About the role

We are seeking a hands-on RNA virologist to engineer non-replicative VLP systems that package and deliver programmable RNA payloads in target pest insects.

You will build non-replicative viral particle systems that package and protect RNA cargo, deliver payloads into insect cells, amplify the delivered RNA, and express insecticidal payloads without producing replication-competent viruses. This is a hands-on bench role for someone who can move from viral reverse genetics and construct design to particle production, RNA QC, and payload-expression assays.

You will:

• Build a design-build-test workflow for engineered VLPs, packageable RNA cargoes, replicase-compatible payloads, and non-replicative production systems.
• Design and clone viral particle constructs, RNA cargoes, reporter systems, and split-component packaging systems.
• Engineer capsids, packaging elements, and replicase/payload architectures that function together as programmable RNA delivery vehicles.
• Develop QC assays for particle assembly, VLP yield, RNA packaging, nuclease-protected cargo, RNA integrity, RNA amplification, and payload expression.
• Produce VLPs at small scale for biochemical characterization, insect-cell testing, and insect bioassays.
• Troubleshoot failures across construct expression, capsid assembly, cargo packaging, host RNA contamination, particle recovery, RNA amplification, payload expression, and insect-cell delivery.

What You Bring

• PhD in virology, RNA virus genetics, RNA biology, molecular biology, synthetic biology, or a related field.
• Hands-on experience engineering RNA viruses, replicons, VLPs, viral vectors, or viral capsids.
• Experience using viral reverse genetics, replicon engineering, VLP engineering, or viral vector engineering to study or reprogram viral replication, assembly, packaging, or delivery.
• Experience with large scale production and/or downstream processing of viruses, VLPs, and viral vectors is a plus.
• Strong molecular biology skills, including construct design, cloning, sequence analysis, and troubleshooting of expression systems.
• Working knowledge of protein, RNA, and/or particle QC methods.
• Ability to reason through complex system failures, including poor expression, weak RNA amplification, aggregation, empty particles, cargo degradation, host RNA packaging, and loss of payload expression.
• A rigorous experimental style and the ability to turn ambiguous virology questions into controlled, decision-enabling experiments.
• Excitement to work at the bench in a small founding team where the platform is still being invented.

What We Value

Molagri is a small team building a novel bioinsecticide platform. We value scientists who design rigorous experiments, think creatively when the obvious approach fails, communicate clearly, and treat their teammates with kindness and respect. The right person for this role will be hands-on, hard-working, intellectually honest, and excited to help build a platform from first principles.

About Molagri

Molagri is developing a new class of bioinsecticides for crop protection. We engineer virus-like particles to deliver programmable insecticidal payloads into target pests with species-level precision, creating products designed to address resistance while reducing off-target effects on beneficial insects, humans, and the environment.