Sr. Scientist: Functional Genomics & Genome Editing

About the Role
The Center of Excellence for Abiotic Resilience and Crop Genomics (ARC-Gen) is a partnership aiming to develop a world-class research facility focused on enhancing the ability of crops to withstand extreme conditions such as heat, drought, and salinity. As a Senior Scientist in Gene Editing, you will play a pivotal role in managing research projects that support the establishment of a Gene Editing Research Unit. Your work will directly contribute to global priorities such as food security, sustainable agriculture, and climate resilience.

Key Responsibilities
Functional

• Explore and adopt state-of-the-art technologies in genome editing.
• Optimize protocols for gene delivery in the company's strategic vegetable crops.
• Design and conduct experiments to test, validate, and apply editing strategies using CRISPR/Cas9 and other genetic engineering tools.
• Contribute to functional genomics studies to elucidate gene functions and regulatory networks related to abiotic stresses.
• Collaborate with experts across disciplines (cell biology, genomics, bioinformatics, trait development, and pre-breeding) to deliver an integrated genomics pipeline.
• Work with Biotechnology experts to consolidate, analyze, and interpret experimental data for meaningful conclusions.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate improved CRISPR tools into various projects and applications.
• Prepare detailed reports and presentations to communicate results to internal teams and end users.
• Participate in collaborations and engage with external partners.
• Foster a collaborative and innovative research environment.

Project Leadership & Management

• Propose, design, and manage research projects independently.
• Act as an expert in your domain and collaborate across research areas for timely delivery.
• Drive innovation and continuous improvement to accelerate research processes.
• Ensure efficient transfer of deliverables and know-how to end users.

People Management

• Mentor and supervise lab technicians.

Stakeholder Management
Key Internal Stakeholders

• All Sectors, Departments, and Offices.
• Any other concerned internal stakeholders as required.

Key External Stakeholders

• Concerned government, semi-government, and private sector entities.
• Any other concerned external stakeholders as required.

Required Qualification
Academic Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Plant Cell Biology, Plant Biotechnology, or a related field.
• Fluent in English.

Professional Experience

• Minimum of 8+ years professional experience.
• Demonstrated expertise in CRISPR/Cas technology and genome editing tools.
• Proficiency in bioinformatics tools & analysis (end-to-end: guide RNA design, edition efficiency and accuracy, and off-target analysis).
• Proven track record in developing and optimizing genome editing techniques.
• Excellent problem-solving and data analysis skills.
• Expertise in molecular biology, genetic engineering, molecular cloning, and bioinformatics analysis.
• Knowledge of regulatory constraints and quality processes.
• Experience with in vitro plant culture (monocots and dicots) is a plus.

Competencies
Technical Competencies

• Advanced CRISPR/Cas Engineering: Designing and validating precise editing strategies (CRISPR/Cas9, base/prime editing) for crop improvement.
• Gene Delivery Optimization: Mastering transformation techniques like Agrobacterium or biolistic to deliver editing tools into plant cells.
• Functional Genomics & Abiotic Stress: Identifying and manipulating gene regulatory networks to enhance heat, drought, and salinity tolerance.
• Bioinformatics & Data Integration: Collaborating with biostatisticians to analyze sequencing data and interpret complex genomic results.
• Integrated R&D Pipeline Management: Managing the full transition of edited traits from lab-scale proof of concept to pre-breeding applications.