Scientist Bioscience

Synectics Inc.; Gaithersburg (MD); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401(k) Plan

Job summary

Synectics Inc. in Gaithersburg, MD, is seeking a contractor for the Bacterial Vaccines Biochemistry Team to optimize microbial glycoprotein production using a fully automated system.

You will support high-throughput screening and colony handling, while performing molecular biology techniques and assay development. The role emphasizes wet-lab work with opportunities to learn automation, sequencing preparation, and glycoengineering, contributing to library screening and data generation for project

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in a bioscience field with lab experience.
• Bioscience lab methods including ELISA and microbial work.
• Experience with automated workflows is helpful but training provided.

Responsibilities

• Support high-throughput culture workflows and colony screening.
• Operate automated liquid-handling platforms for sample processing.
• Prepare cultures, reagents, and assay plates per protocols.
• Analyze data from automated assays and report findings.

Skills

Molecular biology techniques

Data analysis

Attention to detail

Laboratory automation

ELISA development

Collaboration

Education

Master's degree in molecular biology or related

PhD in molecular biology/biochemistry/microbiology/biotechnology

Bachelor's degree with relevant lab experience

Tools

Automation/robotics experience

ELISA kits

Whole-genome sequencing prep

Job description

Description

• Spend most of the day supporting experiments in the lab.
• Set up and operate automated workflows and laboratory equipment.
• Plan experiments and determine the required reagents and materials.
• Prepare plates and other materials for robotic processing.
• Support high-throughput culture workflows.
• Manage or monitor automated colony-picking and sample-processing steps.
• Allow the automated system to grow samples, collect aliquots, and transfer them into assays.
• Run high-throughput assays, including ELISA/immunoassays.
• Monitor individual workflow steps and understand the importance and criticality of each operation.
• Analyze and evaluate the data generated by the automated assays.
• Follow established methods and protocols accurately.
• Work closely with the manager and project team to understand both the biology and chemistry behind the workflow.
• Maintain a strong sense of responsibility, organization, and ownership over the experiments.
• Work primarily onsite in the lab, while spending time at a desk for data analysis and experiment planning.
• The Bacterial Vaccines Biochemistry Team is seeking a motivated Upstream Process Development Contractor to support the optimization of microbial glycoprotein production.
• The successful candidate will contribute to a high-throughput screening programmed designed to identify microbial colonies with enhanced glycoprotein expression from a library of mutants.
• The role will involve the use of automated liquid-handling platforms to support experimental workflows, including colony screening, sample preparation, assay set-up, and data generation.
• The contractor will work closely with scientists across upstream process development, molecular biology, analytical biochemistry, and automation.
• This is a four-month opportunity suited to a candidate with practical experience in molecular biology techniques and immunoassays, together with an interest in developing expertise in laboratory automation, whole-genome sequencing, enzymatic glycosylation, library optimization, and high-throughput bioprocessing.
• The contractor will support the design, execution, and analysis of experiments to identify high-producing microbial colonies and optimize glycoprotein production conditions.
• Supporting the development and execution of high-throughput microbial colony screening workflows using automated liquid-handling systems.
• Preparing microbial cultures, samples, reagents, and assay plates in accordance with approved experimental protocols.
• Operating and learning to program automated laboratory equipment for liquid transfer, dilution, plate preparation, and sample processing.
• Screening mutant libraries and assessing glycoprotein production using appropriate analytical methods, including immunoassays such as ELISA.
• Performing routine molecular biology techniques, which may include DNA extraction, PCR, plasmid preparation, transformation, and agarose gel electrophoresis.
• Supporting the evaluation and optimization of microbial libraries to identify improved glycoprotein-producing candidates.
• Contributing to sample preparation and data generation for whole-genome sequencing and related genomic analysis activities.
• Supporting experiments involving enzymatic glycosylation and the characterization of glycoprotein production.
• Recording experimental procedures, observations, and results accurately in electronic laboratory systems and approved documentation.
• Analyzing experimental data, identifying trends, and communicating findings to project team members.
• Following all relevant laboratory, biosafety, quality, data integrity, and company procedures.
• The role is primarily wet-lab based and works closely with the manager and the broader project team.
• The position involves executing experiments using a fully automated, customized system for library screening.

Qualification

• Master's degree or PhD in molecular biology, biochemistry, microbiology, biotechnology, bioengineering, or a related scientific discipline.
• Bachelor's degree and relevant laboratory experience may also be considered, depending on their practical expertise.
• Hands‑on knowledge of molecular biology techniques, microbial culture, and immunoassay methods, preferably including ELISA.
• Experience with bacterial expression systems, protein or glycoprotein production, colony screening, library screening, or assay development would be advantageous.
• Prior automation or robotics experience is helpful but not required; the team will provide training.
• The role requires a careful and methodical approach to laboratory work, with the ability to follow protocols consistently while also contributing ideas to improve experimental workflows.
• The successful candidate should be comfortable working with repetitive, high-throughput experiments, analyzing quantitative data, and maintaining accurate records.
• Demonstrate strong learning ability, organization, and initiative.
• Experience in one or more of the following areas would be beneficial:
  • High-throughput screening or automated liquid-handling platforms.
  • Bacterial strain engineering, transformation, or mutant library generation.
  • Recombinant protein or glycoprotein expression and characterization.
  • ELISA development, optimization, or other plate-based immunoassays.
  • Whole‑genome sequencing sample preparation or interpretation of sequencing results.
  • Enzymatic glycosylation or glycoengineering.
  • Laboratory automation, liquid-handler programming, or integration of automated workflows.
  • Data analysis using tools such as Excel, GraphPad Prism, or equivalent software.
  • Work in an industrial, regulated, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, or vaccine‑development environment.
• Bioscience‑focused role, with preference for candidates who have bacterial fermentation.
• Open to candidates with backgrounds in:
  • Biotechnology
  • Microbiology
  • Biochemistry
  • Chemistry combined with biology experience
• Standard hours are approximately 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., with flexibility preferred for candidates who can start around 7:00 a.m. and leave earlier.

Benefits

• Healthcare Insurance: Synectics offers eligible employees and their dependents healthcare coverage through BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois. Eligibility begins on the 1st day of the calendar month following 60 days of continuous full time employment with Synectics. Premiums are subsidized by Synectics.
• Dental Insurance: Synectics offers eligible employees and their dependents a dental plan through MetLife. Eligibility begins on the 1st day of the calendar month following 60 days of continuous full time employment with Synectics.
• Vision Insurance: Synectics offers eligible employees vision insurance through VSP. Eligibility begins on the 1st day of the calendar month following 60 days of continuous full time employment with Synectics.
• 401(k) Plan: The Synectics Inc. Investment Savings Retirement Plan. Synectics offers all employees who are 21 years of age or older the opportunity to invest in the 401(k) Plan on the first of the month following at least 1 calendar year after employment begins.

Synectics is an equal opportunity employer.