R&D Officer (Life Scientist ANZSCO 234511)

About Lixa

Lixa is a biotechnology company located in Perth that focuses on developing novel antimicrobial resistance-breaking technologies applicable to human, animal, environmental, and industrial sectors.

Role Overview

The R&D Officer will play a critical role in advancing Lixa's antimicrobial resistance research projects through laboratory development, implementation, and comprehensive reporting. This position emphasizes evaluating and validating laboratory models that test Lixa's resistance-breaking compounds against multiple-drug-resistant bacterial strains.

The role requires strong expertise in microbiology and antimicrobial resistance, combined with experience in pharmaceutical or biotech industries. The ideal candidate will have a background bridging academic research and regulated industry practices, comfortable with translating laboratory findings into product development.

This senior, hands-on scientist position leads efforts to define mechanisms of action and evaluate compound efficacy both in vitro and ex vivo, producing scientific documentation and publications.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and conduct microbiological experiments to characterize the activity of Lixa's compounds against major Gram-negative and Gram-positive pathogens, including multidrug-resistant clinical isolates.
• Produce detailed scientific reports, study summaries, and presentations for internal and external stakeholders.
• Maintain accurate, thorough laboratory records adhering to company protocols, good documentation practices, and data integrity standards.
• Develop and update laboratory methods, SOPs, risk assessments, and safety documents aligned with quality control procedures.
• Perform mechanism of action studies utilizing proteomics, genomics, bioinformatics, resistance evolution, and adaptive laboratory techniques.
• Develop and validate antimicrobial susceptibility and potentiation assays, including checkerboard and MIC-shift methodologies for combination therapy evaluation.
• Establish and operate bacterial infection models in primary human cells and murine systems.
• Provide mentorship and supervision to junior scientists, students, and research interns.
• Support competitive grant writing and represent Lixa's scientific projects at industry conferences and partner meetings.

Essential Qualifications & Experience

• PhD in microbiology, biotechnology, infectious diseases, pharmaceutical sciences, biological sciences, or closely related fields.
• At least three years post-PhD experience in pharmaceutical or biotech R&D involving efficacy, safety, stability study design, SOP creation, and regulatory documentation.
• Proven research experience with multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogens and antimicrobial resistance mechanisms.
• Experience in developing therapeutics aimed at reversing resistance or potentiating antimicrobial activity.
• Practical experience culturing and characterising fastidious Gram-negative pathogens, including MDR clinical isolates, within containment labs.
• Skilled in developing bacterial infection models in human cell or murine systems, and validation of antimicrobial assays.
• Expertise in establishing drug screening platforms targeting MDR clinical isolates.
• Proficiency in proteomics, bacterial genomics, and bioinformatic analyses for resistance studies.
• Experience contributing to pharmaceutical product, device, or drug-delivery system advancements.
• Strong ability to translate academic microbiology findings into applicable pharma/biotech development outcomes.
• Excellent scientific reporting and data interpretation skills, preparing documentation for research, product development, and quality assurance.
• Demonstrated organizational and project management capabilities with rigorous attention to scientific integrity and data confidentiality.

Desirable Experience

• Familiarity with treatments or technologies targeting bacterial infections.
• Leadership experience in research projects or scientific teams.
• Background in biotech startups or commercially-focused research environments.
• Specific experience with WHO priority pathogens such as Neisseria gonorrhoeae, including working with clinical isolates from health laboratories.
• Knowledge of innate immune killing assays.
• Experience in ISO-accredited or GMP settings, including audits or inspections.
• History of securing competitive grants as lead or co-investigator.
• Capabilities in drug delivery and formulation development.

Working Conditions

This role is predominantly laboratory-based, involving handling bacterial pathogens, antimicrobial compounds, and biological specimens. Strict adherence to lab safety, biosafety, quality, and risk management protocols is mandatory. Flexibility in working hours may be necessary to meet experimental timelines and deadlines.

Physical Requirements

Routine lab activities and standard laboratory equipment handling are expected; no special physical demands are imposed.

Additional Information

Employment type: Full-time
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Reports to: R&D Manager
Salary Range: 90000-105000 AUD per year