Assistant or Associate Project Scientist​/Scientific Managing Director

Assistant or Associate Project Scientist/Scientific Managing Director - NSF Center for Genetically Encoded Materials - Department of Chemistry Position Overview

Position title:

Scientific Managing Director

Salary range: $76,700 - $115,400 (UC academic salary scales, see table at https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below).).

Percent time: 100%

Anticipated start:
Spring 2026

Position duration:
Initial one-year appointment with possible reappointment dependent on performance, project needs, and budget

• Open date:
  December 19, 2025
• Next review date:
  January 4, 2026 at 11:59pm Pacific Time
• Final date:
  January 30, 2026 at 11:59pm Pacific Time
• Applications accepted until final date; after review date considered only if position not yet filled.

The Department of Chemistry at UC Berkeley seeks an Assistant Project Scientist or Associate Project Scientist who will work closely with Professor Alanna Schepartz as a Scientific Managing Director.

Primary responsibilities:

design, perform, and analyze experiments relevant to the research mission of the NSF Center for Genetically Encoded Materials (C‑GEM).

• Independently design and execute experiments related to C‑GEM research aims, including rigorous data analysis, developing novel synthetic methodologies, contributing to project direction discussions, staying current in literature, publishing in high-impact journals, presenting research, maintaining documentation, preparing grant reporting figures, and training junior lab members.
• Provide project-specific research guidance to graduate and undergraduate researchers, offering feedback on fellowship applications, manuscripts, and research presentations.
• Identify synergies between groups, propose collaborations, identify gaps, track interdisciplinary activities and milestones, facilitate IP development with faculty, tech transfer offices, and industrial partners, promote public accessibility of data through preprints and repositories, oversee executive committee decisions, and manage career development funds.
• Supervise reportees, ensuring completion of Center programming such as talks, meetings, community outreach, and project meetings.
• Manage Center financial and HR resources: develop annual budget, oversee research administrators, manage subawards, supervise HR activities, procure equipment, and allocate funds through calls for proposals.
• Serve as primary contact with NSF, Executive Committee, External Advisory Board, Industrial Affiliates Group, Chemistry Department, partner institutions, committees, including DEIB and outreach groups.
• Direct compliance with NSF Cooperative Agreement requirements, organize annual meetings, manage organizational tools, develop industrial membership program, and write reports for NSF.

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• Basic:
  PhD or equivalent international degree or enrollment in a PhD program.
• Additional:
  PhD or equivalent international degree.
• Preferred:
  PhD in Chemistry or related field; experience liaising with industrial/government partners; teamwork; scientific writing; publications; expertise in organic synthesis and complex biomolecule characterization; solid‑phase peptide synthesis and macrocyclization; knowledge of genetic code expansion; mentorship; community outreach; NSF reporting knowledge.

• Curriculum Vitae
• Cover Letter
• References: 3-5 contact information.

/JPF
05211

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UC Berkeley is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status.

Berkeley, CA