Sr Research Associate/ Scientist, Enzyme Development

About the role

The Enzyme Development Sr. Research Associate / Scientist I will join an interdisciplinary team working on the biocatalytic foundation of ZymoChem. The successful candidate will work in a fast-paced, goal-oriented environment and advance their career at the cutting edge of synthetic biology. We are looking for you if you are a curious problem-solver with an interest in the nuts-and-bolts of challenging biocatalysts. We also want a collaborative spirit, who will support multiple stages in the R&D pipeline.

Responsibilities

• Design - Connect sequence-structure-function with computational tools, and use this to design the DNA library that will be used in the protein engineering campaign.
• Build - Library construction, cloning, and QC.
• Test - More than 50% of your time will be spent testing proteins. This will include both library screening and protein purification + characterization. Additional responsibilities in this role will be developing and refining high-throughput screens, and using Automation to improve assay throughput.
• Learn - Integrating the data from the protein engineering & characterization into testable insights to inform further improvements. You will then work collaboratively with Biology, Strain engineering and Fermentation teams to apply those insights to improve strain productivity.
• Gather and analyze data, discuss with team members to develop next steps and new ideas, and present findings to the broader team.
• Clearly document and maintain laboratory notebooks and computer documentation and protocols
• Research, read, comprehend, and summarize relevant scientific literature to support work, contribute to optimization of projects and to explore new technologies or strategies for improvement.
• Participate and contribute ideas in group and project meetings or with other internal and external stakeholders.
• Aid in the preparation of technical documents and assist scientists or engineers for projects, publications, and patents.

Qualifications

• BS, MS, PhD in Chemistry, Chemical Biology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, (Bio)chemical Engineering, or related field.
• 1-6+ years of relevant industrial experience. Leveling dependent on overall experience between education and work experience.
• Essential skills and hands-on experience are in the specific operations of protein characterization and engineering:
• Solid knowledge of biochemistry, enzyme mechanisms, and reaction dynamics.
• Strong basic molecular biology skills for cloning (PCR, Gibson, Golden Gate, etc.). Experience making medium or large libraries a plus.
• Experience in protein purification, biophysical characterization and enzyme kinetic characterization.
• Experience developing new assays and / or troubleshooting existing ones.
• Experience developing and executing screens & selections for collections of proteins (low-, med-, or high-throughput).
• Strong data analysis skills. We want you if you can integrate a lot of disparate data into a coherent picture, and if when the data leads you to a hypothesis your intuition is to plan an experiment to test it.
• Nice-to-have skills that support this (let us know if this is you, but none are required):
• Experience connecting sequence, structure, and function with SOTA computational tools (Eg. Rosetta, Schrodinger BioLuminate, etc.).
• Experience sifting through large databases (eg. NCBI, metagenomic databases) to identify candidate enzymes.
• Experience building protocols for lab automation (BioMek, Opentrons, etc.).
• Experience translating enzyme engineering goals to improve productivity in strains and fermentations.

Culture and Benefits

• We are a mission-driven team building the future of sustainable materials. At ZymoChem, you’ll work on bold ideas with smart, collaborative people while enjoying benefits that support you to have work & life balance.
• Full-time opportunities at ZymoChem come with:
• Competitive pay range of $110,000-140,000 based on experience.
• Company stock options
• 401(k) retirement plan (traditional and Roth) with up to 4% company match
• 100% Employee coverage on base medical, dental, and vision plans and up to 80% dependent coverage. and life and long-term disability insurance.
• Additional benefits include FSA, commuter, and supplemental life insurance.
• Flexible time off policy with 18 days Paid Time Off (PTO) per year and 11 paid company holidays per year.
• Relocation assistance may be agreed upon as well.
• Monthly Team all-hands and social events.