Research Scientist - Protein Design & Analysis

AZBio Board; Scottsdale (AZ); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity (stock options)

Company-paid medical, dental, vision,

life insurance

401(k) with 3% company match

Onsite fitness center

Job summary

SPOC Biosciences seeks a hands-on Research Scientist (PhD or Postdoc) with strong protein biochemistry and molecular biology training to guide AI-enabled drug discovery efforts.

You will design high throughput experiments, develop binding assays (SPR and related platforms), generate quantitative interaction data, and contribute to validating AI-designed binders while collaborating with senior scientists in a fast-paced startup setting.

Qualifications

• PhD in a relevant field with wet lab experience and ability to design independent assays.
• Experience studying protein-protein or protein-antibody interactions.
• Strong data analysis and experimental design skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute high throughput protein characterization experiments.
• Develop and optimize binding assays (including SPR).
• Generate high quality quantitative interaction data sets.
• Contribute to validation of AI-designed protein and antibody binders.
• Analyze data and produce visualizations and reports.

Skills

Wet lab experience

Independent assay design

Data analysis

Communication skills

Fast-paced environment

Team collaboration

Education

PhD or equivalent in Molecular Biology / Biochemistry / Bioengineering / Protein Engineering

Tools

SPR

Python

R

Job description

About SPOC Biosciences

SPOC Biosciences is building the next-generation drug discovery & lab-in-the-loop protein design platform that integrates on-chip protein synthesis, high-resolution kinetic measurements and best in class engineering & automation. Our goal is to supercharge the discovery of next-generation biologics and accelerate AI drug design.

We collaborate with leading pharmaceutical companies, AI drug discovery startups, and academic institutions to advance therapeutics development.

Role Overview

We are seeking a motivated and hands-on Research Scientist (PhD or Postdoctoral level) with strong training in protein biochemistry and molecular biology. This role requires independent scientific judgment, strong assay development skills, and ability to work in a fast-paced startup environment. This role is ideal for recent PhD graduates or postdocs who are excited to apply rigorous experimental science to AI-enabled drug discovery.

You will work closely with senior scientists to:

• Design and execute high throughput protein characterization experiments
• Develop and optimize binding assays (including SPR and related platforms)
• Generate high quality quantitative interaction data sets
• Contribute to validation of AI-designed protein and antibody binders
• Analyze experimental data and produce high quality visualization and reports

Required Qualifications

• PhD in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Bioengineering, Protein Engineering, or related field (recent graduates with relevant experience are encouraged to apply)
• Wet lab experience in molecular biology and biochemistry, with particular emphasis on independent assay design
• Experience studying or computational modeling of protein-protein or protein-antibody interactions
• Strong foundation in experimental design and data analysis
• Demonstrated ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Postdoctoral research experience is welcomed but not required.

Nice to Have

• Experience with Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) or other quantitative binding techniques
• Familiarity with high-throughput assay development
• Exposure to De novo AI design of protein or antibody binders
• Expression and characterization of membrane proteins and/or PTMs
• Computational protein modelling and Analysis
• Basic programming (Python, R, or similar) & use of AI coding tools

What You’ll Gain

• Direct experience at the intersection of experimental protein science and AI-driven design
• Mentorship from experienced scientists and startup leadership
• Exposure to collaborations with pharma and leading AI drug discovery companies
• Opportunity to contribute to publications and high-impact scientific outputs
• Fast learning curve in a growing biotech startup

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive salary based on experience
• Equity (stock options)
• Company-paid medical, dental, vision, and life insurance
• 401(k) with 3% company match
• Onsite fitness center