R & D Specialist to Readily

People Value; Uppsala kommun; On-site; SEK 750,000 - 1,100,000; Full time

Job summary

Readily Diagnostics in Uppsala is seeking an R&D Specialist to lead molecular development for rapid diagnostics. You will select targets, design assays and verify performance, integrating sample prep with a point-of-care device.

You’ll work with experienced Readily experts and collaborate with engineering, production and QA/RA to ensure robust, production-ready results. The role reports to the COO within the R&D / Product Development team, and involves a fixed-term project with opportunities for

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years’ experience of molecular assay development and applied research in an interdisciplinary setting.
• Solid skills in molecular biology techniques, assay optimization, experimental design and data analysis.
• Good documentation practice and clear technical writing.
• Structured, curious and comfortable moving between literature, the computer and the lab bench.
• Fluency in both Swedish and English, written and spoken.

Responsibilities

• Select and evaluate genomic targets based on literature and discussions with experts in the field.
• Design and optimize molecular assays against the selected targets.
• Test performance of the assay in silico and in the wet lab using appropriate genomic materials.
• Translate bench-based protocols into robust, miniaturized workflows compatible with the finished device.
• Combine sample preparation with the molecular assay and the point-of-care device.
• Plan and execute experiments to verify assay function, sensitivity and specificity through the development phases.
• Analyze and interpret experimental data, summarize findings and propose next steps.
• Support iterative development and improvement of protocols together with R&D, Production and QA.

Skills

Molecular biology

Assay optimization

Experimental design

Data analysis

Documentation

Swedish and English

Education

MSc or PhD preferred

Job description

About Readily

Readily Diagnostics is an Uppsala-based in vitro diagnostics (IVD) company developing a platform for rapid molecular diagnostics at the point of care. We are a small, hands-on team of scientists and engineers moving from research and prototyping toward pilot production and regulated product development under ISO 13485 and IVDR, working closely with Uppsala University, Karolinska Institutet, SciLifeLab and the Uppsala life science ecosystem.

The role

We are recruiting an R & D Specialist to join a cross-functional project developing a rapid molecular test for three pathogens and their antimicrobial resistance (AMR) markers, combining sample preparation, our molecular assay and a point-of-care device.

You will be part of the molecular development team and work through the whole chain: establishing sample preparation, identifying the best genomic targets for recognition, designing the assay and verifying its performance, and finally bringing the assay together with sample preparation in the finished product. You will work alongside experienced Readily experts and closely with our engineering, production and QA/RA colleagues, so that what you develop at the bench is robust, reproducible and ready for transfer to production.

The role reports to the COO and is placed in our R&D / Product Development team.

What you will do

Molecular development

• Select and evaluate genomic targets based on literature and discussions with experts in the field
• Design and optimize molecular assays against the selected targets
• Test performance of the assay in silico and in the wet lab using appropriate genomic materials
• Translate bench-based protocols into robust, miniaturized workflows compatible with the finished device

Integration and validation

• Combine sample preparation with the molecular assay and the point-of-care device
• Plan and execute experiments to verify assay function, sensitivity and specificity through the development phases
• Analyze and interpret experimental data, summarize findings and propose next steps
• Support iterative development and improvement of protocols together with R&D, Production and QA

Production readiness

• Document methods and control points according to quality standards to support technology and design transfer
• Contribute to material specifications and QC steps for molecular reagents and device components

Documentation and collaboration

• Author protocols, test plans and verification reports in line with our quality management system
• Participate in risk assessments from a molecular science perspective
• Contribute to project meetings, design reviews and discussions with internal and external partners

Who you are

• University degree in molecular biology, biotechnology or a related discipline – MSc or PhD is an advantage
• Minimum 5 years’ experience of molecular assay development and applied research in an interdisciplinary setting
• Solid skills in molecular biology techniques, assay optimization, experimental design and data analysis
• Good documentation practice and clear technical writing
• Structured, curious and comfortable moving between the literature, the computer and the lab bench
• Fluency in both Swedish and English, written and spoken, is required for this position.

It is a merit if you have experience of:

• Padlock probes, rolling circle amplification or related nucleic acid detection chemistries
• Antimicrobial resistance markers or clinical microbiology
• Assay miniaturization, lab-on-chip formats or design transfer to production
• Medical device R&D under ISO 13485, IVDR or 21 CFR Part 820, including design control and risk management (ISO 14971)

What we offer

• A clearly defined scientific role in a funded project with a concrete goal
• Direct influence on a product from target selection to point-of-care test
• Short decision paths and an interdisciplinary team of scientists and engineers
• The opportunity to build experience in regulated IVD development and technology transfer

Application

This is a fixed-term project position of 12 months with the possibility of extension, full-time, based in Uppsala.