Experience: PhD + 1–2 yrs, or equivalent proof of work · Type: Full-time, On-site (Bengaluru) · Track: Therapeutics

The Mission

Mandrake Bio is a protein-design company building the next generation of programmable gene-editing enzymes. Its platform designs editors from scratch, pairing generative AI with first-principles biophysics and wet-lab validation to engineer the compactness, precision, and dynamic control that the highest-impact applications in agriculture and medicine demand. Founded in 2025 and headquartered in Bengaluru, India. Learn more at mandrake.bio.

We are a VC-backed, small, high-velocity applied research lab. We don't care about credentials; we care about proof of work, first-principles thinking, and the ability to ship.

Responsibilities

• Perform molecular cloning, construct design, and plasmid prep for high-throughput screening.
• Execute arrayed and multiplex gene-editing characterization and optimization in mammalian and primary cell models.
• Own mammalian and primary cell culture, including transfection, cell-line engineering, and FACS.
• Assay development: miniaturization, automation, and process improvements for high-throughput platforms.
• Drive editing safety and specificity work — off-target discovery, indel/outcome profiling — in disease-relevant contexts.
• Collaborate with computational teams to ensure modeling is biologically sound.

Requirements

• PhD in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Genetics, or related with 1–2 years relevant post-grad experience (industry preferred) — or equivalent proof of work.
• Clear communicator with a track record of designing interpretable experiments in complex multi-variate systems.
• Proficiency in mammalian and primary cell culture, including transfection, cell-line engineering, and FACS.

Nice to Have

• Experience at a cell or gene therapy company.
• Experience with delivery (LNP, viral, RNP) into therapeutically relevant cells.
• Experience with protein design and screening.
• Experience cloning or building complex DNA/RNA libraries for high-throughput experimentation.