ABOUT COMPANY
The hiring company is a UIUC startup in stealth mode developing a next-generation molecular diagnostics platform based on photonic resonator absorption microscopy (PRAM), a technology developed through more than 15 years of research at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with over $23 million in NIH and NSF support. The platform enables ultrasensitive optical detection and digital molecular analysis for rapid, high-performance biomarker testing.
By integrating advanced nanophotonics, optical biosensing, and molecular assay engineering, this technology enables direct detection of proteins, nucleic acids, microRNA, and other low-abundance biomarkers with simpler workflows than conventional PCR, sequencing, and immunoassay systems. Initial applications span oncology, neurology, inflammation, infectious disease, RNA therapeutics, and precision medicine, with a long-term path toward point-of-care deployment.
ABOUT THE ROLE
We are seeking an experienced and entrepreneurial Principal Assay Development Advisor and Scientist to provide senior biochemistry and assay development guidance as PhotonicDx builds its first generation of diagnostic assays and workflows. This role is ideally suited for an experienced scientist with a PhD in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Bioengineering, Analytical Chemistry, or a related field who combines deep assay development expertise with a willingness to work hands-on in the laboratory.
In the early stage, this individual will serve as a key scientific advisor to company leadership, helping shape assay strategy, technology development priorities, experimental plans, and platform commercialization decisions. As the company advances, the role is expected to evolve into a hands-on leadership position, including direct development, optimization, troubleshooting, and validation of molecular and protein detection assays within the company's laboratory in Urbana-Champaign. This person could eventually become the company’s first dedicated biochemistry-focused team member.
The successful candidate will work closely with company leadership, engineers, academic collaborators, clinical partners, and external vendors to translate the company's photonic crystal-based sensing technologies into robust diagnostic assays. This includes developing and optimizing workflows for ultrasensitive detection of proteins, nucleic acids, microRNAs, exosomes, and other biomarker classes.
This role requires both scientific leadership and practical laboratory expertise. Responsibilities may include assay design and optimization, experimental troubleshooting, reagent and surface chemistry selection, protocol development, analytical validation studies, data interpretation, scientific documentation, and support for future product development. The individual may also help guide collaborations with CROs, academic laboratories, reagent suppliers, manufacturing partners, and future commercial customers.
Requirements
- PhD in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Bioengineering, Biomedical Engineering, Analytical Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a closely related scientific discipline required
- 5+ years of relevant assay development, biomarker development, or translational research experience in academic, clinical, biotechnology, diagnostics, or life sciences settings preferred
- Demonstrated experience developing, optimizing, troubleshooting, and validating biochemical, molecular, or diagnostic assays
- Strong hands-on laboratory expertise in one or more of the following areas: immunoassays, protein biomarker detection, nucleic acid detection, PCR/qPCR, RNA and microRNA analysis, biosensors, surface chemistry, bioanalytical methods, or molecular diagnostics
- Experience advancing assays from early proof-of-concept through analytical validation and application development strongly preferred
- Familiarity with biomarker development workflows, assay performance characterization, analytical sensitivity and specificity studies, and experimental design principles
- Strong scientific problem-solving, experimental troubleshooting, and data interpretation skills
- Experience analyzing experimental datasets using Excel, GraphPad Prism, Python, R, MATLAB, or similar analytical tools
- Ability to maintain rigorous laboratory records, experimental documentation, protocols, and technical reports
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with scientists, engineers, executives, investors, collaborators, and external partners
- Comfortable serving both as a strategic scientific advisor and as a hands-on experimental scientist
- Experience working with CROs, academic collaborators, reagent suppliers, or external development partners is a plus
- Prior experience in diagnostics, biomarker development, biosensors, microfluidics, photonics-enabled assays, or regulated product development is desirable but not required
- Comfortable operating in a fast-moving startup environment characterized by ambiguity, rapid learning, and evolving priorities
Preferred
- Background in biosensors, molecular diagnostics, nanotechnology, nanophotonics, or photonics-enabled detection systems
- Familiarity with optical biosensing, fluorescence enhancement systems, resonance-based sensing technologies, or photonic crystal detection methods
- Exposure to nanomaterials, surface chemistry, plasmonics, photonic crystals, or related bioanalytical detection methods
- Experience working with clinical samples, biomarker validation studies, or translational research workflows
- Familiarity with microRNA assays, cytokine assays, or liquid biopsy technologies
- Experience with assay sensitivity optimization, signal amplification methods, or low-abundance biomarker detection
- Exposure to regulated laboratory environments, CLIA workflows, or FDA-regulated diagnostics development
- Prior experience in an academic startup, biotech startup, or translational research laboratory
Responsibilities
- Serve as a scientific advisor to company leadership on assay strategy, biomarker selection, assay architecture, and platform development priorities
- Lead the design, development, optimization, and validation of biochemical and molecular assays for protein, nucleic acid, microRNA, exosome, and other biomarker detection applications
- Develop experimental strategies and technical roadmaps to advance PhotonicDx assays from proof-of-concept through analytical validation and commercialization readiness
- Design and execute laboratory experiments involving immunoassays, nucleic acid detection, fluorescence-based workflows, surface chemistry, biomolecular binding interactions, and assay optimization
- Support development and characterization of PhotonicDx's proprietary photonic crystal enhanced fluorescence (PCEF) and photonic resonator absorption microscopy (PRAM) detection platforms
- Work closely with engineering teams to integrate assay chemistry, consumables, microfluidics, and photonic sensing technologies into robust end-to-end diagnostic workflows
- Analyze experimental data, identify performance limitations, troubleshoot technical challenges, and implement improvements to assay performance and reproducibility
- Evaluate and select reagents, antibodies, probes, assay chemistries, surface functionalization approaches, and sample preparation workflows
- Design and execute analytical studies to characterize assay sensitivity, specificity, precision, robustness, dynamic range, and other key performance metrics
- Develop and maintain scientific documentation including protocols, standard operating procedures (SOPs), validation reports, technical summaries, and experimental records
- Conduct scientific literature reviews and assess emerging biomarkers, assay technologies, competitive platforms, and diagnostic opportunities relevant to company strategy
- Collaborate with academic researchers, clinical partners, CROs, reagent suppliers, manufacturing partners, and future commercial customers
- Help recruit, mentor, and guide future scientific team members as the company expands
- Contribute to fundraising, grant applications, technical diligence discussions, scientific presentations, and external partner engagements as needed
- Support the transition of promising assays into scalable, manufacturable, and clinically translatable diagnostic products
Location: Urbana-Champaign area or hybrid but based in Chicago or other location within travel-by-car to Urbana-Champaign
Compensation: Company stock options with vesting during Advisor phase. Hourly pay once shift into hands-on lab work with full-time salaried role potential as company grows.
Pay: From $100,000.00 per year
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Champaign, IL 61820
