Project Assistant or Post-Doc (Position Opened)

We are excited to announce a new opening for a Project Assistant or Post-Doc for an ongoing project on Multiplexed Serology Surveillance. The successful candidate will play a crucial role in antigen design, generation, and validation, preparation of Luminex bead reagents, and conducting validation ELISAs.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design, generate, and validate antigens for multiplex serology surveillance.

• Prepare Luminex bead reagents as per the project requirements.

• Conduct validation ELISAs ensuring the accuracy of results.

• Analyze data, report and document results, and make modifications as necessary.

• Participate in the planning, organization, and management of the lab and research project.

• Assist in the development and optimization of standard operating procedures.

• Ensure compliance with all safety guidelines, including handling and disposal of waste according to safety procedures.

• Collaborate with the project team, providing support and coordination to achieve project objectives.

• Other duties as assigned by the Project Leader or Principal Investigator.

Qualifications:

• A Master's/PhD degree in biology, chemistry, molecular biology, or a related field.

• Prior experience working in a lab environment, preferably with Luminex or ELISA technology.

• Proficiency in handling and preparation of antigens including protein expression (bacteria, yeast or mammalian), molecular biology including cloning, protein purification, etc.

• Knowledge of standard lab safety procedures and regulations.

• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a team.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple tasks concurrently.

Preferred:

• Experience with automated liquid handing or high throughput synthetic biology.

• Experience with multiplex serology surveillance or a related project is useful but not necessary.

• GATE or CSIR-NET qualified

Salary: Based on experience and eligibility. 

Application: To apply, please submit your CV, a brief cover letter detailing your interest and qualifications for the role and contact information for two professional references. Email directly to Rahul Roy.

Job Title: Project Associate – Strategizing antiviral therapy against Flaviviruses 

Location: Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 

Position Type: Full-time 

Job Description: 

We are seeking motivated and talented graduates to join our team, to develop novel antiviral strategies against Dengue and Zika virus infection. This position offers an exciting opportunity to be part of cutting-edge research in quantitative virology, systems biology, molecular biology, and cell biology. 

You will play a key role in designing and conducting experiments to study the effects of antiviral drugs at the early life-cycle stage of flaviviral infections in mammalian cells, exploring strategies predicted by our recent work [1], while also investigating innate immune responses—specifically RIG-I and interferon signaling pathways—during these infections, to validate modeling predictions from our recent preprint [2]

[1] Chhajer H., Rizvi V. A. and Roy R., 2021. Life cycle process dependencies of positive-sense RNA viruses suggest strategies for inhibiting productive cellular infection J. R. Soc. Interface.1820210401

[2] Boddepalli R., Chhajer H. and Roy R., 2025. Integrative Modelling of Innate Immune Response Dynamics during Virus Infection. bioRxiv 2025.06.17.660089; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.06.17.660089

Key Responsibilities: 

• Culture and maintain mammalian cell lines (e.g., human and mosquito-derived) under sterile conditions for studying flaviviral infections.

• Perform and optimize viral infection assays (e.g., focus-forming unit [FFU] assays, viral growth curves) to investigate early life-cycle stages of Dengue and Zika virus replication.

• Conduct molecular and cell biology experiments such as transfections, quantitative PCR, flow cytometry, and immunofluorescence to assess the effects of antiviral drugs and virus infection on cellular processes.

• Investigate innate immune signaling responses, focusing on RIG-I and interferon pathways, to experimentally validate predictions from quantitative modeling studies [2].

• Assist in the screening and evaluation of antiviral compounds using quantitative, high-throughput approaches guided by mechanistic modeling of the flaviviral life cycle [1].

• Analyze, interpret, and present experimental data, integrating results with computational predictions to refine models of infection and immune response dynamics.

• Maintain detailed and accurate experimental records, adhering to laboratory standards for documentation and reproducibility.

• Collaborate actively within a multidisciplinary team, contributing to project discussions, troubleshooting, and data interpretation across molecular biology, virology, and systems biology efforts.

• Ensure compliance with biosafety and laboratory safety regulations, maintaining safe practices for handling infectious materials and mammalian cell cultures.

Desired Qualifications: 

• Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree or PhD in biotechnology, molecular biology, virology, microbiology, cell biology, biotechnology, or related field. 

• Experience: Previous hands-on experience in cell culture, viral assays, or related molecular biology techniques is essential. 

• Technical Skills: 

  • Expertise in culturing mammalian cells. 

  • Experience with viral infection models and assays. 

  • Proficiency in molecular biology techniques like PCR, FACS, immunostaining and other techniques are plus. 

  • Knowledge of biosafety practices when handling infectious agents. 

• Problem-solving Skills: Highly organized, detail-oriented, and capable of troubleshooting experimental challenges. 

• Collaborative Attitude: Enthusiastic about working in a multidisciplinary team and sharing scientific knowledge. 

Benefits: 

• Competitive salary as per IISc norms. 

• Opportunities for career development and advancement. 

• Access to state-of-the-art research facilities and equipment. 

• Collaborative and supportive research environment. 

How to Apply: 

Please submit your resume, a cover letter detailing your research experience and interest in viral infection studies, and contact information for two references to rahulroy@iisc.ac.in. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. 

Join us in advancing scientific knowledge on viral infections and contribute to impactful research that drives new therapeutic discoveries! 

Applications will be accepted until the position filled.

Job Title: Postdoctoral Researcher / Project Associate – Image Regression Models for Assessing Cell Phenotypic Status in Microscopy 

Location: Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 

Position Type: Full-time, 1-3 years, with possible extension 

Job Description: 

We invite applications for a highly motivated researcher with expertise in machine learning for computer vision and hands-on experience in automated microscopy instrumentation. The candidate will develop and implement image regression models to assess cellular phenotypic states from large-scale microscopy image datasets.

Key Responsibilities: 

• Develop and validate vision ML models for phenotypic classification and regression in microscopy images

• Design and optimize automated microscope setups for high-throughput parallel imaging

• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams including biologists and engineers

• Manage and analyze large microscopy datasets

Desired Qualifications: 

• Education: PhD or equivalent in Computer Science, Biomedical Engineering, Biophysics, or related fields with strong ML/vision background 

• Experience: 

  • Experience with deep learning frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch) and microscopy systems automation 

  • Strong programming skills (Python, Matlab, or equivalent)

  • Proven track record in relevant publications or projects

• Problem-solving Skills: Highly organized, detail-oriented, and capable of troubleshooting computational and experimental challenges. 

• Collaborative Attitude: Enthusiastic about working in a multidisciplinary team and sharing scientific knowledge. 

We offer: 

• A supportive and resource-rich research environment with cutting-edge microscopy tools

• Competitive salary as per IISc norms. 

• Opportunities for career development and advancement. 

• Access to state-of-the-art research facilities and equipment. 

How to Apply: 

Please submit your resume, a cover letter detailing your research experience and interest in ML and Image Analysis applications, and contact information for two references to rahulroy@iisc.ac.in. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. 

Applications will be accepted until the position filled.