Protein Design Scientist - Hands-On, High-Throughput

Dayhoff Labs; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Visa sponsorship available

Job summary

Dayhoff Labs in Cambridge, MA is seeking a hands-on protein engineer to design and execute campaigns that improve enzyme function. You will select starting points, build variant libraries, and establish screening strategies across iterations.

This role works closely with our computational and ML teams, testing designed proteins at the bench, guiding rounds with results, and developing enzyme cascades for practical applications in biocatalysis.

Qualifications

• Track record of improving protein/enzyme function via directed evolution or rational engineering.
• Fluency in molecular biology techniques including cloning, library construction, mutagenesis, and recombinant protein expression.
• Experience developing and troubleshooting enzyme assays and screening workflows with controls.
• Solid grasp of enzyme mechanism, kinetics, and structure–function relationships.
• Experience independently leading multiple design–build–test cycles.

Responsibilities

• Design and run protein engineering campaigns, from initial enzyme selection and library design through screening and characterisation of improved variants.
• Build and express variant libraries using site-directed, random, and combinatorial mutagenesis.
• Develop assays and high‑throughput screens that reliably measure the properties we’re trying to improve.
• Express, purify, and characterise proteins, measuring kinetics, substrate scope, selectivity, and stability under relevant reaction conditions.
• Work with computational scientists to test proposed designs, interpret successes and failures, and use the results to guide the next round.
• Develop enzymatic reactions and cascades, identifying how enzyme performance, cofactors, and reaction conditions affect overall productivity.

Skills

Directed evolution

Rational engineering

Molecular biology

Cloning

Library design

Mutagenesis

Protein expression

Enzyme assays

High-throughput screening

Kinetics

Job description

Dayhoff Labs in Cambridge, MA is seeking a hands-on protein engineer to design and execute campaigns that improve enzyme function. You will select starting points, build variant libraries, and establish screening strategies across iterations.

This role works closely with our computational and ML teams, testing designed proteins at the bench, guiding rounds with results, and developing enzyme cascades for practical applications in biocatalysis.