About this role
J ob Description: Designation: Lead Scientist-Molecular Biology Job Location: Bangalore Department: BBRC-Discovery Technologies About Syngene Incorporated in 1993, Syngene International Ltd. is an innovation-focused global discovery, development and manufacturing organization providing integrated scientific services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, nutrition, animal health, consumer goods and specialty chemical industries around the world. Syngene’ s clientele includes world leaders such as Bristol-Myers Squibb, Baxter, Amgen, GSK, Merck KGaA and Herbalife. Its innovative culture is driven by the passion of its 4240- strong team of scientists who work with clients from around the world to solve their scientific problems, improve R&D productivity, speed up time to market and lower the cost of innovation. Job Purpose (1-2 Lines): To provide Molecular biology support for discovery programs. About the Role We are seeking a highly motivated Molecular Biologist with computational expertise to support and develop construct design workflows at the interface of protein engineering and data science. The role leverages molecular cloning, computational biology, and AI-driven design approaches to accelerate reagent generation, engineered cell models, and next-generation genetic delivery platforms. The ideal candidate brings rigorous bench skills in cloning and expression system design, paired with the capability to integrate bioinformatics and predictive modeling into cloning workflows. Key Responsibilities Design and execute cloning strategies (ligation-based, Gibson Assembly, recombination-based, shRNA, long-range PCR) for cell line engineering and recombinant protein generation Design expression constructs with appropriate vectors, promoters, and tags optimized for screening assays Apply computational tools (AlphaFold, ESM, ProteinMPNN, Rosetta) for protein domain design, linker optimization, and variant engineering Build and maintain sequence-to-outcome datasets; develop predictive models to improve construct success rates Curate and expand a multi-species gene/isoform ortholog database linked to experimental outcomes Design gene delivery constructs (AAV, mRNA, LNP) in collaboration with in vivo teams Educational Qualifications: M.Sc/M.Tech in Biotechnology/Biology/Molecular Biology Experience: 4-7 years of research experience Required Technical Skills Proficiency in molecular cloning techniques: ligation-based, recombination-based (e.g., Gateway, Gibson Assembly), sub-cloning, and long-range PCR Solid understanding of expression vector design, including promoter selection, signal peptides, and protein tags Hands-on experience with construct design software: SnapGene, Geneious, and/or Vector NTI Familiarity with computational protein engineering tools (AlphaFold, ESM, Rosetta, ProteinMPNN) or strong interest and aptitude to develop these skills Strong foundation in bioinformatics, sequence analysis, comparative genomics, and computational biology. Proficiency in Python, R, or related scientific programming tools Experience with or exposure to NGS data analysis and multi-species sequence comparison Diligent documentation practices, including detailed electronic lab notebook (ELN) entries Working knowledge of EHS (Environment, Health & Safety) practices in a laboratory setting Desirable Skills & Experience Experience in reagent and plasmid inventory management. Familiarity with automated liquid-handling platforms and workflow automation. High-throughput cloning workflows. Exposure to ML/statistical modeling applied to biological datasets Behavioral Skills A proactive team player. Ability to work independently, prioritize tasks and work on multiple projects simultaneously with minimal supervision; comfortable working in a dynamic environment with changing requirements. Good oral and written communication and presentation skills to work in a multi-disciplinary team. Equal Opportunity Employer: It is the policy of Syngene to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable legislation or local law. In addition, Syngene will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.