Research Scientist (Research Associate) - 1-year Term

DREAM (AI-Driven, Rapid, Experimental Automation Machine) Cloud Lab for Protein Engineering is a national user facility designed to accelerate protein engineering for diverse biotechnology applications, including manufacturing, medicine, agriculture, and waste recycling. This role supports the operation of an automated cell-free protein synthesis and characterization wet-lab, integrated with an AI-driven design-build-test-learn framework. The Research Scientist will lead experimental workflows, ensuring robust, scalable, and reproducible processes for protein engineering while collaborating with data scientists to generate AI-compatible data.

Responsibilities

• Develop, validate, and scale automated cell-free protein engineering workflows.
• Implement and troubleshoot protocols on robotic and automated systems.
• Optimize cell-free protein synthesis and expression systems.
• Perform protein expression, purification, and analytical characterization.
• Ensure reproducibility and maintain quality control across workflows.
• Collaborate with data scientists to integrate experimental pipelines.
• Onboard new users and experimental protocols into the platform.
• Evaluate and adopt emerging lab automation tools.
• Relay key practices and concepts to DREAM users.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Ph.D. in biochemistry, bioengineering, molecular biology, or a related field.
• 3–5+ years of experience in protein engineering, synthetic biology, or a related field.
• Expertise in cell-free systems and protein characterization techniques.
• Experience with high-throughput workflows or lab automation platforms.
• Strong experimental troubleshooting and independent project management skills.
• Experience working with a team on shared research projects.
• Ability to clearly document and explain work for distribution to customers.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with LC-MS/MS, HPLC, sequencing, circular dichroism, AlphaLISA or ELISA assays, and lab-scale bioreactors.
• Proficiency in cell-free protein synthesis, molecular biology techniques, and lab automation systems.
• Experience with high-throughput experimental design, data analysis, and statistical methods for data quality evaluation.

Pay

Target hiring range for this position is $100,000–$120,000 per year, with the offered salary determined by the applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity and market data.

Benefits

• Health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance.
• Paid vacation, holidays, medical/sick leave, and parental leave.
• Tuition benefits for employees and dependents.
• Pre-tax and flex spending accounts for commuting and dependent care.
• Retirement savings options.
• Wellness programs.
• Work-life programs, including flexible work arrangements, childcare, and senior/adult care support.
• Professional growth and development resources.