Research Scientist I, Biochemistry and Microbiology Division

neb; Ipswich (MA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual profit-sharing bonus

ESOP after two years

401k match

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

New England Biolabs is seeking a Research Scientist I to bridge bench biochemistry with automated, high-throughput engineering within the DBTL framework. You will collaborate across cores to advance enzyme projects from design to testing.

Ideal candidates hold a PhD with 1–2 years of industrial or academic experience, strong knowledge of enzyme mechanisms, and hands-on experience in plate-based assays and liquid handling automation.

Qualifications

• PhD in a scientific discipline with relevant experience.
• Experience with protein structure-function relationships.
• Experience with directed evolution or protein engineering.
• Experience developing or miniaturizing plate-based assays; familiarity with liquid-handling automation.

Responsibilities

• Design enzyme chemistry-based residue selection and engineering strategy.
• Translate assays for enzyme families into high-throughput formats.
• Establish high-throughput kinetic workflows and manage data generation.
• Advise on clone design and protein purification with Core teams.
• Test and biochemically characterize promising hits; learn with Bioinformatics Core.

Skills

Protein engineering

Directed evolution

Plate-based assays

Automation

Education

PhD

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.

How you'll contribute

• 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