Research Scientist Molecular Characterization

Positional Purpose The role holder will report to team lead and contribute to the research activities of biochemical & molecular biological analysis of microbes & Biomolecules. The role holder should have been well versed in Plant Metabolomics, proteomics, Biotechnology, Induced mutagenesis, Genome editing, Plant Molecular Biology and Genomics. Bioinformatics, Nextgen Sequencing & handling of large set of data.

The role holder should be able to independently manage assigned projects while also providing guidance, coaching, and oversight to team members. Manage the requirements/budgets and ensure that project schedules are met and that the work is carried out efficiently and accurately, providing regular updates to the stakeholders. A good technical knowledge on biologicals research and excellent communication skills are essential.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic

• Support actively the philosophy, values and strategy of PI Industries.
• Contribute efficiently to the overall success of Biologicals R&D by driving innovation according to objectives and targets being set by the management team.
• Create proprietary Biomolecule library.
• Support the Team Lead in personnel development, target setting, capability building, and fostering a culture of coaching, feedback, and continuous improvement.
• Engage in internal and external forums and professional networks to stay updated and enhance expertise.

Operational

• Perform molecular biology studies such as Genomic DNA isolation, RNA isolation, Cloning, Real time PCR, Gene expression profiling.
• Conduct comprehensive biochemical analyses such as ELISA, primary metabolites profiling by HPLC and GC-MS.
• Basic knowledge of LC-MS and GC-MS for hormonal analysis and volatile compound analysis.
• Utilize bioinformatics tools such as BWA, SAMtools, GATK, LoFreq, SNVer, VipR, CRISP, and CAMBA pipeline for sequencing data analysis.
• Perform GC-MS data analysis using MetaboAnalyst and Metalign, BLAST for sequence alignment, PARSESNP and SIFT for mutation analysis, and construct phylogenetic trees and heat maps.
• Efficiently browse genes from genome browser databases, conduct statistical analyses, and manage large datasets with precision.
• Design, execute, and analyse experiments and studies related to Biomolecule research, ensuring high scientific rigor and compliance with guidelines.
• Support primary screening team by identifying microorganisms using molecular biology techniques.
• Develop protocols to cultivate microorganisms in various substrates under controlled conditions to induce or maximize the production of specific biomolecules.
• Establish and consistently implement SOPs for all methods and techniques employed by the team to ensure standardization, efficiency, and quality.
• Follow documentation standards to report results, participate in all department meetings and present robust analysis of data.
• Adhere to all safety / information security / quality norms related to research procedures.
• Ensure seamless coordination with the project manager to achieve project goals effectively.
• Drive continuous improvement by identifying, prioritizing, and implementing enhancements.
• Provide scientific expertise and guidance in product development strategies, identifying opportunities for innovation.