Scientist 2

Illumina; Singapore; On-site; SGD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Illumina Singapore is seeking a Scientist 2 in Reagent Sciences to drive development of stabilised reagents and lyophilization processes for sequencing platforms. You will work in a multidisciplinary team to advance quality, performance and robustness of consumables used in NGS workflows.

The role requires independent experimental execution, data interpretation, and strong collaboration with international colleagues.

Qualifications

• Lab proficiency and ability to perform advanced experiments with proper controls.
• Ability to interpret complex experimental data and draw conclusions.
• Strong cross-disciplinary collaboration and effective communication.

Responsibilities

• Design and perform moderate to advanced experiments using a broad range of techniques.
• Summarize results, report conclusions, and suggest follow-up experiments.
• Document observations in lab notebooks and confluence pages.
• Take responsibility for lab processes and equipment ownership.
• Write technical reports and communicate effectively to leadership.
• Collaborate in multidisciplinary teams to improve reagents and platforms.
• Apply statistical methods to drive decisions in experiments.

Skills

Lab Proficiency

Experimental Design

Data Interpretation

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Communication

Education

B.Sc./B.Eng. in Biochemistry/Biochemical Chem Eng/Biomaterial

Job description

What if the work you did every day could impact the lives of people you know? Or all of humanity? At Illumina, we are expanding access to genomic technology to realize health equity for billions of people around the world. Our efforts enable life-changing discoveries that are transforming human health through the early detection and diagnosis of diseases and new treatment options for patients. Working at Illumina means being part of something bigger than yourself. Every person, in every role, has the opportunity to make a difference. Surrounded by extraordinary people, inspiring leaders, and world changing projects, you will do more and become more than you ever thought possible.

Position Summary:

Illumina develop the world’s leading next generation DNA sequencing platforms (NGS) which are revolutionizing industries such as healthcare, life sciences, forensics, agro-sciences and clinical research to name a few. Due to Illumina’s drastic growth, there is a growing need for scientists who can apply innovative ideas to the development of our current reagents and formulations. In Singapore, the Reagent Sciences team is tasked to innovate and collaborate with our international team of experts to further improve the stability, performance and robustness of our consumable reagents. We are currently recruiting for a Scientist 2 in our Reagent Sciences team, who is keen to be part of our culture of constantly pushing forward the boundaries of science and technology to benefit human health. The successful candidate will carry out scientific R&D in the field of reagent stabilization, including reagent formulation development and lyophilization process characterization to enhance and improve the reagents used in our NGS and microarray consumables.

Position Responsibilities:

As a Scientist 2 within Illumina’s Reagent Sciences team, you will work as part of a multi-disciplinary research and development team to create new sequencing methods and further Illumina’s technology. You will play an important role in the research and development of new reagents and sequencing consumables with the world-class performance, stability, and robustness characteristics that our customers require. Scientist 2 employees are expected to be able to execute experiments autonomously and be technically proficient. They should be able to execute assigned tasks with oversight as well as troubleshoot procedural problems that may arise. In addition, learning new skills or proposing novel solutions are strongly encouraged. As a junior scientist of the Reagent Sciences (Singapore) team, you will collaboratively drive the design and development of high-quality consumable reagents for Illumina sequencing platforms. As Illumina technology continues to grow, you will be a key contributor within multidisciplinary teams tasked to enhance performance and robustness across our entire reagent platform. Your colleagues will count on your technical proficiency and ability to work in multidisciplinary teams to solve complex problems and work on reagent stability issues. You will leverage your experience in biochemistry, enzymology or biochemical engineering to determine the critical parameters for reagents function, stability, and performance, particularly for enzyme-based reagents.

• Under supervision, designs and performs experiments of moderate to advanced complexity using a broad array of physical and chemical techniques
• Summarizes and reports consistent conclusions, and generates recommendations for follow up experiments and may suggest alternate strategies
• Makes detailed technical observations and documents them in laboratory notebooks and confluence pages, etc.
• Take responsibilities for lab processes such as equipment ownership and contribute towards the successful lab operations
• Write technical reports and communicate effectively to local leadership
• Be a strong team member within multi-disciplinary teams
• Employ and explain statistical methods to drive decisions

Listed responsibilities are an essential, but not exhaustive list, of the usual duties associated with the position. Changes to individual responsibilities may occur due to business needs.

Position Requirements:

• Highly proficient, productive, and effective in the lab
• Able to understand and execute moderate to advanced complexity experiments containing appropriate controls to anticipate potential problems; able to troubleshoot issues as needed
• Able to understand conclusions from complex experiment data sets
• Strong ability to collaborate across multiple disciplines with team members and stakeholders
• Communicate effectively in various environments with different stakeholders; tailoring communications and presentations as necessary

All listed requirements are deemed as essential functions to this position; however, business conditions may require reasonable accommodations for additional task and responsibilities.

Preferred Experience/Education/Skills:

• B.Sc./B.Eng. in a relevant field such as biochemistry, biochemical/chemical engineering, biomaterial or equivalent is required
• Work experience in biochemical, pharma, chemical or equivalent industries preferred
• Experience of operating pilot-scale or large lab-scale processes in lyophilization or large scale (20 litres or above) cell culture (fermentation) is an advantage
• Understanding of protein biochemistry, engineering and structure is a plus
• Experience with Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) is not required but is a plus

We are a company deeply rooted in belonging, promoting an inclusive environment where employees feel valued and empowered to contribute to our mission. Built on a strong foundation, Illumina has always prioritized openness, collaboration, and seeking alternative perspectives to propel innovation in genomics. We are proud to confirm a zero-net gap in pay, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or race. We also have several Employee Resource Groups (ERG) that deliver career development experiences, increase cultural awareness, and offer opportunities to engage in social responsibility. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to providing employment opportunity regardless of sex, race, creed, color, gender, religion, marital status, domestic partner status, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, pregnancy, military or veteran status, citizenship status, and genetic information. Illumina conducts background checks on applicants for whom a conditional offer of employment has been made. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with applicable local, state, and federal laws. Background check results may potentially result in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment. The background check process and any decisions made as a result shall be made in accordance with all applicable local, state, and federal laws. Illumina prohibits the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in the application and interview process. If you require accommodation to complete the application or interview process, please contact [e-mail]. To learn more, visit: https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf. The position will be posted until a final candidate is selected or the requisition has a sufficient number of qualified applicants. This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship. The potential of genomics to change the world is unparalleled. At Illumina, we are leading the way. Our technology empowers researchers and clinicians globally to improve cancer treatments, change the course of diseases, protect the environment, and fight food insecurity. We are made up of dedicated professionals, all-in on creating a better world – and we need every skill set on our path to making genomics useful for all. Learn more about life at Illumina.