Senior Protein Biochemist

Placements24; Riverton (UT); On-site; USD 73,000 - 109,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary package

Medical, dental, vision insurance

Generous paid time off

Professional development opportunities

Modern Upington facility

Retirement savings plans

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Protein Biochemist for a leading biopharmaceutical client in Upington, Northern Cape. The role focuses on expression, purification, and analysis of therapeutic proteins within an advanced R&D setting.

You will lead key biochemical projects and contribute to protein-based drug discovery. The ideal candidate holds a PhD and at least 5 years of experience with recombinant expression in E.

Qualifications

• PhD in Biochemistry, Protein Chemistry, Biophysics, or related life science.
• A minimum of 5 years of post-doctoral or relevant industry experience in protein biochemistry.
• Extensive hands-on experience with recombinant protein expression (e.g., E. coli, mammalian cells) and purification techniques (e.g., chromatography, FPLC).
• Proven expertise in a variety of biochemical and biophysical assay methodologies.
• Strong understanding of enzyme kinetics, protein-ligand binding, and protein stability.
• Experience with SPR, ITC, CD spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry is highly desirable.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and a meticulous approach to experimental design and execution.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team.
• Experience in therapeutic protein development is a significant advantage.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize expression, purification, and characterization of recombinant proteins.
• Perform rigorous biochemical and biophysical assays to assess activity, stability, and interactions.
• Troubleshoot protein purification and assay development challenges.
• Collaborate with molecular biologists, structural biologists, and cell biologists to advance protein-based drug discovery programs.
• Design and execute experiments to support lead optimization and preclinical development of therapeutic proteins.
• Analyze and interpret complex biochemical data, presenting findings clearly to project teams and management.

Skills

Protein biochemistry

Protein expression

Purification techniques

Enzyme kinetics

Biophysics

Data analysis

Education

PhD in Biochemistry, Protein Chemistry, Biophysics, or related life science

Tools

SPR

ITC

CD spectroscopy

Mass spectrometry

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leading biopharmaceutical company, is seeking a highly skilled and motivated Senior Protein Biochemist to join their advanced research and development department in Upington, Northern Cape. This critical role focuses on the characterization, purification, and functional analysis of therapeutic proteins. The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of protein chemistry, enzymology, and protein-ligand interactions. You will be responsible for leading key biochemical projects, optimizing protein production and purification processes, and contributing to the development of novel protein-based therapeutics. This position offers an exciting opportunity to work on impactful projects in a collaborative and state-of-the-art research environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize methods for the expression, purification, and characterization of recombinant proteins.
• Perform rigorous biochemical and biophysical assays to assess protein activity, stability, and interactions (e.g., enzyme kinetics, binding assays, SPR).
• Troubleshoot protein purification and assay development challenges.
• Investigate protein structure-function relationships and their impact on biological activity.
• Collaborate with molecular biologists, structural biologists, and cell biologists to advance protein-based drug discovery programs.
• Design and execute experiments to support lead optimization and preclinical development of therapeutic proteins.
• Analyze and interpret complex biochemical data, presenting findings clearly to project teams and management.
• Maintain detailed laboratory records and contribute to scientific reports, publications, and patent applications.
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior scientists and research associates.
• Stay current with the latest advancements in protein biochemistry and related fields.

Requirements

• PhD in Biochemistry, Protein Chemistry, Biophysics, or a related life science discipline.
• A minimum of 5 years of post-doctoral or relevant industry experience in protein biochemistry.
• Extensive hands-on experience with recombinant protein expression (e.g., E. coli, mammalian cells) and purification techniques (e.g., chromatography, FPLC).
• Proven expertise in a variety of biochemical and biophysical assay methodologies.
• Strong understanding of enzyme kinetics, protein-ligand binding, and protein stability.
• Experience with techniques such as SPR, ITC, CD spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry is highly desirable.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and a meticulous approach to experimental design and execution.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team.
• Experience in therapeutic protein development is a significant advantage.

Benefits

• Our client offers a competitive salary package, commensurate with your experience and expertise, along with performance-based bonuses.
• A comprehensive benefits program includes excellent medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous paid time off, including annual leave, sick days, and public holidays, ensures a healthy work-life balance.
• Opportunities for professional development, such as attending scientific conferences and specialized training, are actively supported.
• The role is based in a modern, well-equipped facility in Upington, Northern Cape, offering a stimulating and collaborative work environment.
• Retirement savings plans are also provided.