Scientist/Senior Scientist, RNA Analytical Development – Singapore

Planet Pharma; Singapore; On-site; SGD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Planet Pharma is seeking a highly innovative scientific leader to establish analytical development across RNA modalities, including raw materials, DS, and DP. You will design phase-appropriate strategies to enable scalable workflows for LNPs and conjugated oligos, ensuring data integrity and regulatory readiness.

You will apply QbD to define CQAs, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and build robust SOPs, validations, and documentation aligned to IND-enabling programs.

Qualifications

• PhD in Analytical Chemistry or related field.
• 4+ years (Scientist) or 8+ years (Senior Scientist) in analytical development for nucleic acid therapeutics.
• Hands-on experience with multiscale purification methods and enabling analytical tools/instruments.
• Deep understanding of LC-MS, LC-HRMS, CE-SDS, DSC, HIC, NMR and related analytical workflows for RNA materials, DS, DP.

Responsibilities

• Develop phase-appropriate analytical strategy for RNA materials, DS, and DP.
• Select and implement analytical workflows using orthogonal techniques to support platform development.
• Apply Quality by Design to define CQAs and ensure method robustness and throughput.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align analytics with product development goals.

Skills

Analytical Chemistry

Purification Methods

LC-MS Workflows

High Throughput

Cross-functional

Regulatory Awareness

Troubleshooting

Communication Skills

Education

PhD in Analytical Chemistry

Tools

HPLC

LC-MS

CE

UV Spectroscopy

qPCR

DLS

TEM

RP-HPLC

Ion-Exchange

SEC

NMR

HIC

DSC

TFF

LIMS/ELN

Job description

Position Overview

We seek a highly innovative and results-driven scientific leader with deep expertise spanning multiple RNA modalities to establish the analytical development processes. This role is instrumental in establishing and executing phase-appropriate analytical strategies for raw materials (e.g., novel lipids, targeting ligands, pDNA), drug substances (DS) spanning mRNA and synthetic oligonucleotides (e.g., ASO, siRNA, gRNA), and drug products (DP) (e.g., conjugated oligonucleotides). The successful candidate will establish robust, scalable, and phase-appropriate analytical workflows to support platform scalability and pipeline programs. This role is critical to ensuring quality materials are developed and utilized across NATi's translational programs.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a phase-appropriate analytical characterization strategy for raw materials (e.g., novel lipids, targeting ligands, pDNA), drug substances (e.g., mRNA, ASO, siRNA, gRNA), and drug products (e.g., LNP, conjugated oligonucleotides).
• Select and implement phase-appropriate analytical workflows for RNA raw materials, DS, DP using orthogonal techniques (e.g., HPLC, LC-MS, CE, UV spectroscopy, qPCR, DLS, TEM) to support platform development and pipeline programs.
• ApplyQuality by Design (QbD)principles to define critical quality attributes (CQAs) and ensure method robustness, scalability, and phase-appropriate throughput.
• Collaborate with cross-functional project teams to align analytical strategies with product development goals.
• Develop and maintain SOPs, method validation plans, and analytical documentation in compliance with industry standards and regulatory expectations.
• Maintain accurate records using LIMS/ELN systems to support data integrity and reproducibility.
• Prepare technical reports, presentations, and documentation to update project teams and stakeholders.
• Stay current with emerging analytical technologies and regulatory trends in RNA characterization.

Qualifications & Experience

• A doctorate degree in Analytical Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or a related field.
• A minimum of +4 (Scientist) or +8 (Senior Scientist) years of hands-on experience in analytical development for nucleic acid therapeutics in pharmaceutical or biotechnology organizations.
• Hands-on experience with multiscale purification methods (e.g., preparative RP-HPLC, affinity, ion-exchange, hydrophobic interaction, and size exclusion chromatography, tangential flow filtration) and the enabling analytical tools/instruments.
• Deep understanding of multiple analytical techniques (e.g., LC-MS, LC-HRMS, CE-SDS, DSC, HIC, NMR) coupled with hands-on experience developing analytical workflows for robust characterization of RNA raw materials, DS, and DP.
• Hands-on experience developing and executing LC-MS workflows to perform in-process and final QC of modified oligonucleotides and ligand-oligo conjugates (e.g., GalNAc, cholesterol, fatty acids) to support multiple pipeline programs
• Demonstrated experience establishing automated high throughput analytical capabilities to achieve high synthetic throughput.
• Familiarity with regulatory expectations for analytical method validation and CMC documentation in support of IND-enabling studies is strongly desired.
• A dependable contributor to cross-functional teams who embraces a collaborative culture while demonstrating the autonomy and initiative required to deliver on assigned scientific and operational responsibilities.
• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot complex scientific problems and adapt to shifting priorities in a fast-paced, quality-driven environment.
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and verbal/written communication skills.