Molecular Biology Experts - UK

What you would do

• Create domain-relevant molecular biology problems based on your actual research and experimental work
• Develop complete, well-documented solutions demonstrating correct design rationale and experimental strategy
• Evaluate AI-generated molecular designs and tasks for biological accuracy and design feasibility
• Author rubrics that define quality standards for primer selection, CRISPR targeting, codon optimization, and cloning strategy
• Provide structured feedback explaining where molecular reasoning falls short or exceeds professional standards

Who they want

• PhD or advanced degree (preferred) in molecular and genetic sciences, biochemistry, bioengineering, or related life science disciplines
• Hands-on experience designing nucleic acid constructs (primers, plasmids, gRNAs, mRNA, HDR templates) including cloning strategy and codon optimization.
• Strong publication track record with first-author contributions to premier journals in molecular biology and biochemistry
• Clear career progression demonstrated in your field
• Reliable commitment to minimum 20 hours weekly on weekdays; prior AI training, model evaluation, or data annotation experience is advantageous

What the interview asks about

1. 1.Primer design and PCR optimization

   Incorrect primer melting temperatures or specificity lead to failed PCR reactions, so understanding thermodynamic prediction and avoiding off-targets is fundamental to molecular design.

   For example: “Design two primers for a 800bp PCR amplicon in a gene with multiple paralogous sequences. Explain how you'd ensure specificity, what Tm range you'd target, and how you'd test your design choices computationally.”

2. 2.CRISPR-Cas9 guide RNA design and off-target prediction

   Off-target CRISPR editing causes unintended mutations that compromise experimental interpretation, so rigorous target selection and specificity assessment is critical to reliable designs.

   For example: “You need to knock out a human gene using CRISPR-Cas9. Describe your process for selecting among multiple putative guide sequences, including how you'd evaluate off-target potential and predict cutting efficiency.”

3. 3.Homology-directed repair template engineering

   HDR template design directly affects knockout or knock-in efficiency; incorrect homology arm length or incorrect positioning of inserted sequences leads to failed edits or unintended recombination.

   For example: “Design an HDR template to insert a fluorescent protein at the endogenous locus of a gene. What homology arm lengths would you use, how would you position the insert, and how would you verify the design computationally?”

4. 4.mRNA construct design and regulatory elements

   Therapeutic mRNA requires careful attention to UTR sequences, secondary structure, and codon usage; poor design reduces expression or triggers innate immunity, making engineering choices material.

   For example: “Design an mRNA construct encoding a secreted protein intended for intramuscular injection. Explain your choices for UTRs, codon optimization, and any modifications you'd include to enhance stability and translation.”

5. 5.Cloning strategy and vector selection

   Choosing between Gibson assembly, Golden Gate, Gateway, and restriction-based cloning affects success rates and design efficiency; competent researchers articulate tradeoffs explicitly.

   For example: “You need to clone a 4kb insert into a plasmid with multiple constraint regions. Evaluate whether Gibson assembly or Golden Gate would be more appropriate and justify your choice based on the construct complexity.”

A task you may get

Design a CRISPR-based knockout construct targeting a specific human gene, including guide RNA sequences with justification, HDR template with homology arms, and a rubric defining what constitutes a high-quality off-target prediction and design validation.

How to prepare

• Review 2-3 of your published papers involving nucleic acid design and extract the design rationale, constraints, and validation approaches for each construct
• Practice explaining a complex cloning strategy or guide RNA selection from your research as if teaching a graduate student with minimal synthetic biology background
• Identify common design errors you've encountered in your field (e.g., inappropriate Tm, off-target risk, poor codon usage) and write clear explanations of why each is problematic
• Draft a detailed rubric for evaluating guide RNA quality, covering target specificity, predicted cutting efficiency, and off-target potential using standard prediction tools

The facts

Pay

$70–105/hr

Hours

Hourly, 40 hours a week

Where

Remote · Remote UK

Open to

GBR, GBR

Field

Life, Physical, and Social Science

Posted

9/11/2026

Places left

20

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