Research Scientist II, Protein Expression and Purification at Evozyne Chicago, IL

Research Scientist II, Protein Expression and Purification job cago, IL.

In this high-impact role, you will lead Evozyne's protein expression and purification platform, which enables the discovery and advancement of novel human proteins. Your work will be critical in accelerating and advancing our drug discovery pipeline. You'll provide technical and strategic guidance for recombinant protein expression in eukaryotic and prokaryotic systems and for the purification and characterization of target proteins to enable high-quality, scalable results.

This is a hands‑on leadership opportunity to advance platform capabilities, mentor team members, and drive innovation.

Location: This is an in‑person role, working onsite at our Chicago office.

• Independently lead and manage protein expression and purification activities across multiple projects, supporting discovery research and early development.
• Develop, optimize, and scale expression systems in both eukaryotic (e.g., HEK
  293, CHO) and prokaryotic (e.g.,
  
  E. coli) hosts to produce high-quality recombinant proteins.
• Design and execute purification strategies to obtain proteins with the required purity, yield, and activity (e.g., affinity chromatography, ion‑exchange chromatography, and size‑exclusion‑based chromatography).
• Characterize recombinant proteins using techniques such as SDS‑PAGE, Western blot, SEC‑MALS, HPLC, ELISA, and bioassays.
• Implement high‑throughput workflows for protein expression, purification, and screening.
• Test and advance innovative processes related to the automation of high‑throughput‑based methodologies for protein expression.
• Collaborate closely with scientific program teams to ensure the timely delivery of proteins that meet project needs.

You thrive in an early‑stage start‑up environment where you can leverage your agility and expertise to deliver high‑quality results. You are naturally curious and excel when working collaboratively to solve tough problems. You are a technical expert and a respected people leader with a drive for ongoing learning and development.

• PhD in a scientific discipline and a minimum of 4+ years related experience (including 3+ years' experience working in a research role in a biotech/pharmaceutical company) in an area related to protein biochemistry, in the field of cytokine biology.
• Proven expertise in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic expression systems and protein purification methods.
• Demonstrated experience delivering high‑quality material in support of multiple drug discovery programs
• Exceptional prioritization and organizational skills
• Excellent troubleshooting skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Strong communication and collaboration skills with a track record of working effectively in cross‑functional teams.

• 1+ years direct people management experience strongly preferred
• Prior experience working on cytokines or immune‑modulatory proteins.
• Exposure to early drug discovery workflows and familiarity with downstream applications (e.g., assay development, structural studies).

Please include your list of publications in relevant scientific areas on your resume

The annual base salary for this role is $120,000-$140,000. This is a good faith estimate of the pay range for this position and offers will ultimately be determined based on various factors, including but not limited to, relevant work experience, skills, education, and certifications. As such, final compensation may fall outside of this range. This position will also be eligible for a discretionary bonus.

Evozyne offers a comprehensive benefits package, including group medical, dental and vision insurance, emotional health support, 401k, short and long‑term disability, life and AD&D insurance, and flexible spending accounts.