We are seeking a highly motivated and skilled Scientist or Senior Scientist to join our dynamic research team at A*STAR. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in mouse disease models, cell and molecular biology, developmental biology, physiology, or related disciplines, and will play a key role in a well-funded translational research project aimed at developing a novel therapeutic asset, with the goal of achieving spinoff or licensing readiness within 1-2 years. This role provides a unique opportunity to bridge basic science and therapeutic innovation in a collaborative, fast-paced environment with strong institutional support for commercialization.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and execute in vivo mouse experiments, including animal handling, compound administration (e.g., IP/IV/SC), and tissue harvesting.
• Isolate primary cells from mouse or human tissues, cell culture of primary or immortalised mammalian cells.
• Engineering of stable cell lines by designing, generating, and using lentivirus or other transgenesis systems.
• Perform comprehensive tissue and cell analyses using:
• Histological techniques (e.g., fixation, embedding, sectioning, histological staining, immunohistochemistry)
  • Biochemical assays (e.g., Western blotting, ELISA, enzymatic assays, serum biochemistry)
  • Molecular biology techniques, including DNA/RNA extraction, PCR, qPCR, molecular cloning, and gene expression analysis.
  • Bulk and single cell RNA sequencing
  • Microscopy (e.g., fluorescence, confocal, and brightfield imaging)
• Design and validate loss-of-function strategies (e.g., RNAi, CRISPR-Cas9) for gene perturbation in vitro and in vivo.
• Analyze and interpret data.
• Maintain thorough laboratory records that will withstand regulatory scrutiny.
• Prepare technical reports, presentations, and manuscripts that may eventually contribute to regulatory applications (e.g. IND) and peer reviewed publications.
• Collaborate across multidisciplinary teams, including scientific, translational, and commercialization partners.

Job Requirement

• Ph.D. in Cell/Molecular Biology, Developmental Biology, Physiology, Genetics, or a related field.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience with mouse models, including compound dosing and tissue dissection, is required.
• Proficiency in primary cell isolation and culture, including from mouse or human tissues.
• Strong technical skills in histology, biochemistry, and microscopy-based tissue analysis.
• Solid foundation in molecular biology and genetics, including construct design, cloning, RNAi, and CRISPR.
• Familiarity with single-cell transcriptomics or related high-dimensional platforms is advantageous.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to present scientific findings clearly and effectively.
• Proven ability to complete and communicate scientific projects, as evidenced by at least one peer-reviewed co-first authored publication.
• Highly organized, self-motivated, and capable of working independently and in cross-functional teams.
• Needs to be able to maintain detailed laboratory records to be used for potential regulatory filings.
• Comfortable working with tight timelines and on a milestone-gated project.
• Biotech industry experience is a plus.