Research Associate I/II - Protein Engineering

Valora Therapeutics, Inc.; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Medical, dental, vision insurance

Relocation assistance (if eligible)

Parental leave

Paid holidays

Year-end shutdown

Job summary

Valora Therapeutics, Inc. in San Diego, CA, is seeking a hands-on scientist to support R&D Operations.

You will design and optimize antibody and protein production workflows, perform purification and analytical characterization, and contribute to the development of novel biologics in a fast-paced environment. The role emphasizes benchwork, cross-functional collaboration, and quality-focused development of therapeutic proteins, with compensation including stock options and a comprehensive

Qualifications

• MS/BS with 4+ years in academia or biopharma.
• Background in protein engineering and recombinant production/purification.
• Experience with Fc engineering and bispecific antibody formats.
• Hands-on purification using FPLC and chromatography.
• Strong data analysis and documentation skills.
• Troubleshooting and cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Design, optimize and execute transient transfection and purification workflows for antibodies and proteins across scales.
• Evaluate protein attributes using biophysical and bioanalytical methods.
• Establish quality requirements for proteins used in in vitro/in vivo studies.
• Assist in experiments evaluating engineered antibodies and apply problem-solving skills.
• Stay current with antibody engineering advances and apply new concepts to projects.

Skills

Protein engineering

Recombinant protein production

Purification

HPLC

SDS-PAGE

Western blot

ELISA

Biophysical characterization

Data analysis

Troubleshooting

Team collaboration

Scientific rigor

Education

MS/BS with 4+ years experience

Tools

GraphPad Prism

FPLC

Chromatography

Job description

Valora Therapeutics Inc. (Valora) is a pre-clinical stage biopharmaceutical company based in San Diego, California, USA, pioneering a new biologic platform invented by Nobel Laureate Dr. Carolyn Bertozzi (Stanford). Our proprietary platform technology enables the engineering of chimeric antibodies to unlock new mechanisms of immune signaling and activity, paving the way for transformative therapies in oncology, immune diseases, and beyond.

About the Opportunity:

Valora is excited to expand our Protein Engineering team and is looking for a highly motivated scientist to support our R&D Operations in developing next-generation antibody therapeutics using our proprietary chimeric antibody platform. This role will focus on hands‑on laboratory work and will include activities such as the following:

In this position, you will:

• Contribute to both day-to-day operations and the advancement of Protein Science workflows. This position will support the design, optimization, and execution of transient transfection/purification processes at various scales for antibody and protein production in multiple expression systems.
• Leverage expertise in biophysical/bioanalytical characterization to evaluate key protein attributes.
• Establish quality requirements for proteins used in functional in vitro/in vivo studies and develop/execute protocols to deliver well‑characterized proteins.
• Assist in the design and execution of experiments to evaluate novel engineered antibodies, applying critical thinking and problem‑solving skills.

• Stay current with advancements in antibody engineering, characterization and immunology, applying this knowledge to ongoing projects.

About You:

Education and Experience:

• Minimum requirements: MS/BS with 4+ years of experience in an academic or biopharmaceutical industry setting.

Technical Skills and Knowledge:

• Background in protein engineering, recombinant protein production/purification, research-stage process and/or bioanalytical development
• Familiarity with antibody engineering concepts and methods, including Fc engineering for enhanced effector functions, bispecific and multispecific antibody formats, etc.
• Develop and execute the development of robust processes to support antibody production workflows.Optimize expression and purifications methods for antibodies, difficult‑to‑handle proteins and optimize platform processes for higher production yields and desired quality attributes.
• Hands‑on expertise with recombinant protein purification using FPLC and chromatography approaches such as affinity, ion exchange, hydrophobic interaction, and size exclusion.
• Strong working knowledge of recombinant protein analytical characterization using techniques such as HPLC, SDS‑PAGE, Western blotting, ELISA, and other biochemical or biophysical assays.
• Support developability assessment of antibodies for stability, purity and other relevant biophysical properties
• Apply specialized technical knowledge of protein expression, purification and chromatography to make detailed observations, analyze process data, evaluate chromatograms, and ensure processes are operating within established parameters.
• Troubleshoot and refine current Protein Science processes, for throughput, quality, and efficiency
• Assistance in general lab tasks to support analytical biochemistry and biophysical techniques, including sample preparation, data collection and data analysis
• Excellent analytical, communication, and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities
• This role offers opportunities for broad technical growth, including assay development, molecular biology, protein engineering and early‑stage bio characterization.
• Experience with phage and yeast display techniques is a plus
• Excellent troubleshooting and problem‑solving capabilities are required Self‑motivated team player with excellent record keeping as well as written and verbal communication skills
• The candidate must be detail‑oriented, analytical, and collaborative, thriving in a dynamic environment that values innovation, cross‑disciplinary interaction, and scientific rigor.

General Scientific Skills:

• Strong analytical and data interpretation skills, with the ability to integrate complex datasets from multiple assay types
• Proficiency in statistical analysis and data visualization tools (e.g., GraphPad Prism, etc)
• Excellent documentation practices and attention to detail, including experience with electronic lab notebooks (ELNs)
• Ability to design and execute well‑controlled experiments, including power analysis for appropriate sample size determination
• Experience with systematic literature review and critical evaluation of scientific papers, including meta‑analysis techniques
• Familiarity with project management tools and techniques to coordinate complex experimental workflows
• Experience with literature review and critical evaluation of scientific papers

Personal Qualities:

• Demonstrated ability to think critically and approach scientific problems creatively
• Good communication skills, both written and verbal, for presenting scientific concepts
• Collaborative mindset with the ability to work effectively in cross‑functional teams
• Adaptability and willingness to learn new techniques and concepts quickly
• Self‑motivated with the ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Passion for scientific innovation and drug discovery

What We Offer:

• The opportunity to be at the forefront of groundbreaking antibody therapeutic development.
• A collaborative and supportive team environment with a highly dynamic and entrepreneurial environment.

Compensation:

In addition to a competitive compensation package with stock options, the company also offers a comprehensive benefits package for our employees and their families, which includes medical, dental, vision, and supplemental disability insurance.

Job Type:

Full‑time, 5 days a week presence at the laboratories (this is not a remote work).

$70,000 – 95,000 (non‑exempt)

Supplemental Pay Types:

Annual Bonus: 10%

Equity

• 401(k)
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Flexible vacation
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Parental leave
• Paid holidays
• Relocation assistance (if eligible)
• Vision insurance
• Year‑end shutdown

Join Valora Therapeutics and unleash the potential of protein engineering to revolutionize medicine!

• Valora Therapeutics is an equal opportunity employer committed to scientific excellence, innovation, and improving the lives of patients through transformative medicines.