Principal Scientist – Genetic Engineering

About Loopworm

Loopworm is pioneering a breakthrough in recombinant protein production with our novel, optimised platform that uses insects as mini bio-factories—a sustainable, efficient alternative to conventional cell culture systems. Our work sits at the intersection of biotechnology, molecular biology, and sustainable innovation, with the potential to transform industries from healthcare to agriculture.

About the Role

We are seeking a Principal Scientist – Genetic Engineering & Molecular Biology to lead our Molecular Biology & Genetics team of 6 talented scientists and report directly to our VP of R&D. This is a senior leadership role where you will drive the strategy, execution, and innovation in molecular biology & genetic engineering, while ensuring timely milestones, budget management, and robust IP protection.

You will work closely with:

• New Protein Production Optimisation Team
• Intellectual Property Team

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor the Molecular Biology & Genetics R&D team, setting clear KPIs and growth plans for each member.
• Design and execute detailed R&D strategies, ensuring timely achievement of project milestones.
• Manage budgets and resources for all molecular biology & genetics-related activities.
• Drive innovation in viral vector-based recombinant protein platform development, virus gene editing, and virus-host interaction studies.
• Collaborate with the IP team to protect Loopworm's technology through global patent filings.
• Set up and improve R&D processes to enhance efficiency and reproducibility.
• Actively contribute to hiring decisions in the Molecular Biology & Genetics domain.
• Ensure cross-team coordination between protein production optimisation, downstream processing, and IP functions.

Must-Have Qualifications & Experience

• PhD in Molecular Biology, Genetic Engineering, Virology, or related discipline.
• 7+ years of relevant R&D experience, including at least 3 years in a leadership role in the Molecular Biology & Genetics domain.
• Proven hands-on expertise in:
• Virus gene editing
• Viral vector-based recombinant protein platforms
• Virus-host interaction studies
• Strong track record of scientific innovation and IP creation.
• Excellent people management, strategic thinking, and communication skills.
• Experience in setting up R&D processes and working with intellectual property teams.

Nice-to-Have

• Experience in insect-based protein expression systems.
• Prior exposure to scale-up of recombinant protein platforms.

Preferred Tools & Software Proficiency

• Molecular Biology Platforms: Familiarity with plasmid/vector design and cloning simulation tools such as SnapGene, Benchling, or Geneious Prime; CRISPR design tools like CRISPOR or CHOPCHOP; sequence alignment software such as Clustal Omega or MEGA.
• Bioinformatics & Structural Analysis: Experience with sequence databases and analysis platforms like NCBI BLAST, UniProt, or Ensembl; structural visualization/modeling using PyMOL, ChimeraX, or AlphaFold; and workflow analysis platforms like Galaxy, R/Bioconductor, or Biopython.
• Data & Project Management: Comfort with electronic lab notebooks and inventory tools such as Benchling or Labguru; project tracking platforms like Microsoft Project, Asana, or Trello; and data analytics tools such as Excel (Advanced), Tableau, or Power BI.
• Intellectual Property Tools: Exposure to patent search and analysis tools such as Espacenet, WIPO Patentscope, Google Patents, or PatSnap/Orbit Intelligence.
• Lab Instrumentation Software: Proficiency with relevant equipment software including qPCR analysis suites(ABI, Bio-Rad), NGS data analysis (Illumina BaseSpace, ONT EPI2ME), or FlowJo.
• Specialised for Baculovirus/Insect Expression: Knowledge of Bac-to-Bac bacmid design tools or equivalent insect expression analytics platforms.

Why Join Us?

At Loopworm, you will:

• Be at the forefront of a game-changing & India-first biotech platform.
• Work with a dynamic, mission-driven team committed to sustainability and innovation.
• Shape the future of affordable, scalable recombinant protein production.