Research Associate, Strain Creation and Fermentation , Medford, MA | Full-time

Sunflowertx; Medford (MA); Vor Ort; USD 65.000 - 90.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

Sunflower Therapeutics PBC in Medford, MA is seeking a Research Associate to design, create and test yeast strains expressing recombinant proteins. You will contribute to strain engineering, fermentation development, and analytical characterization to support scalable manufacturing platforms.

Reporting to the Associate Director of R&D, you will perform molecular cloning, strain development and fermentation assays, maintain SOPs, and communicate results to internal and external stakeholders,

Qualifikationen

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant scientific field (biology, engineering, chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology).
• 1–2 years of relevant lab experience in academic or industrial settings.
• Experience with microbial cultivation (yeast or E. coli) and sterile technique preferred.
• Experience with DNA assembly and cloning (PCR, Gibson assembly, DNA purification, transformation).
• Knowledge of protein analytical techniques (SDS-PAGE, Western blot, ELISA) preferred.

Aufgaben

• Designs and creates yeast strains expressing recombinant proteins using state-of-the-art cloning and gene editing techniques.
• Develops cultivation/fermentation conditions and assays for screening strain performance.
• Performs yeast cultivations across plates, shake flasks, and bioreactors.
• Analyzes protein expression using SDS-PAGE, Western blot, and/or ELISA.
• Trouble-shoots and optimizes strain performance.
• Maintains lab equipment, space, and supplies related to strain engineering and fermentation.
• Implements and maintains SOPs and data records for strain engineering and fermentation.
• Communicates experimental plans and results with internal and external stakeholders.
• Contributes to innovation and accelerates development of protein manufacturing processes.

Kenntnisse

Yeast cultivation

DNA assembly

Gibson assembly

Cloning

Protein analysis

SDS-PAGE

Western blot

ELISA

Analytical skills

Communication

Ausbildung

Bachelor’s degree in bioscience

Tools

Gibson assembly

PCR

Western blot

ELISA

Jobbeschreibung

Research Associate, Strain Creation and Fermentation

Sunflower® Therapeutics PBC
Medford, MA | Full-time
Start Date: September 2026

Position overview.Sunflower Therapeutics PBC is recruiting a motivated and highly organized individual to support its mission to dramatically reduce the time and cost to develop and manufacture biologics for patients around the world. Sunflower is advancing “right-sized” and efficient approaches to manufacturing proteins using strain engineering, integrated process development, and automated multi-product facilities. Reporting to the Associate Director of R&D, the Strain Creation and Fermentation Research Associate will be responsible for designing, creating, and testing yeast strains expressing recombinant proteins. This individual will engage in research activities to support the development of processes for benchtop and pilot scale manufacturing platforms, including but not limited to: molecular cloning, strain development and characterization, fermentation, and protein characterization. As Sunflower grows, the Strain Creation and Fermentation Research Associate will contribute to the continuous improvement of Sunflower’s strain development capabilities to enable the rapid and extensive evaluation of expressibility and manufacturability for new protein products in yeast.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Designs and creates yeast strains expressing recombinant proteins using state-of-the-art cloning and gene editing techniques


• Develops suitable cultivation/fermentation conditions (including cultivation media) and assays for screening the performance of new yeast strains


• Designs and conducts yeast cultivations across multiple volumetric scales including plates, shake flasks and bioreactors


• Analyzes protein expression using techniques such as SDS-PAGE, Western blot, and/or ELISA


• Troubleshoots and optimizes strain performance


• Maintains laboratory equipment, space, and supplies related to strain engineering and fermentation


• Designs, implements and maintains standard operating procedures and data records related to strain engineering and fermentation


• Communicates experimental planning and results with both internal and external stakeholders


• Champions innovation and drives implementation thereof to reduce the time and cost to develop processes for the manufacturing of proteins for patients and consumers around the world


• Supports writing of reporting documents, technical documents, and any other necessary documentation

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant scientific discipline (biology, engineering, chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology)


• 1-2 years of relevant experience in academic and/or industrial lab setting (including lab courses, internships or co-ops)


• Aligned with Sunflower’s mission and values


• Prior experience in microbial cultivation (yeast or E. coli) and sterile technique


• Prior experience with DNA assembly and cloning (PCR, Gibson assembly, DNA purification, bacterial or yeast transformation)


• Knowledge of protein analytical techniques (such as SDS-PAGE, Western blot, ELISA) preferred


• Strong analytical and organizational skills, including meticulous attention to detail and multi-tasking capabilities


• Enthusiastic, collaborative, and proactive attitude


• Excellent verbal and written interpersonal communication skills


• Ability to easily adapt to rapidly changing company and program needs


• Focused on continued skill building and career development