Upstream Process Development Scientist (HTS & Automation)

Zenith LifeScience; Gaithersburg (MD); On-site; USD 55,000 - 83,000; Part time

Job summary

Zenith LifeScience in Gaithersburg, MD seeks an Upstream Process Development Contractor to optimize microbial glycoprotein production and support high-throughput screening.

You will use automated liquid-handling systems for colony screening, sample prep, assay setup, and data generation, collaborating with teams across upstream process development, molecular biology, analytical biochemistry, and automation.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in molecular biology, biochemistry, microbiology, biotechnology, or bioengineering.
• Hands-on molecular biology, immunoassay methods (ELISA), and microbial culture experience.
• Ability to follow protocols while contributing ideas to improve workflows.
• High-throughput screening or automated liquid-handling experience preferred.
• Bacterial strain engineering, transformation or mutant library experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Support design, execution, and analysis of experiments to identify high-producing colonies and optimize glycoprotein production conditions.
• Develop and execute high-throughput microbial screening workflows using automated liquid-handling systems.
• Prepare cultures, samples, reagents, and assay plates per approved protocols.
• Operate and learn to program automated lab equipment for liquid transfer, dilution, and plate prep.
• Screen mutant libraries and assess glycoprotein production using analytical methods including ELISA.
• Perform DNA extraction, PCR, plasmid prep, transformation, and gel electrophoresis.
• Evaluate and optimize microbial libraries to identify improved glycoprotein producers.
• Contribute to sample prep and data generation for whole-genome sequencing and related analyses.
• Support experiments involving enzymatic glycosylation and glycoprotein characterization.
• Record procedures and results in electronic lab systems and documentation.
• Analyze data, identify trends, and communicate findings to project teams.
• Follow biosafety, quality, data integrity, and company procedures.
• Contribute to automation, genomics, and high-throughput process development.
• Work independently while collaborating with cross-functional scientific teams.

Skills

Molecular biology

Immunoassays (ELISA)

Automated liquid-handling

Glycoprotein production

Bacterial expression systems

Data analysis (Excel, GraphPad)

Laboratory automation

Genome sequencing prep

Team collaboration

Quality documentation

Education

Master’s or PhD in molecular biology/biochemistry/microbiology/biotechnology/bioengineering

Bachelor’s with relevant lab experience

Tools

ELISA

PCR

DNA extraction

Automation platforms

Job description

Zenith LifeScience in Gaithersburg, MD seeks an Upstream Process Development Contractor to optimize microbial glycoprotein production and support high-throughput screening.

You will use automated liquid-handling systems for colony screening, sample prep, assay setup, and data generation, collaborating with teams across upstream process development, molecular biology, analytical biochemistry, and automation.