Functional Genomics & Functional Validation Researcher

Mikrogen; Turkey; On-site; TRY 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Mikrogen Genetic Diagnosis Center is seeking a PhD-level researcher to join the team of its Translational Genomics and Advanced Therapeutic Technologies Leading R&D Laboratory under the TÜBİTAK 1515 Programme.

The researcher will focus on the functional characterization of genetic variants, disease mechanisms and candidate molecular targets, linking genomic findings with experimental evidence through cell-based and molecular assays.

Qualifications

• PhD in Molecular Biology and Genetics or related field.
• Strong hands-on experience in functional genomics and cellular assays.
• Experience in experimental investigation of genetic variants or disease mechanisms.
• Proficiency with qPCR, RT-PCR, Western blotting, immunofluorescence, flow cytometry and cell culture.
• Experience in mammalian cell culture and experimental model development.
• Ability to independently design experiments, interpret results and troubleshoot workflows.
• Strong understanding of gene function, molecular pathways and genotype–phenotype relationships.
• Scientific publication record.

Responsibilities

• Designing and performing functional studies for candidate genetic variants.
• Investigating molecular and cellular consequences of disease-associated variants.
• Developing and applying cell-based functional assays.
• Establishing experimental models for rare and genetic diseases.
• Contributing to variant interpretation and reclassification, including VUS when relevant.
• Collaborating with clinical genomics and bioinformatics teams.
• Contributing to national and international R&D projects and publications.

Skills

Molecular biology

Functional genomics

Cell biology

Genotype–phenotype relations

Scientific publications

Education

PhD in Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cell Biology or related field

Tools

qPCR

RT-PCR

Western blotting

Immunofluorescence

Flow cytometry

Cell culture

Job description

Organisation/Company Mikrogen Research Field Biological sciences » Other Researcher Profile Established Researcher (R3) Positions Other Positions Application Deadline 10 Nov 2026 - 14:43 (Africa/Abidjan) Country Türkiye Type of Contract Permanent Job Status Full-time Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Functional Genomics & Functional Validation Researcher

Mikrogen Genetic Diagnosis Center is seeking a PhD-level researcher to join the research team of its planned Translational Genomics and Advanced Therapeutic Technologies Leading R&D Laboratory under the TÜBİTAK 1515 Programme.

The researcher will focus on the functional characterization of genetic variants, disease mechanisms and candidate molecular targets, linking genomic findings with experimental evidence through cell-based and molecular assays.

Main Responsibilities

• Designing and performing functional studies for candidate genetic variants
• Investigating the molecular and cellular consequences of disease-associated variants
• Developing and applying cell-based functional assays
• Establishing experimental models for rare and genetic diseases
• Contributing to the functional interpretation and reclassification of variants, including VUS
• Working with patient-derived cells and, where appropriate, engineered cellular models
• Supporting studies aimed at identifying disease mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets
• Designing experimental validation strategies in collaboration with clinical genomics and bioinformatics teams
• Contributing to national and international R&D projects, scientific publications and patentable research output

Requirements

Research Field Biological sciences Education Level Master Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• PhD in Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cell Biology, Medical Biology, Genetics, Biotechnology, Biomedical Sciences or a closely related field
• Strong hands-on experience in functional genomics, molecular biology or cellular functional assays
• Experience in experimental investigation of genetic variants or disease mechanisms
• Advanced experience with techniques such as qPCR, RT-PCR, Western blotting, immunofluorescence, flow cytometry and cell culture
• Experience in mammalian cell culture and experimental model development
• Ability to independently design experiments, interpret results and troubleshoot experimental workflows
• Strong understanding of gene function, molecular pathways and genotype–phenotype relationships
• Scientific publication experience

Specific Requirements

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in rare disease functional studies
• Experience with patient-derived cells, primary cells, iPSC or disease models
• Experience in CRISPR/Cas or other genome-editing approaches
• Experience with RNA studies, splicing assays or transcript-level functional analyses
• Experience in functional assessment of variants of uncertain significance (VUS)
• Familiarity with NGS-derived genomic findings and clinical variant interpretation
• Experience in gene/RNA-based therapeutic research
• Participation in national or international funded R&D projects
• Experience working in multidisciplinary teams combining genetics, bioinformatics and cellular biology