Scientist - Protein Production

Job Overview

Helix Bio Structures, LLC (HBS) is a contract research organization (CRO) based in Indianapolis, Indiana, providing early drug discovery services to the biopharmaceutical industry. HBS maintains a full suite of services that encompass chemical & structural analysis, protein production, computational modeling, and design. HBS’s core and most popular services are structural biology imaging techniques: X-ray Crystallography and Cryo-EM. HBS was founded in 2018 and has grown considerably.

We are looking to add a Scientist focused on protein production to join our Indianapolis-based team.

This scientist will support the protein production pipeline through expression and purification of recombinant proteins in bacterial, insect, and mammalian systems; conduct biophysical characterization to assess sample quality and stability; develop and optimize expression and purification protocols; interface with clients; and write technical project reports. The scientist will also contribute to improving expression and purification methods to accelerate research processes.

• Express and purify proteins to target quality and yield within industrial time frames.
• Document experimental data and communicate research priorities, progress, and results with clients and project teams.
• Provide technical and scientific input to project teams and, as experience grows, offer guidance to other members of the Protein Sciences group.
• Maintain timely updates on project status, reporting informally to supervisor and formally to Helix’s customers via report writing and oral presentations.

• Experience in recombinant protein expression and purification across bacterial, insect, and mammalian cell lines.
• Use of biophysical and analytical techniques (e.g., SDS- PAGE, SEC, Western blot, thermal shift assay, DLS, mass spectrometry, and others) to assess protein quality, purity, and stability.

• Ph.D. in biochemistry, biophysics, molecular biology, protein engineering, or a related field; OR a Master’s degree with 2–5 years of relevant industrial experience; OR a Bachelor’s degree with 5–10 years of relevant industrial experience.
• Demonstrated competency in recombinant protein expression and purification using bacterial, insect, and mammalian cell lines; hands‑on experience across all three systems is strongly preferred.
• Ability to generate and characterize milligram to gram quantities of high-quality protein reagents for downstream studies.
• Experience with standard analytical and biophysical techniques (e.g., SDS- PAGE, SEC, Western blot, thermal shift assay, DLS, mass spectrometry, and others) for assessing protein quality, purity, and stability during purification.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Hands‑on experience in engineering protein constructs and optimizing the production of protein targets for structural and functional studies.
• Experience in structural biology is a plus but not required, including protein X-ray crystallography (sample assessment, crystallization, optimization, data collection, and structure determination/refinement) and familiarity with software such as Phenix, CCP4, Coot, and PyMOL.
• Experience with protein engineering and/or design approaches.
• Analysis, design, and/or computational approaches to investigate ligand-protein complexes.
• Experience with Cryo- EM is a plus, especially grid vitrification and screening.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Willingness to tackle challenging technical problems.

• Ability to lift 30-lb objects with dimensions 30 inches in height and 18 inches in width.
• Ability to visualize microscopic objects under microscopes.
• Adherence to safe work practices and use of appropriate personal protective equipment (safety goggles, facial mask, gloves, lab coat/protective gowning, closed-toe shoes).
• Willingness to work flexible hours occasionally for time-sensitive experiments.

• Eligible for relocation package.
• Competitive salary + annual bonus.
• Retirement plan (matching 401k).
• Company Apple computer.

Helix Bio Structures, LLC is an equal‑opportunity employer, and we embrace the increasingly diverse world around us. Helix Bio Structures, LLC prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin or ancestry, age, disability, marital status, and veteran status.