Research Scientist I, Biochemistry and Microbiology Division

New England Biolabs; Ipswich (MA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Profit-sharing bonus

ESOP

10% 401k match

Benefits package

Job summary

New England Biolabs (NEB) invites applicants for Research Scientist I to join the DBTL team. You will bridge bench biochemistry with automated high-throughput engineering, guiding residue selection and assay design across enzyme families.

PhD level candidates with 1–2 years of relevant experience who can manage rapid experimentation, multitask under pressure, and communicate effectively across cores will thrive. Competitive base salary with strong benefits and ESOP options.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in a scientific discipline with 1–2 years of academic or industry experience.
• Knowledge of protein structure–function relationships and mechanistic enzymology.
• Experience with directed evolution or protein engineering.
• Experience developing or miniaturizing plate-based assays; familiarity with liquid-handling automation is required.
• Ability to collaborate across labs and core facilities.
• Strong multitasking and attention to detail; rigorous notebook practices.
• Proven bench work quality and careful, consistent experiments.

Responsibilities

• Design enzyme chemistry and structure-guided residue selection and engineering strategy.
• Translate assays for enzyme families into high-throughput formats and optimize for automation.
• Establish high-throughput kinetic workflows and manage data generation and analysis.
• Advise on clone design and protein purification; coordinate with Cloning and Protein Purification Core.
• Validate hits from the Functional Screening Core and biochemically characterize promising candidates.
• Interpret results with the Bioinformatics Core and inform the next engineering cycle.

Skills

Protein structure-function

Directed evolution/Protein engineering

Plate-based assays/Automation

Across-lab collaboration

Lab notebook discipline

Multitasking under pressure

Education

Ph.D. in a scientific discipline

Tools

Liquid-handling automation

Job description

About NEB

New England Biolabs® is a different kind of biotechnology company – we are a community of scientists, innovators and collaborators driven by a shared mission to advance science for the benefit of society. Founded in 1974 with a deep commitment to research excellence and environmental stewardship, NEB® has become a global leader in the discovery and production of enzymes for molecular biology applications. Our reagents are trusted by researchers worldwide for their quality and reliability and have played a critical role in breakthroughs across genomics, proteomics, diagnostics and academic research. With a corporate culture rooted in passion, humility and authenticity, we offer a dynamic and inclusive workplace where creativity thrives, voices are heard, and personal growth is celebrated. Whether you are interested in pursuing a research career or supporting our mission through other roles, joining NEB means contributing to meaningful scientific progress in a collaborative, campus-like environment that values both innovation and integrity.

The Role

We are inviting applicants for the position of Research Scientist I. Reporting to the Associate Director of Research (Biochemistry and Microbiology Division) and working in close collaboration with the Research Cores, you will be an integral member of the Design-Build-Test-Learn (DBTL) Team responsible for our protein engineering efforts. You will be the team’s link between enzyme biochemistry at the bench and automated, high-throughput engineering.

• Design: Apply your knowledge of enzyme chemistry and structure to guide residue selection and engineering strategy.
• Assay translation: Work with research labs to translate assays for a variety of enzyme families into robust, high-throughput formats, optimizing them for throughput and automation before handing them to the Functional Screening Core for testing.
• Kinetic workflows: Establish high-throughput kinetic workflows and manage data generation and analysis using modern kinetic tools.
• Build: Advise on clone design and protein purification needs, and work with the Cloning and Protein Purification Core on defining the best strategies.
• Test: Validate successful hits from the Functional Screening Core and biochemically characterize the most promising ones using high-throughput kinetics.
• Learn: Interpret results together with the Bioinformatics Core and advise on the design of the next engineering cycle.

Required Qualifications/ Experience

• Ph.D. in a scientific discipline with 1-2 years of academic or industry experience.
• Working knowledge of protein structure-function relationships and mechanistic enzymology.
• Experience with directed evolution or protein engineering.
• Experience developing or miniaturizing plate-based assays; familiarity with liquid-handling automation is required.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across labs and core facilities.
• Strong ability to multitask and perform effectively under pressure while maintaining high attention to detail.
• Excellent organizational and communication skills, including rigorous lab notebook practices.
• Proven “good hands” at the bench and the ability to perform careful and consistent experiments.

What will make you stand out

• Knowledge of electron pushing and organic chemistry.
• Experience across diverse enzyme families.
• Creativity and an innovative approach to problem-solving.
• Excitement for continued learning and for tackling new projects.

Estimated base salary hiring range for this position is $80,000-$90,000 Base salary is one component of our generous total rewards compensation package.

Employees are eligible to receive:

• Annual discretionary profit-sharing bonus
• Participation in our Employee Stock Ownership Plan "ESOP" (eligible after two full years of service)
• Exceptional benefits package at a nominal cost to the employee including a 10% 401k match

Benefits at NEB Base salary decisions depend on several factors, including, but not limited to, individual qualifications, job location, internal equity, and market data alignment.

Equal Opportunity Employer, including disabled/veterans

New England Biolabs is committed to fostering an inclusive community. As an Equal Employment Opportunity employer, New England Biolabs considers applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, age, qualified physical or mental disability, transgender status, marital status, ethnicity, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, or status as a disabled veteran or any other protected veteran, in all phases of the employment process and in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. More in-depth details of EEO are available here.

New England Biolabs is a participating employer in the Employment Verification (E-Verify) program.

If you need an accommodation for any part of the employment process because of a medical condition or disability, please send an email to [e-mail] or call 978-927-5054 to let us know the nature of your request.

Employment at NEB offers a challenging and creative work environment in a state-of-the-art research and production facility, with a team of exceptional scientists and professional staff.

The NEB culture emphasizes personal and professional growth through creativity, teamwork, respect and responsibility, while maintaining a casual campus-like working environment.

Our diverse and talented team of scientists enjoy a collaborative research environment with much of the freedom and intellectual challenge of academia.

Our unique corporate philosophy encourages dialogue and innovation.

NEB’s philosophy can be distilled down to three core values: passion, humility and being genuine.