Senior Scientist – Molecular & Synthetic Biology Full-time NEW

At En Carta Diagnostics, we believe molecular diagnostics should be faster, more accessible, and closer to where care begins.

We are developing a new generation of point-of-need diagnostic devices with a bold ambition: turn every smartphone into a PCR machine, and bring better diagnostics everywhere.

Our first product, EC POCket Lyme, is designed to help detect Lyme disease early, directly at the tick bite, through a unique test intended for use close to the patient. And this is only the beginning: more products are already in development.

As we grow and strengthen our R&D team, we are hiring across complementary roles in scientific research, hardware and software development, and laboratory operations. As part of this broader team build, we are looking for a Senior Scientist – Molecular & Synthetic Biology to join us in Paris.

We are a purpose-driven company, guided by strong values : evidence-based · integrity · responsibility · sustainability

Why are we hiring

En Carta is entering a new phase of development, with EC POCket Lyme progressing toward industrialization and additional products in development. We are expanding our R&D team to strengthen scientific depth, experimental execution, and product development capabilities.

In this role, you will help drive ambitious research projects forward while contributing to the development of next-generation diagnostic products.

What the role is about

This role is for someone who wants to do excellent science and see it move toward real-world impact.

You will own and drive projects within the broader scientific priorities set by the R&D leadership. You will combine deep expertise in molecular or synthetic biology with a strong experimental mindset and solid computational skills. You will stay close to the bench, mentor junior colleagues, and help translate cutting-edge biology into practical diagnostics.

This role is ideal for someone with postdoctoral-level scientific maturity who wants to lead at the project level while experimentally active. Wanting to be at the bench is a must have.

You will report to the Head of R&D and work closely with the broader multidisciplinary R&D team.

What will you do

Project ownership and scientific contribution

• Drive R&D projects with a high degree of scientific autonomy
• Define experimental approaches, propose technical solutions, and move projects forward proactively
• Design, execute, and interpret experiments in line with broader R&D priorities
• Contribute scientific insight, critical thinking, and structured problem-solving to ongoing programs
• Present results clearly and contribute to technical decision-making within the team

Research and development

• Design, execute, and interpret experiments across molecular and synthetic biology topics
• Contribute to the development of next-generation molecular diagnostic approaches
• Work on scientific questions involving DNA biology, molecular interactions, assay design, and reaction systems
• Support the development of new assays and platform capabilities, from exploratory work to more product-oriented development
• Help bridge early-stage research and product-focused R&D

Laboratory and computational work

• Combine wet-lab and computational approaches where relevant to the project
• Analyze and organize data in a rigorous and structured way
• Write code and develop analysis workflows to support experimental design, data processing, visualization, modeling, or interpretation
• Contribute to computational methods, modeling, data analysis, or tool development as appropriate

Team contribution and mentorship

• Mentor junior scientists and research associates in experimental design, execution, and interpretation
• Help maintain high standards of rigor, documentation, and scientific thinking in the team
• Contribute to a collaborative, ambitious, and product-oriented R&D culture

Who you are

You are a driven scientist with strong curiosity, sound scientific judgment, and the ability to turn ideas into well-designed experiments. You also want to explore outside of the current scientific knowledge and invent new solutions.

You enjoy owning a project and moving it forward. You are comfortable working independently at the project level, making day-to-day scientific decisions, and solving problems as they arise. At the same time, you are collaborative and enjoy working within a broader team strategy.

You likely have a strong foundation in molecular biology or synthetic biology, with excellent knowledge of DNA biology and ideally a strong intuition for biophysical mechanisms. You are excited by technically challenging problems and comfortable working across both experimental and computational dimensions.

You are not looking for a purely academic environment, but you still care deeply about scientific quality. You want your work to be rigorous, creative, and forward-looking – and you are motivated by the idea of helping bring cutting-edge diagnostics to people.

What we are looking for

• PhD in molecular biology, synthetic biology, biophysics, bioengineering, or a related field
• Postdoctoral experience is highly valued, but not necessary – equivalent scientific maturity will also be considered
• Strong scientific background in molecular or synthetic biology
• Excellent understanding of DNA biology and strong intuition for biophysical mechanisms and molecular interaction systems
• Ability to independently design, execute, and interpret complex experiments
• Ability to take ownership of a scientific project and drive it forward with a high degree of autonomy
• A-team player who truly enjoys collaborations and understands that true success comes from the joint effort towards the common goal
• Willingness to remain experimentally active while taking on project leadership and mentoring responsibilities
• Strong computational skills and ability to work comfortably across wet-lab and data-driven approaches
• Good programming skills in R, Python, or another relevant language
• Ability to mentor junior team members and contribute to a high-performing R&D culture
• Strong communication skills and ability to present complex ideas clearly
• English proficiency

Nice to have

• Experience with isothermal amplification methods
• Experience in assay development, diagnostics, or translational biotechnology
• Familiarity with nucleic acid detection systems, reaction engineering, or biosensing
• Experience combining experimental biology with computational analysis or modeling
• Experience in a startup, product-oriented R&D, or multidisciplinary fast paced development environment
• Grant writing, scientific writing, or external collaboration experience
• French proficiency

What success looks like

In this role, success means moving technically challenging projects forward with scientific rigor, sound judgment, and growing translational impact, while helping raise the level of thinking and execution across the team.

What we offer

• A full-time position (CDI)
• A central scientific role in a deep-tech medical device startup
• Direct contribution to cutting-edge diagnostic products progressing toward industrialization and market launch
• Real exposure to multidisciplinary product development at the intersection of hardware, biology, software, and healthcare
• The opportunity to drive scientifically ambitious projects with real ownership
• A collaborative environment with room to learn and grow
• Competitive salary and benefits (+BSPCE)
• Health insurance (100%)
• The opportunity to grow with the company
• A dynamic ecosystem in the heart of Paris

If you are excited by the idea of doing excellent science and helping turn it into meaningful healthcare innovation, we would love to hear from you.

Please apply at contact@encarta.bio with your CV and cover letter.

En Carta Diagnostics is an equal opportunity employer.

Tagged as: Life Sciences