Research Assistant

FLASH Diagnostics; Hong Kong; On-site; HKD 201,000 - 268,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Mentorship from PhD scientists

Collaboration with academic partners

MPF contributions

Competitive base salary

Job summary

FLASH Diagnostics in Hong Kong Science and Technology Park (HKSTP) is seeking an R&D Assistant to support nucleic acid diagnostics development, from primer/probe design to assay validation, for veterinary and food safety products.

You will work within the in-house molecular biology team, performing hands-on wet-lab experiments and contributing to collaborative projects with academic and clinical partners. This role offers mentorship from PhD scientists and growth within a small R&D team.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's in Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, or related life sciences.
• Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card or valid visa for full-time employment in Hong Kong.
• 0-2 years of relevant research or laboratory experience in biotechnology or diagnostic assay development.
• Hands-on experience with nucleic acid extraction, PCR/qPCR, or isothermal amplification.
• Exposure to primer/probe design is a plus.
• Good experimental design and data recording practices.
• Exposure to infectious disease or veterinary diagnostics is an advantage.
• Good written and spoken English; Cantonese and Mandarin a plus.

Responsibilities

• Assay Development: Research and optimize multiplex primer/probe sets for nucleic acid assays (PCR, qPCR, isothermal amplification).
• Sample Prep & Extraction: Investigate and optimize nucleic acid extraction and sample preparation methods for complex matrices.
• Validation & Testing: Characterize analytical assay performance and design/execute validation protocols.
• Documentation & Data: Maintain accurate lab records and notebooks; contribute to IP materials and publications.
• Cross-Functional Support: Collaborate with cartridge/hardware engineers and liaise with academic/clinical partners.
• Support collaborative projects with academic and clinical partners.

Skills

Molecular biology

PCR/qPCR

Isothermal amplification

Nucleic acid extraction

Primer/probe design

Laboratory documentation

Communication

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Molecular Biology / Biotechnology / Microbiology / Biochemistry

Job description

FLASH Diagnostics is seeking a motivated and detail-oriented R&D Assistant to support our core biological research in nucleic acid diagnostics. This role will contribute to end-to-end assay development activities — from primer/probe design and reagent optimization to experimental execution and analytical/clinical validation — for our veterinary diagnostics and food safety product lines.

The successful candidate will work closely within our in-house molecular biology team and support collaborative projects with academic and clinical partners.

Key Responsibilities

Assay Development: Research and optimize multiplex primer/probe sets for nucleic acid assays (PCR, qPCR, isothermal amplification methods).

Sample Prep & Extraction: Investigate and optimize nucleic acid extraction and sample preparation methods for complex biological and environmental matrices (blood, urine, feces, food matrices, etc).

Validation & Testing: Characterize analytical assay performance through sensitivity, specificity, and interference testing benchmarked against qPCR reference methods; design and execute clinical and field validation protocols for new assay targets.

Documentation & Data: Maintain accurate laboratory records and notebooks, and contribute to intellectual property materials and scientific publications arising from R&D work.

Cross-Functional Support: Collaborate with cartridge/hardware engineers and support liaison with academic and clinical research partners.

Requirements & Qualifications

• RTH Program & Eligibility Requirements (Mandatory)

Education: A Bachelor's or Master's degree in Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, or a closely related life sciences discipline, obtained from a local university or a Top 100 World University (based on QS, Times Higher Education, ARWU, or U.S. News rankings) as required by the ITC RTH scheme.

Work Authorization: Must hold a valid Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card or a valid visa enabling full-time employment in Hong Kong.

Technical & Professional Experience

Industry Experience: 0-2 years of relevant research or laboratory experience in biotechnology or diagnostic assay development (fresh graduates with a strong academic research focus on molecular diagnostics are welcome to apply).

Hands-on Wet Lab Skills: Practical experience with nucleic acid extraction, PCR/qPCR, or isothermal amplification techniques; exposure to primer/probe design is a plus.

Experimental Rigor: Good grounding in experimental design, data recording, and assay evaluation.

Diagnostics Background: Prior exposure to infectious disease diagnostics, veterinary diagnostics, or point-of-care (PoC) platforms is an advantage.

Languages & Soft Skills

Language Proficiency: Good written and spoken English required; Cantonese and Mandarin a plus.

Communication: Clear scientific communication skills for lab documentation and team collaboration.

Attributes: Self-motivated, detail-oriented, high attention to lab safety and quality standards, and able to work effectively within a small R&D team.

Location: Hong Kong Science and Technology Park (HKSTP)

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours (minimum 39 hours per week)

Leave & Holidays: 14 days paid annual leave + Hong Kong Statutory Holidays

Benefits: Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) contributions, competitive base salary matching RTH subsidy standards, direct mentorship from in-house PhD scientists, and collaboration opportunities with academic partners including local and international research collaborators.

Expected Start Date: October 2026