Researchers – Fluorescent Lateral Flow Markers

Company: OncoFirm™ Diagnostics Corporation
Department: Research & Development / Assay Development
Position Type: Research / Scientific Collaboration / Contract or Grant-Supported
Field: Fluorescent Lateral Flow Immunoassays, Biomarkers, Immunodiagnostics, Point-of-Care Diagnostics

Position Overview

OncoFirm™ Diagnostics Corporation is seeking experienced Researchers specializing in fluorescent lateral flow markers, fluorescent reporter systems, immunoassay development, and lateral flow assay optimization to support the development of next-generation rapid diagnostic technologies.

The researchers will contribute to OncoFirm’s development of proprietary fluorescent lateral flow immunoassay (LFA) platforms designed for sensitive detection and quantitative or semi-quantitative measurement of cancer-associated biomarkers and other clinically relevant targets.

This position is particularly suited for scientists with experience in fluorescent nanoparticles, lanthanide-based reporters, time-resolved fluorescence, quantum dots, fluorescent microspheres, antibody conjugation, immunochemistry, membrane-based assays, biomarker detection, and point-of-care diagnostic development.

Researchers will work collaboratively with OncoFirm’s scientific, engineering, AI/software, clinical, manufacturing, and regulatory teams to evaluate and optimize fluorescent reporter technologies capable of producing highly reproducible signals that can be measured by the OncoFirm™ Electronic Reader and associated AI-assisted analytical systems.

Primary Responsibilities

The researcher will participate in the design, development, characterization, and optimization of fluorescent marker technologies for lateral flow diagnostic assays.

Responsibilities may include:

• Research and evaluate fluorescent reporter technologies suitable for lateral flow immunoassays.

• Develop and optimize fluorescent nanoparticle and reporter conjugation methods for antibodies, antigens, proteins, peptides, and other recognition molecules.

• Evaluate fluorescent materials including europium-based particles, lanthanide chelates, fluorescent microspheres, quantum dots, upconversion nanoparticles, organic fluorophores, and other advanced optical reporters.

• Investigate reporter systems capable of increasing analytical sensitivity, signal stability, reproducibility, and quantitative measurement.

• Optimize antibody-to-reporter conjugation chemistry and conjugate stability.

• Characterize fluorescence intensity, emission spectra, excitation requirements, photostability, particle uniformity, surface chemistry, and assay compatibility.

• Optimize fluorescent reporter concentrations to improve assay signal-to-noise ratios.

• Investigate approaches for reducing nonspecific fluorescence and background signal.

• Develop methods for improving fluorescent signal retention during sample migration through lateral flow membranes.

• Evaluate interactions between fluorescent reporters and nitrocellulose membranes, conjugate pads, sample pads, absorbent materials, blocking reagents, buffers, surfactants, and assay stabilizers.

• Optimize test-line and control-line fluorescence performance.

• Develop approaches for multiplexed fluorescent detection of multiple biomarkers within a single lateral flow device.

• Evaluate spectral separation and potential cross-interference between multiple fluorescent reporter systems.

• Support development of internal calibration and control technologies for quantitative fluorescent LFAs.

• Investigate lot-to-lot normalization strategies for fluorescent reagents and finished assays.

• Establish analytical procedures for measuring fluorescent reporter performance throughout research, development, and manufacturing.

Fluorescent Lateral Flow Assay Development

The researcher will assist with development of complete fluorescent lateral flow systems, including:

• Selection and evaluation of antibodies and other affinity reagents.

• Capture and detection reagent optimization.

• Antibody pairing studies.

• Reporter conjugation.

• Conjugate-pad formulation.

• Nitrocellulose membrane selection.

• Membrane protein deposition and printing optimization.

• Sample-pad and buffer optimization.

• Blocking chemistry.

• Flow-rate optimization.

• Assay kinetics.

• Test-line positioning.

• Control-line development.

• Signal amplification.

• Background reduction.

• Sample-volume optimization.

• Assay stability.

• Accelerated stability studies.

• Reagent preservation.

• Multiplex assay architecture.

The researcher may also participate in converting laboratory immunoassays into rapid, portable lateral flow formats suitable for point-of-care applications.

Biomarker Research

Researchers may support evaluation of biomarkers and biomarker combinations applicable to OncoFirm’s diagnostic research programs.

Activities may include:

• Reviewing scientific literature regarding tumor-associated antigens and other cancer-associated biomarkers.

• Evaluating biomarker concentrations and clinically relevant detection ranges.

• Assessing potential antibody pairs and affinity reagents for selected targets.

• Developing single-analyte and multi-analyte assay configurations.

• Evaluating potential analytical interference and cross-reactivity.

• Designing analytical experiments for biomarker detection in relevant sample matrices.

• Supporting feasibility studies involving serum, plasma, whole blood, or other clinically appropriate specimen types.

• Collaborating with cancer biology and clinical advisors to evaluate potential biomarker panels.

Fluorescent Reader Integration

Researchers will collaborate with OncoFirm’s engineering and software teams to help integrate fluorescent assays with the OncoFirm™ Electronic Reader.

Responsibilities may include:

• Characterizing fluorescence excitation and emission requirements.

• Establishing optimal illumination parameters.

• Determining detector sensitivity requirements.

• Establishing expected signal ranges for test and control regions.

• Supporting calibration-curve development.

• Generating quantitative fluorescence datasets.

• Establishing signal-to-concentration relationships.

• Evaluating assay linearity and dynamic range.

• Developing reference standards.

• Supporting normalization algorithms.

• Establishing assay-specific reader parameters.

• Evaluating environmental factors affecting fluorescence measurements.

The researcher may also help generate experimental datasets used to develop and validate AI-assisted signal-analysis and interpretation technologies.

AI-Assisted Diagnostic Research

OncoFirm is developing technologies that combine fluorescent lateral flow assays with digital and AI-assisted interpretation.

Researchers may collaborate with data scientists and software engineers to investigate relationships between biological assay performance and digitally measured characteristics such as:

• Fluorescence intensity.

• Signal distribution.

• Test-line geometry.

• Background fluorescence.

• Control-line performance.

• Signal uniformity.

• Signal-to-background ratios.

• Assay kinetics.

• Lot-specific characteristics.

• Calibration information.

• Environmental conditions.

Researchers will not be expected to develop AI software unless their background includes computational research, but they should be comfortable working within a multidisciplinary diagnostic-development environment.

Analytical Performance Studies

Researchers may design and conduct experiments evaluating:

• Analytical sensitivity.

• Limit of blank.

• Limit of detection.

• Limit of quantitation.

• Analytical specificity.

• Precision.

• Repeatability.

• Reproducibility.

• Linearity.

• Measuring range.

• High-dose hook effects.

• Cross-reactivity.

• Interfering substances.

• Matrix effects.

• Reagent stability.

• Instrument-to-instrument variability.

• Lot-to-lot variability.

• Operator variability.

Researchers should maintain comprehensive experimental documentation supporting future product development, intellectual property, grant submissions, regulatory planning, and scientific publications.

Research Documentation

Responsibilities will include preparation and maintenance of appropriate scientific documentation, including:

• Research protocols.

• Experimental plans.

• Laboratory notebooks.

• Design-of-experiments documentation.

• Raw data.

• Statistical summaries.

• Technical reports.

• Assay-development reports.

• Reagent specifications.

• Standard operating procedures.

• Research summaries.

• Grant-supporting technical documentation.

• Scientific presentations.

• Intellectual-property supporting documentation.

Researchers may contribute scientific material to federal research grants, private research grants, collaborative proposals, scientific publications, whitepapers, patent applications, and technical reports.

Preferred Qualifications

Candidates should possess a Master’s degree, Ph.D., M.D./Ph.D., or equivalent research experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Biochemistry.

• Analytical chemistry.

• Immunology.

• Biotechnology.

• Molecular biology.

• Biomedical engineering.

• Bioengineering.

• Nanotechnology.

• Materials science.

• Clinical chemistry.

• Diagnostic sciences.

• Pharmaceutical sciences.

• Cancer biology.

• Related scientific disciplines.

A Ph.D. is preferred for senior research responsibilities but is not required where the candidate has substantial relevant industry experience.

Preferred Technical Experience

Strong candidates will have practical experience in several of the following areas:

• Lateral flow immunoassay development.

• Fluorescent lateral flow assays.

• Fluorescent nanoparticles.

• Europium nanoparticles.

• Lanthanide fluorescent reporters.

• Time-resolved fluorescence.

• Fluorescent microspheres.

• Quantum dots.

• Upconversion nanoparticles.

• Fluorescent dyes and labeling chemistry.

• Antibody conjugation.

• Protein chemistry.

• Immunochemistry.

• Antibody screening.

• Antibody-pair selection.

• Nitrocellulose membrane systems.

• Diagnostic reagent formulation.

• Point-of-care diagnostic development.

• Immunochromatographic assays.

• Quantitative lateral flow systems.

• Multiplex immunoassays.

• Fluorescence readers.

• Optical detection systems.

• Biomarker assay development.

Experience transitioning assays from research feasibility through product-development and manufacturing stages is particularly desirable.

Additional Preferred Experience

Experience in any of the following areas would be beneficial:

• Cancer diagnostics.

• Oncology biomarkers.

• Tumor-associated antigens.

• In-vitro diagnostics.

• Medical devices.

• Design controls.

• FDA-regulated diagnostic development.

• ISO 13485 environments.

• Risk-management processes.

• Verification and validation.

• Clinical study support.

• Statistical experimental design.

• Design of Experiments (DOE).

• Technology transfer.

• Diagnostic manufacturing.

• Reagent scale-up.

• Grant-funded biomedical research.

• NIH or NCI research programs.

• Scientific publications.

• Patent development or invention disclosure preparation.

Research Collaboration

This role requires the ability to work within a multidisciplinary development program involving:

Immunoassay scientists • Cancer researchers • Chemists • Biomedical engineers • Optical engineers • AI/data scientists • Software developers • Clinical advisors • Biostatisticians • Manufacturing specialists • Quality specialists • Regulatory consultants

Researchers should be capable of clearly communicating experimental findings to both scientific and non-scientific team members.

Intellectual Property

Researchers may participate in projects involving proprietary OncoFirm technologies and confidential research programs.

Depending on the project, researchers may be expected to:

• Execute confidentiality and intellectual-property agreements.

• Maintain detailed invention records.

• Identify potentially patentable discoveries.

• Participate in preparation of invention disclosures.

• Assist patent counsel with technical descriptions.

• Support experimental validation of patent concepts.

• Document alternative technical embodiments.

• Maintain confidentiality regarding unpublished research and proprietary technology.

Grant Research Opportunities

OncoFirm™ Diagnostics is actively developing research programs that may be supported through federal, institutional, foundation, and private research funding.

Researchers may be identified as scientific personnel, collaborators, consultants, key personnel, or subject-matter experts for appropriate grant applications.

Depending upon project requirements and funding, qualified researchers may participate in:

• Preliminary research.

• Grant application development.

• Research methodology design.

• Experimental planning.

• Budget justification.

• Scientific review.

• Grant-supported research execution.

• Data analysis.

• Research publications.

• Follow-on development programs.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate combines strong laboratory experience with scientific curiosity and an interest in translating advanced fluorescence technologies into practical diagnostic systems.

We are particularly interested in researchers who understand that successful lateral flow development requires simultaneous optimization of biology, chemistry, materials, fluidics, fluorescence, instrumentation, manufacturing, and data interpretation.

Candidates should be comfortable working in an innovation-focused environment where new assay architectures, reporter chemistries, biomarker combinations, and digital interpretation approaches are actively evaluated.

About OncoFirm™ Diagnostics Corporation

OncoFirm™ Diagnostics Corporation is developing a new generation of rapid, portable cancer-diagnostic technologies combining fluorescent lateral flow immunoassays, biomarker detection, electronic readers, and AI-assisted analytical technologies.

Our research programs are focused on advancing technologies intended to make biomarker testing more accessible, objective, quantitative, and deployable across clinical and point-of-care environments.

OncoFirm’s development strategy integrates diagnostic assay science, fluorescent detection, electronic instrumentation, artificial intelligence, connectivity, quality-control technologies, and clinical research into a unified diagnostic platform.

Equal Opportunity

OncoFirm™ Diagnostics Corporation evaluates qualified researchers and collaborators based on experience, scientific expertise, research capabilities, and the requirements of individual development programs. We encourage qualified applicants from diverse scientific, academic, clinical, and industry backgrounds to apply.

Application

Qualified researchers should submit:

• Current CV or résumé.

• Summary of relevant fluorescent LFA or immunoassay experience.

• List of relevant publications and/or patents, if applicable.

• Description of fluorescent reporter technologies previously utilized.

• Areas of technical specialization.

• Availability for consulting, collaborative, contract, or grant-supported research.

• Current institutional or corporate affiliation, where applicable.

OncoFirm™ Diagnostics Corporation
Advancing Rapid • Accurate • Portable • AI-Assisted Diagnostic Technologies