Senior Research Scientist (Genetics)
Top Benefits
About the role
**Ready to build a better biological engine? We're looking for a brilliant geneticist to architect the next generation of our Drosophila expression platform and lead projects that turn ambitious science into reality.**Changing the world - one fruit fly at a time.
We’ve developed a novel insect-based expression platform that allows us to make the world’s most sustainable recombinant proteins.
We’re unleashing the next biorevolution.
At Future Fields, we are continually learning and evolving. We know we don’t have all the answers, but we try to ask all the questions. We believe in “failing forward” and leveraging our mistakes to help us grow. We never want our team to feel constrained by the status quo and we don’t judge ideas based on where they come from. We actively work to foster a culture of collaboration, innovation and psychological safety through transparency, structure, and open communication. We know it sounds cliche, but every employee really is a valued and equal member of the Future Fields team.
Come find your purpose with Future Fields.
We are a rapidly growing venture backed startup (with support from awesome investors including Bee Partners, Y Combinator, BDC Climate Tech, R7 Partners, Toyota Ventures and Amplify Capital). We’ve even had a shoutout from Ironman himself! Joining our team now means you’ll have the opportunity to shape our culture and products, to lead others, and to influence the direction of our company. Perhaps most importantly - you’ll be joining a team that is genuinely energized by this work and the meaningful potential of biotech to change the world.
About the role
The Senior Research Scientist will own the design and optimization of our EntoEngine™ genetic platform. The Senior Research Scientist will work closely with the Genetics Lead and our multidisciplinary R&D team for the development of cutting-edge protein production technologies.
This role will own :
- Leading the investigation and design of novel genetic strategies, including new plasmids and features, to enhance transgene expression in our Drosophila system.
- Planning and executing experiments for transgene expression, including designing and troubleshooting mating schemes to optimize expression and maintain genetic stability.
- Performing and overseeing routine molecular biology workflows (e.g., qPCR, Western blotting, DNA/RNA extraction, genotyping) and analyzing molecular data to validate construct performance.
- Identifying, evaluating, and leading pilot testing of new technologies and molecular approaches to improve transgene expression, stability, or throughput.
- Translating research findings into implementable projects that enhance and improve the performance of our EntoEngine™ platform.
This role will assist by:
- Mentoring and training junior team members, fostering their scientific growth and ensuring high standards of data quality and integrity.
- Supporting the Genetics Lead with strategic input on new product development and platform innovation.
- Collaborating with and providing subject matter expertise to the Protein and Insect teams to support cross-functional projects.
- Contributing to a culture of curiosity and collaboration by actively participating in scientific discussions and bringing fresh, bold ideas to the team.
This role requires a strong scientific background (PhD or MSc in life sciences) with 2+ years of hands-on experience in molecular biology or a related field, including deep expertise in recombinant protein expression and optimization. We are looking for a leader with a proven ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment and who keeps up with emerging genetic tools and techniques. A collaborative spirit and an enthusiasm for mentoring junior scientists are essential, as is the ability to seamlessly adapt and respond to shifting priorities and objectives within our interdisciplinary team.
About you
You are a passionate and curious scientist who loves to dig deep into the complexities of gene expression and feels just as comfortable setting up a qPCR as you do sketching bold new ideas on a whiteboard. You tackle ambiguity by systematically designing experiments and building on the clean data that results. As a natural leader, you are a planner who follows through but can adapt as new learnings emerge, and you are eager to mentor junior scientists, sharing your expertise to elevate the entire team. You can manage your time and projects effectively within our nimble environment, and you thrive on collaborating with in-house experts to turn your research into real-world impact.
Must haves
- PhD or MSc in life sciences with 2+ years of hands-on experience in molecular biology or a related field.
- Extensive experience with recombinant protein expression, including knowledge of gene and protein expression optimization in various systems.
- Proven ability to lead, prioritize, and manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong collaboration and interpersonal skills, with a demonstrated ability to mentor junior scientists.
- Excellent analytical and troubleshooting skills for interpreting molecular data and optimizing experimental design.
Bonus points
- Direct experience with Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism and its associated genetic tools.
- Familiarity with emerging genetic tools, high-throughput screening methods, or population genetics.
- Previous experience working in, or knowledge of, GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) production environments.
Your future (with Future Fields)
This roadmap outlines the impact you'll make as you grow with us. We'll use this as a guide for your first year, knowing that in a fast-paced environment, we'll adapt and evolve these goals together.
Within 1 month, you will:
- Integrate and Strategize: Develop a deep understanding of our EntoEngine™ platform by collaborating with the Genetics, Protein, and Insect teams. You'll map the current landscape of our expression technologies and identify the most promising targets for immediate optimization.
- Drive Initial Impact: Take an active role in ongoing projects, applying your expertise to troubleshoot challenges and begin optimizing existing genetic strategies to enhance recombinant protein expression in our Drosophila system.
Within 3 months, you will:
- Own Innovation: Take full ownership of at least one key R&D project focused on platform improvement. You will design, propose, and begin testing novel plasmid constructs and genetic features aimed at significantly boosting expression efficiency and stability.
- Lead and Collaborate: Present a comprehensive plan to the Team Lead for improving transgene expression. You will begin actively mentoring team members on experimental design and data analysis, establishing yourself as a key scientific leader.
Within 6 months, you will:
- Deliver Results: Drive your novel genetic strategies from the whiteboard into active implementation. You'll present initial performance data, lead troubleshooting efforts on the new expression systems, and iterate to ensure optimal results.
- Establish Standards: Help define and implement rigorous standards for data quality and reproducibility across team workflows. You will develop and document key protocols to support the scalability of our platform and prepare for tech transfer.
Within 1 year, you will:
- Revolutionize the Platform: Deliver a robust, enhanced expression system that is fully validated and integrated into our production pipeline. You will have worked with the Engineering team to integrate these new strains, demonstrating measurable improvements in protein yield, quality, or stability for 1-2 key constructs.
- Shape the Future: Translate your research findings into scalable tools that directly support CDMO or internal projects, solidifying your role in shaping the Genetics team’s long-term innovation strategy.
- Build the Team: Play a key role in recruiting, onboarding, and mentoring new team members, helping to grow our capabilities and foster a culture of curiosity, scientific rigour, and collaboration.
Sound like something you are interested in? Here are the next steps:
Apply online using our job portal.
If it seems like a good fit, next steps will look somewhat like this:
- We will contact you for a casual 30 minute video call.
- We will set up an interview to dive into your technical skills and motivation.
- We’ll arrange another interview to figure out how you fit with our team and culture, and better understand your career trajectory.
- We will set up a coffee chat with you and a team member. This is your chance to dig in and find out what it’s really like to work for Future Fields. This is for you!
- We will speak with two of your references to confirm our assumption that you are, in fact, our next great hire.
- We offer you a job!
We welcome applications from all qualified individuals. For international candidates, support for Canadian work authorization may be provided
Compensation
$75,000.00 - $80,000.00 per year
Senior Research Scientist (Genetics)
Top Benefits
About the role
**Ready to build a better biological engine? We're looking for a brilliant geneticist to architect the next generation of our Drosophila expression platform and lead projects that turn ambitious science into reality.**Changing the world - one fruit fly at a time.
We’ve developed a novel insect-based expression platform that allows us to make the world’s most sustainable recombinant proteins.
We’re unleashing the next biorevolution.
At Future Fields, we are continually learning and evolving. We know we don’t have all the answers, but we try to ask all the questions. We believe in “failing forward” and leveraging our mistakes to help us grow. We never want our team to feel constrained by the status quo and we don’t judge ideas based on where they come from. We actively work to foster a culture of collaboration, innovation and psychological safety through transparency, structure, and open communication. We know it sounds cliche, but every employee really is a valued and equal member of the Future Fields team.
Come find your purpose with Future Fields.
We are a rapidly growing venture backed startup (with support from awesome investors including Bee Partners, Y Combinator, BDC Climate Tech, R7 Partners, Toyota Ventures and Amplify Capital). We’ve even had a shoutout from Ironman himself! Joining our team now means you’ll have the opportunity to shape our culture and products, to lead others, and to influence the direction of our company. Perhaps most importantly - you’ll be joining a team that is genuinely energized by this work and the meaningful potential of biotech to change the world.
About the role
The Senior Research Scientist will own the design and optimization of our EntoEngine™ genetic platform. The Senior Research Scientist will work closely with the Genetics Lead and our multidisciplinary R&D team for the development of cutting-edge protein production technologies.
This role will own :
- Leading the investigation and design of novel genetic strategies, including new plasmids and features, to enhance transgene expression in our Drosophila system.
- Planning and executing experiments for transgene expression, including designing and troubleshooting mating schemes to optimize expression and maintain genetic stability.
- Performing and overseeing routine molecular biology workflows (e.g., qPCR, Western blotting, DNA/RNA extraction, genotyping) and analyzing molecular data to validate construct performance.
- Identifying, evaluating, and leading pilot testing of new technologies and molecular approaches to improve transgene expression, stability, or throughput.
- Translating research findings into implementable projects that enhance and improve the performance of our EntoEngine™ platform.
This role will assist by:
- Mentoring and training junior team members, fostering their scientific growth and ensuring high standards of data quality and integrity.
- Supporting the Genetics Lead with strategic input on new product development and platform innovation.
- Collaborating with and providing subject matter expertise to the Protein and Insect teams to support cross-functional projects.
- Contributing to a culture of curiosity and collaboration by actively participating in scientific discussions and bringing fresh, bold ideas to the team.
This role requires a strong scientific background (PhD or MSc in life sciences) with 2+ years of hands-on experience in molecular biology or a related field, including deep expertise in recombinant protein expression and optimization. We are looking for a leader with a proven ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment and who keeps up with emerging genetic tools and techniques. A collaborative spirit and an enthusiasm for mentoring junior scientists are essential, as is the ability to seamlessly adapt and respond to shifting priorities and objectives within our interdisciplinary team.
About you
You are a passionate and curious scientist who loves to dig deep into the complexities of gene expression and feels just as comfortable setting up a qPCR as you do sketching bold new ideas on a whiteboard. You tackle ambiguity by systematically designing experiments and building on the clean data that results. As a natural leader, you are a planner who follows through but can adapt as new learnings emerge, and you are eager to mentor junior scientists, sharing your expertise to elevate the entire team. You can manage your time and projects effectively within our nimble environment, and you thrive on collaborating with in-house experts to turn your research into real-world impact.
Must haves
- PhD or MSc in life sciences with 2+ years of hands-on experience in molecular biology or a related field.
- Extensive experience with recombinant protein expression, including knowledge of gene and protein expression optimization in various systems.
- Proven ability to lead, prioritize, and manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong collaboration and interpersonal skills, with a demonstrated ability to mentor junior scientists.
- Excellent analytical and troubleshooting skills for interpreting molecular data and optimizing experimental design.
Bonus points
- Direct experience with Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism and its associated genetic tools.
- Familiarity with emerging genetic tools, high-throughput screening methods, or population genetics.
- Previous experience working in, or knowledge of, GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) production environments.
Your future (with Future Fields)
This roadmap outlines the impact you'll make as you grow with us. We'll use this as a guide for your first year, knowing that in a fast-paced environment, we'll adapt and evolve these goals together.
Within 1 month, you will:
- Integrate and Strategize: Develop a deep understanding of our EntoEngine™ platform by collaborating with the Genetics, Protein, and Insect teams. You'll map the current landscape of our expression technologies and identify the most promising targets for immediate optimization.
- Drive Initial Impact: Take an active role in ongoing projects, applying your expertise to troubleshoot challenges and begin optimizing existing genetic strategies to enhance recombinant protein expression in our Drosophila system.
Within 3 months, you will:
- Own Innovation: Take full ownership of at least one key R&D project focused on platform improvement. You will design, propose, and begin testing novel plasmid constructs and genetic features aimed at significantly boosting expression efficiency and stability.
- Lead and Collaborate: Present a comprehensive plan to the Team Lead for improving transgene expression. You will begin actively mentoring team members on experimental design and data analysis, establishing yourself as a key scientific leader.
Within 6 months, you will:
- Deliver Results: Drive your novel genetic strategies from the whiteboard into active implementation. You'll present initial performance data, lead troubleshooting efforts on the new expression systems, and iterate to ensure optimal results.
- Establish Standards: Help define and implement rigorous standards for data quality and reproducibility across team workflows. You will develop and document key protocols to support the scalability of our platform and prepare for tech transfer.
Within 1 year, you will:
- Revolutionize the Platform: Deliver a robust, enhanced expression system that is fully validated and integrated into our production pipeline. You will have worked with the Engineering team to integrate these new strains, demonstrating measurable improvements in protein yield, quality, or stability for 1-2 key constructs.
- Shape the Future: Translate your research findings into scalable tools that directly support CDMO or internal projects, solidifying your role in shaping the Genetics team’s long-term innovation strategy.
- Build the Team: Play a key role in recruiting, onboarding, and mentoring new team members, helping to grow our capabilities and foster a culture of curiosity, scientific rigour, and collaboration.
Sound like something you are interested in? Here are the next steps:
Apply online using our job portal.
If it seems like a good fit, next steps will look somewhat like this:
- We will contact you for a casual 30 minute video call.
- We will set up an interview to dive into your technical skills and motivation.
- We’ll arrange another interview to figure out how you fit with our team and culture, and better understand your career trajectory.
- We will set up a coffee chat with you and a team member. This is your chance to dig in and find out what it’s really like to work for Future Fields. This is for you!
- We will speak with two of your references to confirm our assumption that you are, in fact, our next great hire.
- We offer you a job!
We welcome applications from all qualified individuals. For international candidates, support for Canadian work authorization may be provided
Compensation
$75,000.00 - $80,000.00 per year