Genetics Lead

**Changing the world - one fruit fly at a time.** We’ve developed a novel insect-based expression platform that allows us to make the world’s most sustainable recombinant proteins. **We’re unleashing the next biorevolution.** At Future Fields, we are continually learning and evolving. We know we don’t have all the answers, but we try to ask all the questions. We believe in “failing forward” and leveraging our mistakes to help us grow. We never want our team to feel constrained by the status quo and we don’t judge ideas based on where they come from. We actively work to foster a culture of collaboration, innovation and psychological safety through transparency, structure, and open communication. We know it sounds cliche, but every employee really is a valued and equal member of the Future Fields team. **Come find your purpose with Future Fields.** We are a young and rapidly growing venture backed startup (with support from awesome investors including Bee Partners, Y Combinator, Toyota Ventures and Amplify Capital). We’ve even had a shoutout from Ironman himself Joining our team now means you’ll have the opportunity to shape our culture and products, to lead others, and to influence the direction of our company. Perhaps most importantly - you’ll be joining a team that is genuinely energized by this work and the meaningful potential of biotech to change the world. **About the role** The **Genetics Lead** exists to optimize our EntoEngine platform and ultimately create the highest quality recombinant proteins available on the market today. From perfecting transgenic Drosophila strains to building out our genetics dream team, this is a key leadership role on the Future Fields’ Research and Development team. The **Genetics Lead** will work collaboratively with the R&D unit of our business under the leadership of the VP of R&D. They will work intimately with our Protein Purification and Engineering Teams and directly supervise a small team of scientists. This role will attend weekly science and all-hands meetings and participate in collaborative discussions on Future Fields’ R&D and production strategy and business goals. **As a senior member of the Future Fields team, _all Leads are responsible for:_** - Supervising, supporting and training team members - Developing team-specific strategies to support high-level company goals - Monitoring progress towards goals and course correcting as required to ensure objectives are met - Setting and monitoring team OKRs and KPIs - Continuously exploring, developing, optimizing, testing, and implementing new methodologies and processes - Collaborating with other team leads and the executive to ensure cross-functional alignment on work plans, strategies and timelines - Conducting “hands on” work as needed to maximize team capacity, optimize methodologies and progress towards company objectives **This role will own**: - Optimization of our genetic systems for maximal growth factor and recombinant protein expression in _Drosophila_ - Leading the genetics team as it gets built out, providing mentorship and supervision to junior team members - Leading the development of all transgenic strains used in the production of our recombinant protein products - Molecular cloning of target genes into vectors - primer design, PCR, restriction enzyme cloning, plasmid DNA purification, and DNA analysis - Investigating and designing novel methods of gene expression within the _Drosophila_ system - designing new plasmids and features for enhanced expression of transgenes - General fly husbandry - tending to transgenic strains and maintaining existing stocks - Setting up genetic crosses - planning and designing mating schemes to express transgenes, balancing transgenic strains to prevent expression loss, investigating new transgenic crosses for enhanced expression - General experimental design and troubleshooting - Managing and mentoring junior team members and growing the genetics team - Writing grants proposals for industrial research such as MITACS **This role will assist by**: - Supporting our VP of R&D with new product strategy and development - Guiding our Engineering team to expand relevant transgenic strains into production level stocks for product generation - Supporting our Protein Purification team in developing protocols for expression testing and protein purification processes - Helping other members of the genetics team with general fly husbandry and stock maintenance - Advising our regulatory team as needed and providing information, including written reports, to meet reporting requirements and help us reach critical regulatory milestones - Participating in the recruiting and hiring process as the genetics team grows - Consulting with external projects with clients and potential partners on genetics techniques and opportunities for novel processes **This role requires** - PhD or MSc with 4+ years experience in Genetics or a