Field Application Scientist, NGS - India

A Field Application Scientist at Twist Bioscience plays a critical role in supporting our sales team by providing technical expertise related to Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) products. This includes pre- and post-sales support, conducting training sessions, managing collaborations, and liaising with various internal teams to ensure our customers receive the best solutions tailored to their needs.

For the Field Application Scientist role at Twist Bioscience in India, candidates typically need a BA/BS with 3-5 years of NGS experience, an MS with 3+ years, or a PhD with at least 1 year in a relevant field such as Biochemistry or Molecular Biology. Experience with DNA/RNA library construction and NGS applications is essential.

Success in the Field Application Scientist role at Twist requires strong technical understanding of NGS methodologies, excellent communication skills, the ability to manage projects effectively, and a high degree of self-motivation. Familiarity with bioinformatics and experimental design is also beneficial.

The Field Application Scientist position at Twist involves considerable travel, approximately up to 60%. This travel primarily takes place within Southern India, allowing for in-field collaboration with sales teams and engagement with key customers to drive NGS solutions.

Primary responsibilities of a Field Application Scientist at Twist include providing technical support for NGS applications, facilitating training, attending trade shows, and serving as the key technical liaison between customers and sales teams. Additionally, they are responsible for gathering customer feedback and providing insights to product development.

At Twist, as a Field Application Scientist, expect a collaborative environment where innovation thrives. You'll work closely with sales, product management, and research teams, contributing to exciting projects that help advance the genomics field while receiving support from a diverse and skilled team.

Career progression for a Field Application Scientist at Twist can lead to advanced technical roles, managerial positions, or even opportunities in related fields like product management or business development, depending on individual performance and organizational needs.

In responding to this question, highlight your hands-on experience with NGS platforms, including specific instruments you've used and the types of applications you've conducted, such as library preparation and sequencing analysis. Provide examples to illustrate your expertise and knowledge.

To effectively answer this question, discuss specific resources you utilize, such as scientific journals, industry conferences, webinars, or professional networks that keep you informed about the latest developments in NGS technologies.

Use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method to frame your response. Describe the context of the issue, your role in addressing it, the steps you took to resolve it, and the positive outcome that resulted from your actions.

Explain your approach to time management and prioritization. You can mention tools like task lists or project management software that help you organize your schedule, along with your strategy for identifying high-priority tasks, especially when dealing with competitive timelines.

In answering this question, focus on your ability to simplify complex topics using analogies, visuals, or hands-on demonstrations. Provide an example where you successfully communicated technical information to a non-specialist audience.

Highlight instances whereby you've led training sessions or provided technical support to customers. Detail the methodologies you used to ensure understanding and how you measured success in those educational efforts.

Discuss your collaborative work style and provide specific examples of successful teamwork. Mention how you actively communicate with team members and share knowledge to create a supportive work environment.

Explain your methods for collecting customer feedback, such as surveys or meetings, and provide an example of a time when you translated that feedback into actionable insights for product improvement.

Discuss specific projects you have managed related to NGS applications, describing your role, key objectives, and the outcomes. Highlight any methodologies you've used, such as Agile or Lean, to improve efficiency and results.

Be prepared to share your enthusiasm for Twist Bioscience's mission to revolutionize genomics through innovative DNA synthesis technologies. Highlight how this vision aligns with your career goals and why you find the NGS field fascinating.