R&D Scientist – Aptamer Chemistry

Job Description

Genepika is dedicated to advancing genetics‑related research, engineering, and product development. Innovations in the field of molecular biology over recent decades have revolutionized the capabilities of genetic tools available to researchers. Applications such as gene editing and drug discovery have extensively explored the potential of oligonucleotide technology for advancing healthcare. One promising application for genetic technology is the development of novel diagnostic tools, significantly accelerated by the onset of the COVID‑19 pandemic. The widespread authorizations of point‑of‑care (POC) diagnostic platforms have demonstrated their importance in resource‑scarce settings and in streamlining clinical services. Clinical data shows that early detection of health conditions via POC devices can greatly improve success rates of treatments, despite these devices having lower sensitivity and accuracy compared to traditional laboratory diagnostics. Although scaled manufacturing of complex POC diagnostic devices remains challenging, there is an opportunity to develop more scalable molecular platforms to increase the public access to these technologies.

At Genepika we believe it is crucial to improve public access and, more importantly, understanding of these affordable molecular technologies and their capabilities. Therefore, we are committed to building a new generation of molecular diagnostic devices for consumer applications, bringing the benefits of rapid diagnostics to everyday life. We are seeking an R&D Scientist with extensive experience in developing diagnostic biosensors to join our growing team. As an R&D Scientist, you will be responsible for developing new aptamer oligonucleotides and modifying aptamer sequences. The role will focus on applying various synthetic chemistry techniques to synthesize and optimize aptamer characteristics for varying platform technology, as well as developing new protocols to scale aptamer production and functionalization. They will also be working with other team members on the commercialization of aptamer diagnostic technology.

Required Qualifications

• MUST have PhD with relevant thesis topics in aptamer chemistry


• MUST have experience working with SELEX, aptamer characterization, and aptamer sequence optimization, as well as aptamer conjugation chemistry


• Ideal to have hands‑on experience with diagnostic assay development and optimization, particularly in industrial settings


• Understanding of quality control practices and GMP biomanufacturing processes for nucleic acid products


• Able to design and conduct experiments to meet development objectives with minimal supervision


• Demonstrated excellence in data analysis and research communication through academic publication records and conference presentations

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous commercialization experiences with aptamer products


• Previous experience optimizing aptamers for various diagnostic platforms


• Previous experience optimizing molecular binding‑kinetics


• Working knowledge of industrial‑scale nucleic acid product production


• Familiar with ISO13485 standards

Other Requirements

• This is a full‑time in‑person position; candidates must be able to commute to the lab location in the GTA (York University)


• Candidates must be able to adapt quickly to changing priorities in a startup environment

Thank you for your interest in Genepika, however at this point only candidates who satisfy the Required Qualifications will be considered.