Principal Scientist – Downstream Process Optimisation & Protein Purification

About Loopworm

breakthrough in recombinant protein production

Principal Scientist

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

  .