Principal Scientist/ Project Assistant: Display Platform & Directed Evolution

bioLOCKEY Healthworks; Bengaluru; On-site; INR 1,500,000 - 2,000,000; Full time

Job summary

BioLOCKEY is seeking a Principal Scientist / Project Assistant — Display Platforms & Directed Evolution to lead antibody discovery campaigns. You will manage library construction, screening, and affinity maturation across multiple display formats while collaborating with AI/ML and protein engineering teams.

You will drive diversity library design, execution, and downstream characterization to advance lead candidates, leveraging biophysical assays and data analysis for engineering success.

Qualifications

• PhD with 2+ years of relevant industry experience or BSc/MSc with 5+ years of direct relevant industry experience in molecular biology or related discipline.
• Hands-on experience developing and deploying display platforms for antibody discovery and improvement.
• Experience scoping, designing, and constructing diversity libraries for antibody engineering.
• Familiarity with directed evolution methods (PACE, site-directed, error-prone).

Responsibilities

• Lead display and directed evolution campaigns from library construction through screening and hit maturation.
• Expand display platform portfolio across yeast, phage, mammalian and ribosome formats.
• Screen AI/ML-designed variants and generate datasets to inform models.
• Collaborate with AI/ML and Antibody Protein Engineering teams on hit-to-lead optimization.

Skills

Display platform development

Antibody engineering

Project management

Data analysis

Communication

Education

PhD in molecular/cell biology

BSc/MSc in molecular biology

Tools

Yeast display

Phage display

Mammalian display

Ribosome display

Job description

The heart of BioLOCKEY’s strategy is the combination of novel, cutting-edge methods in machine learning, biology at scale, and next-gen antibody discovery that address long-standing industry-wide problems in the public health pipeline. BioLOCKEY uses proprietary technology enabling the rapid & diverse discovery of human antibody therapeutic candidates for a range of applications. To drive this forward, we are assembling an incredible team of discovery biologists, computational scientists, and protein scientists who want to make a difference to this important problem.

About the job

The heart of BioLOCKEY’s strategy is the combination of novel, cutting-edge methods in machine learning, biology at scale, and next-gen antibody discovery that address long-standing industry-wide problems in the public health pipeline. BioLOCKEY uses proprietary technology enabling the rapid & diverse discovery of human antibody therapeutic candidates for a range of applications. To drive this forward, we are assembling an incredible team of discovery biologists, computational scientists, and protein scientists who want to make a difference to this important problem.

Position Summary

We are seeking a Principal Scientist / Project Assistant — Display Platforms & Directed Evolution to join our dynamic team in support of our antibody engineering effort. You will lead discovery and enrichment of antibody hits through display platforms and directed evolution, and execute affinity-maturation campaigns to advance lead molecules. You will be responsible for:

Leading display and directed evolution campaigns — from library construction through screening, selection, and hit characterization — to drive discovery, enrichment, and affinity maturation of antibody candidates.

Expanding our display platform portfolio — deploying new display formats (yeast, phage, mammalian, ribosome), screening strategies for challenging targets, and diversity library approaches to enable next-generation antibody discovery.

Screening AI/ML-designed variants at scale — executing display campaigns that test ML-designed antibody variants and generate high-quality datasets to inform BioLOCKEY’s next-generation antibody design models.

Responsibilities

• Scope, build, deploy, and execute display and directed evolution campaigns (yeast, phage, mammalian, ribosome, or comparable) for hit discovery, enrichment, and affinity maturation of lead molecules — both independently and collaboratively with up- and downstream teams to achieve program goals.
• Lead the design and sourcing of diversity libraries for display campaigns — including collaboration with internal computational design and program teams, construction and QC of libraries, and scoping/outsourcing of library construction.
• Scope and deploy methods and tools to screen against challenging targets.
• Partner with AI/ML on library design and hit-to-lead optimization — executing display screens on ML-designed variants and leveraging computational models to inform display strategies.
• Partner closely with the Antibody Protein Engineering team on hit-to-lead transitions and lead-molecule optimization campaigns.
• Evaluate and integrate emerging display platforms and directed evolution methods to expand BioLOCKEY’s engineering capabilities.
• Drive and/or facilitate downstream characterization of optimized antibodies, including detailed biophysical and functional characterization.

Qualifications

• Principal Scientist (PhD + 2 + years relevant industry experience) or Project Assistant Scientist (BSc/MSc + 5 + years direct relevant industry experience) in molecular/cell biology, biochemistry, immunology, or related discipline.
• Hands-on experience developing and deploying display platforms (yeast, phage, mammalian, ribosome, or comparable) for antibody discovery and improvement.
• Hands-on experience scoping, designing, and constructing diversity libraries for antibody engineering and improvement; working understanding of current state-of-the-art methods and products regarding diversity libraries.
• Familiarity with directed evolution methods (site-directed, error-prone, CDR-walking, continuous evolution / PACE or comparable).
• Skilled in DNA assembly, cloning, cell-based assays, flow cytometry / FACS, and mammalian cell culture.
• Working understanding of biophysical antibody characterization assays (e.g., SPR, BLI, ELISA) and experience effectively using them to achieve engineering goals.
• Experience with vendor / CRO oversight for library synthesis and antibody characterization.
• Strong quantitative data analysis skills with a working understanding of statistics.
• Strong project management skills from planning to execution, with a track record of successfully driving and completing complex technical projects.
• Excellent communication skills for both technical and non-technical audiences; able to work independently and collaboratively across teams.

Bonus Experience

• Hands-on experience with continuous directed evolution (OrthoRep, PACE, or comparable).
• Hands-on experience in multiple display platforms (e.g., mammalian, ribosome, phage) and ability to make recommendations based on goal.
• Hands-on experience designing and driving pooled screening campaigns for antibody/protein engineering, including lentivirus generation, transduction, selection/enrichment strategy, and genotyping.
• Working understanding of laboratory automation platforms (e.g., Hamilton, Tecan) and how to effectively deploy them to accelerate antibody/protein engineering projects.