Vice President Research And Development

About Loopworm

At Loopworm, we're on the cusp of a
breakthrough in recombinant protein production
. Our proprietary platform leverages insects as miniature bio-factories to produce complex recombinant proteins — a sustainable and cost-efficient alternative to conventional cell culture systems. Our mission: to redefine protein manufacturing for health, nutrition, and biotech industries globally.

We are looking for a seasoned industrial R&D professional to lead and scale our recombinant protein production R&D efforts, reporting directly to the Board and managing a
20-member team
across five specialised verticals:

1. Molecular Biology & Genetics
2. Upstream Process Optimisation
3. Downstream Process Optimisation
4. QA/QC & Assays
5. Intellectual Property

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and manage a cross-functional R&D team of scientists, setting clear
  KPIs
  and ensuring milestone achievement.
• Develop & execute
  R&D strategy
  , timelines, and budgets for recombinant protein projects.
• Ensure smooth collaboration between vertical teams to accelerate tech development.
• Drive
  process optimisation
  from gene to purified protein, ensuring scalability and quality.
• Partner with the IP team to
  protect innovations through global patent filings
  .
• Establish and refine
  R&D processes
  in line with international best practices.
• Oversee hiring within R&D to build high-performing teams.
• Present technical updates to leadership, partners, and stakeholders.

What We're Looking For

• PhD
  in Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, Bioprocess Engineering, or related field.
• Hands-on experience
  in project management within recombinant protein platforms —
  Insect Cells
  or
  Mammalian Cell
  systems.
• Core expertise
  in
  Molecular Biology/Genetics
  or
  Downstream Processing
  (must have deep technical skills in at least one).
• Strong understanding of all R&D verticals in the protein production pipeline.
• Proven track record in
  team leadership
  ,
  strategic planning
  , and
  meeting R&D timelines
  .
• Hiring and team development experience within R&D.
• Experience with
  IP strategy
  and working alongside patent attorneys.
• Excellent
  communication, analytical, and critical thinking skills
  .

Preferred Tools & Software Proficiency
(Experience in equivalent tools is equally valued)

• Molecular Biology & Bioinformatics
  – e.g.,
  SnapGene
  ,
  Vector NTI
  ,
  Benchling
  , or similar platforms for construct design, cloning strategy, and sequence analysis.
• Data Analysis & Statistical Tools
  – e.g.,
  GraphPad Prism
  ,
  R
  ,
  Python
  , or equivalent software for experimental data analysis and modelling.
• Process Development & Simulation
  – familiarity with
  SuperPro Designer
  ,
  BioSolve
  , or similar tools for process optimisation and cost modelling.
• Quality Management & Documentation
  – e.g.,
  LIMS
  platforms (Benchling LIMS, LabWare) or equivalent systems for lab data management and traceability.
• Protein Structure & Modelling
  – e.g.,
  PyMOL
  ,
  SwissSidechain
  ,
  AlphaFold
  , or similar tools for protein structure analysis and visualisation.
• Project Management
  – e.g.,
  Microsoft Project
  ,
  Asana
  ,
  
  , or other workflow planning and milestone tracking tools.
• IP Management
  – familiarity with patent search and management databases such as
  Orbit
  ,
  PatSnap
  ,
  WIPO Patentscope
  , or similar.

Why Join Us?

• Be part of an
  India-first platform
  redefining how recombinant proteins are made.
• Lead a team at the forefront of
  biotech innovation
  .
• Shape the future of sustainable protein production with global impact.
• Work in a
  fast-paced, VC-backed
  startup environment where your ideas directly shape outcomes.