Scientist, Research Scientist

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Department/Job : Protein Chemistry and Engineering

Reports To: Principal Scientist

Direct Reports (if any): N/A

The candidate for the Scientist position within the protein biologics division is responsible for bringing a creative edge to the group in terms of new method development and contributing to the development of new IP. The candidate will be responsible for various aspects of design, engineering, protein expression, and purification of soluble & integral membrane proteins using the fermentation set-up and contribute to the development of bioprocessing activities within the team.

The candidate will collaboratively work with the Principal Scientist and other team members within the R&D team and will be responsible for aiding the implementation of R&D project plans and meeting milestones on key deliverables.

Role 1: Protein engineering and construct design

• Use molecular biology/cloning techniques to design protein constructs that result in efficient purification schemes of soluble and membrane proteins.
• Use molecular modelling techniques to examine protein structures to design / engineer point mutations to increase stability, performance (activity) or yield of soluble and integral membrane proteins.

Role 2: Protein expression, purification, and biochemical characterization

• Prepare necessary raw materials in laboratory processes e.g., buffers, solvents, media, etc.
• Perform batch or fed‑batch fermentation to express soluble and integral membrane proteins in small and large scale.
• Perform pilot/microscale experiments to find conditions to improve protein expression, stability, and yield with downstream processes in mind.
• Use established SOPs to independently carry out protein expression and purification processes for downstream biochemical and biophysical analysis such as SDS and Blue native PAGE, DLS, UV‑Vis spectroscopy, fluorescence imaging and confocal LSM.
• Work closely with Bioprocessing team in advancing strain development efforts.
• Prepare new SOPs and work instructions capturing the workflow of new processes being developed within the protein biologics department.
• Be accountable for project deliverables and communicate status and other related information to management and project team members.
• Focused on details and efficiency in the laboratory as well as having an interdisciplinary approach to the tasks at hand while exercising good laboratory practice.

Be accountable for project deliverables and communicate status and other related information to management and project team members. Focused on details and efficiency in the laboratory as well as having an interdisciplinary approach to the tasks at hand while exercising good laboratory practice.

• Collaboratively work with team members within the Protein group and from other groups within the R&D division to provide research plans, perform and analyze additional experiments and present the results to the department and/or the R&D team.
• Be responsible for documentation and reporting of technical progress and results in the form of detailed reports, presentations and in Sci Note.
• Participate in the general upkeep and maintenance of the laboratory facilities and equipment according to OSHA standards.
• Perform periodic literature searches to be aware of new cutting‑edge technology within the field of interest to the group.
• Participate in conferences and stay engaged with the wider protein science community in both industry and academia to network and showcase Vandstrom’s scientific advances in protein sciences.
• Contribute to writing scientific manuscripts for publication.
• Contribute to structural biology efforts such as X‑ray crystallography, single particle cryo
  
  TEM or triple‑resonance NMR to decipher protein structure at high resolution.
• Develop and implement new strategies to characterize conformational dynamics and stability of membrane proteins in nanoparticles such as liposomes, polymersomes and GUVs.

Other duties as assigned.

• Minimum of 1‑2 years of experience working in an industrial bio‑technology research…