

Loopworm is pioneering a breakthrough in recombinant protein production with our novel LoopBac platform — using insects as miniature biofactories instead of conventional cell culture systems. This disruptive approach offers cost-effective, scalable, and sustainable protein manufacturing for applications in life sciences, animal health, and beyond.

We are looking for a Principal Scientist to lead our Downstream Process Optimisation & Protein Purification team of 4 scientists and report to the VP of R&D. This is a leadership role at the forefront of biotechnology innovation, with direct impact on taking recombinant proteins from R&D scale to commercial manufacturing.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and manage the Downstream Process Optimisation & Protein Purification team, including setting individual KPIs.
• Oversee budget planning, strategy, and execution for downstream R&D activities.
• Design and optimise protein purification workflows for recombinant proteins expressed in complex eukaryotic systems (insect-based).
• Implement and validate virus removal/inactivation steps to meet global regulatory standards.
• Translate research protocols to commercial-scale processes, collaborating closely with the commercial production team.
• Coordinate with New Protein Production Optimisation Team – for upstream-downstream process integration.
• Establish and maintain robust R&D processes, ensuring timelines and milestones are met.
• Contribute to IP strategy and ensure all downstream innovations are protected.
• Participate in recruitment, training, and development of team members.

Required Skills & Experience

• PhD or Master's degree in Biotechnology, Bioprocess Engineering, Biochemistry, or related field.
• 7+ years (PhD) or 10+ years (Master's) of industry experience in Recombinant Protein Purification and Downstream Processing.
• Demonstrated expertise in virus removal or inactivation techniques.
• Proven track record of scaling up purification processes from R&D to commercial manufacturing.
• Strong leadership, people management, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Experience in working with complex eukaryotic expression systems – preference for candidates with insect-based expression experience.
• Exposure to IP processes and working with legal/IP teams.
• Exceptional problem-solving, analytical thinking, and communication skills.

Key Equipment & Machinery Proficiency

Must Have Hands-On Experience

These are critical systems the candidate should have personally operated, optimised, and troubleshot:

1. Chromatography Systems - AKTA or equivalent FPLC/HPLC systems for affinity, ion exchange, hydrophobic interaction, and size exclusion chromatography.
2. Tangential Flow Filtration (TFF) / Ultrafiltration Units - Protein concentration, buffer exchange, and diafiltration at R&D and pilot scale.
3. Centrifugation Systems - High-speed and ultracentrifuges for cell debris removal and clarification from insect biomass.
4. Virus Removal & Inactivation Equipment - Depth filtration units, virus filtration modules (e.g., 20 nm filters), and chemical inactivation setups.

Good to have Working Knowledge

These are systems the candidate should be able to design processes for, oversee, and manage in collaboration with team members and operators:

1. Bioreactor Harvest & Clarification Systems - Continuous and batch clarification units suitable for insect biomass processing.
2. Pilot-Scale & Production-Scale Skids - Downstream processing skids for chromatography and filtration during scale-up.
3. Clean-In-Place (CIP) & Steam-In-Place (SIP) Systems - For maintaining GMP compliance in purification operations.
4. Analytical Systems for Purity & QC - SDS-PAGE, Western blotting, SEC-MALS, spectrophotometers, and ELISA platforms.

Why Join Us?

• Be part of a India-first platform redefining how recombinant proteins are made.
• Lead a high-impact team in a fast-growing VC-backed biotech.
• Opportunity to work on patentable, globally relevant technologies.
• Contribute to a mission-driven company making protein production faster, cheaper, and greener.