Associate Scientist, Protein Engineering

Digital Biology; Watertown (MA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is looking for an Associate Scientist to join their innovative team in protein optimization and engineering. This role offers the chance to work at the forefront of biologics discovery, utilizing advanced techniques to manipulate proteins and contribute to therapeutic programs. You will engage with cutting-edge spatial sequencing technology while ensuring meticulous documentation and collaboration across teams. If you are a detail-oriented scientist with a passion for molecular biology and a drive to excel in a dynamic biotech environment, this opportunity is perfect for you.

Benefits

Health Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

Dental Insurance

401K Plan

Qualifications

• 5+ years of hands-on lab experience in molecular biology and protein engineering.
• Strong expertise in protein purification and quantifying protein interactions.

Responsibilities

• Optimize eukaryotic protein expression workflows and perform DNA manipulation.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to refine lab workflows.

Skills

Molecular Biology

Protein Production/Purification

Protein-Protein Interaction Quantification

DNA Manipulation

Cell Culture

Data Documentation

Troubleshooting Experimental Workflows

Education

BS in Molecular Biology

MS in Molecular Biology

Tools

Benchling ELN

FACS

SDS-PAGE

SEC

IEX

HIC

Job description

Watertown, Massachusetts, United States

The Role

Digital Biology is seeking an exceptional Associate Scientist to support our protein optimization and engineering efforts to drive biologics discovery and optimization. You will work at the intersection of target discovery, validation, and high-throughput screening, supporting our discovery teams by applying cutting-edge protein design and engineering techniques. This role will also provide exposure to our in-house cutting-edge spatial sequencing technology that can precisely analyze patient tumor samples and 3-D tumor tissue models.

As a protein-engineering specialist, you will be responsible for executing precise molecular biology strategies to manipulate the functional and/or biophysical characteristics of proteins. You will also be responsible for ensuring exceptional ELN (Electronic Lab Notebook) documentation and for collaborating closely with discovery and engineering teams to collectively drive key data-driven decisions in our therapeutic programs. This role requires exceptional attention to detail, demonstrated technical expertise in molecular biology, protein production/purification, and quantifying protein-protein interactions, as well as proficiency with protein library design, library panning/sorting/screening and monolayer immune cytotoxicity assays.

This is an exciting opportunity to work hands-on with a cutting-edge platform for therapeutics optimization, contribute to key therapeutic programs, and grow within a fast-paced, multidisciplinary biotech environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Support internal biologics discovery teams by optimizing small scale eukaryotic protein expression workflows:
• DNA manipulation, site-directed mutagenesis and cloning
• Vector(s) (co-)transfection and/or electroporation
• Affinity-based protein purification
• Protein-protein interactions: ELISA, SPR, and BLI
• Cell culture, including cell line maintenance.
• Cell-based binding (FACS)
• Support bispecific production and protein optimization through interfacing with CROs
• Ensure meticulous data entry and documentation in Benchling Electronic Lab Notebooks (ELN), maintaining process integrity and traceability.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including engineering and bioinformatics, to refine workflow operations, protocols, and analysis outputs.
• Troubleshoot and optimize lab workflows, continuously improving the data quality and efficiency.
• Work closely with Operations team and Process Scientists to ensure organization of samples, reagents, and lab protocols.

Who You Are

You are a detail-oriented, process-driven scientist with strong expertise in molecular biology and quantification of protein-protein interaction. You thrive in a fast-paced, highly collaborative lab environment and are excited to interface with cutting-edge spatial sequencing technology. Your ability to meticulously document data, follow complex protocols, and troubleshoot experimental workflows makes you an essential part of our discovery team.

Qualifications

• BS/MS in Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Biochemistry, or a related field with 5+ years of hands-on laboratory experience in a research or industry setting.
• Strong technical expertise in molecular biology (including qPCR)
• Strong technical expertise in various protein chromatography techniques like: SDS-PAGE, SEC, IEX, HIC etc
• Strong technical expertise in quantifying protein-protein interactions
• Strong technical expertise in quantifying cell-based binding (FACS-based EC50 determination)
• Strong experience in ELN documentation (Benchling preferred) and data organization, with an emphasis on maintaining highly accurate records.
• Excited to work collaboratively in a cross-functional team environment and effectively communicate results.
• Exceptionally detail-oriented, organized, and process-driven with a strong ability to troubleshoot experimental workflows.
• Strong commitment to lab organization and operations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Industry experience in a biotech or pharma setting.
• Experience interfacing with CROs and external collaborations
• Exposure to computational biology and working alongside bioinformatics or engineering teams.
• Experience with expressing and purifying multi-chain (multi-specific) biologics
• Early phase protein developability assays: AC-SINS, aSEC, HIC, poly-reactivity assays, protein bridging assays etc.
• Protein Library Design, phage or yeast display and Library panning/sorting/ screening
• NGS library preparation
• Tissue-sectioning and histology
• Experience with immune cytotoxicity assays

At Digital Biology, we believe that diverse perspectives drive scientific breakthroughs. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and are committed to fostering an inclusive, innovative team environment.

Company Benefits: Health, vision, life, dental insurance and 401K plan.