RP2.4s Project title: Novel Gene Delivery Platforms for the Treatment of Ocular Disease

Project information: To validate and commercialize a system to deliver DNA to the eye to enable gene therapy for ocular diseases using novel nonviral gene delivery platforms.

Required skills and job duty:

The successful candidate will play a central scientific role in the development, optimization, and translational validation of next-generation non-viral gene delivery platforms (“viromids”) for ocular gene therapy applications. The position is best suited for a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher with demonstrated depth in gene delivery, nucleic acid engineering, and ocular or neural biology.

Key responsibilities include:

• Design, construction, and optimization of viromid-based gene delivery systems, including circular single-stranded and/or minimal DNA payloads, with emphasis on manufacturability, purity, and biological performance in ocular tissues.
• In vitro and in vivo evaluation of gene delivery, expression durability, biodistribution, and safety, using relevant retinal or ocular disease models.
• Vector engineering and molecular biology, including promoter selection, regulatory element optimization, payload design, and construct validation.
• Gene editing experience (strong asset), including CRISPR-based knock-in/knock-out strategies, HDR-based repair, or ssDNA-templated editing, particularly in the context of ocular or neuronal systems.
• Development and execution of rigorous experimental plans, including study design, protocol development, ethics submissions, and statistical analysis.
• Manuscript preparation and dissemination of high-impact research, with expectation of first-author publications.
• Intellectual property awareness and translational thinking, contributing to platform differentiation, freedom-to-operate considerations, and early commercialization activities.
• Collaborative engagement with interdisciplinary teams, including molecular biologists, chemical engineers, ophthalmologists, and commercialization partners across Hong Kong China and Canada.

This role requires a candidate who is comfortable working at the technology-platform level, rather than solely within a single disease model, and who is motivated to contribute to the long-term development and commercialization of scalable gene therapy systems.

Qualification

Postdoctoral Fellow

Applicants should hold a PhD (or equivalent doctoral degree) in a relevant discipline such as Gene Therapy, Molecular Biology, Genomics, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Vision Science, Neuroscience, or a closely related field, obtained from a top-tier research institution.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

• Strong expertise in gene delivery technologies, including non-viral or hybrid delivery systems, nucleic acid engineering, or viral-inspired vectors.
• Hands-on experience with DNA or RNA vector design, including regulatory elements, promoter selection, construct optimization, and molecular cloning.
• Demonstrated competence in in vitro and/or in vivo gene expression studies, preferably in ocular, neural, or other sensitive tissue systems.
• A solid publication record, with evidence of first-author contributions in reputable peer-reviewed journals.
• Gene editing experience (strong asset), including CRISPR/Cas-based approaches, HDR-mediated knock-in strategies, or ssDNA-templated editing.
• Ability to work independently, formulate hypotheses, design rigorous experiments, and drive projects from concept through execution and publication.
• Translational mindset, with interest in scalability, manufacturability, safety, and commercialization of gene therapy platforms.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to collaborate effectively within an international, interdisciplinary research environment.

The appointees shall be working in Hong Kong China. Overseas graduate is welcome to apply, the qualification awarding institution should be the top 100 institutions for STEM-related subjects in QS/Shanghai Jiao Tong Uni/Times Higher Education world university rankings.

 (details here). The above position is funded by the Research Talent Hub of ITC.

Enquiry

Applicants may contact Prof. Chien-ling Huang (cl.huang@polyu.edu.hk) of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University or Prof. Roderick Slavcev (slavcev@uwaterloo.ca) of the University of Waterloo for enquiry.

Benefit

1. Living allowance is provided for postdoc fellow position
2. Possible in-job training at UWaterloo for max 3 months.
3. Access to PolyU library and sport facilities.
4. Medical insurance, Mandatory Provident Fund.
5. Conference support if staff members present their CEVR work at International conference.

Remuneration

Monthly salary: Postdoctoral Fellow (HKD35000 + living allowance HKD 10000). Applicants are invited to send the application form (download here) with CV to the email career@cevr.hk.