Remote Principal Scientist, Molecular Diagnostics

Placements24; East London; Hybrid; ZAR 2,874,000 - 4,470,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Fully remote

Health insurance

Professional development

Conferences funding

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Principal Research Scientist in Molecular Diagnostics to lead remote research efforts, drive discovery, development and validation of novel diagnostic assays, and mentor teams across collaborations with internal and external partners. The role emphasizes strategic thinking and patient-focused impact in a fully remote capacity.

The candidate will oversee design and validation of assays (PCR, sequencing, immunoassay), biomarker discovery, and regulatory alignment, while

Qualifications

• PhD in a life-science discipline required.
• 10+ years in molecular diagnostics R&D with proven assay development.
• Experience biomarker discovery and validation for diagnostics.
• Strong leadership and remote mentoring capabilities.
• Solid understanding of assay validation and regulatory requirements (FDA, CE-IVD).

Responsibilities

• Lead design, development, and optimization of molecular diagnostic assays.
• Identify and validate biomarkers for early disease detection.
• Oversee analytical and clinical validation with sensitivity and specificity.
• Collaborate with bioinformaticians, clinicians, and regulatory experts.
• Manage remote research projects, timelines, and team supervision.

Skills

Molecular diagnostics

Assay development

Biomarker discovery

Leadership

Regulatory knowledge

Education

PhD in Molecular Biology

Tools

PCR

Sequencing

Probe design

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a Principal Research Scientist in Molecular Diagnostics to lead remote research efforts, drive discovery, development and validation of novel diagnostic assays, and mentor teams across collaborations with internal and external partners. The role emphasizes strategic thinking and patient-focused impact in a fully remote capacity.

The candidate will oversee design and validation of assays (PCR, sequencing, immunoassay), biomarker discovery, and regulatory alignment, while