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
  .