Research Scientist​/Engineer

Position: Research Scientist/Engineer 2
Job Description

The Institute for Protein Design has an outstanding opportunity for Research Scientist/Engineer 2 to join their team.

About this Opportunity

As a member of the IPD Core R&D Labs, you will make important research contributions that accelerate progress in protein design. These teams develop new research methods, collect experimental data, and help interpret results. These activities are performed in collaboration with other scientists at the Institute for Protein Design or its collaborators; they are not available for external contract work.

Peptide Core is seeking a RSE2 to join a Core focused on producing synthetic peptides to continuously support many projects in parallel at the IPD, such as biologic therapeutics, phosphopeptide synthesis and characterization, difunctional fluorescent peptides, and peptide materials. The Peptide Core also characterizes de novo proteins through intact protein mass spectrometry and returns valuable data analysis and quality control in a rapid fashion to the IPD.

The successful candidate would work closely with IPD scientists to design, synthesize, troubleshoot, and analyze complex peptides and functional molecules. We are seeking a scientist with strong skills in critical thinking, troubleshooting, and a willingness to work in a fast-paced environment. A working knowledge of organic chemistry, bioconjugation, and protein biochemistry is required to effectively perform this role.

Key Responsibilities

(60%) Work with other Core R&D Lab members to accomplish research goals focused on peptide design and characterization. Specifically, the duties and responsibilities include:

Produce a wide variety of synthetic peptides and "peptide-like" compounds utilizing solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) with standard peptide chemistry techniques and using automated peptide synthesizers.

Design and carry out multi-step syntheses utilizing organic chemistry techniques such as TLC, rotovap, flash chromatography, air-free techniques, and NMR.

Optimize existing standard operating procedures for yield, efficiency, and throughput of peptides.

Explore strategies to improve the throughput and quality of peptide synthesis pipelines.

Document protocols run in the wet lab

Review, analyze, and troubleshoot all experimental results

(10%) Establishing and nurturing productive relationships with research colleagues, students, administrators, and others at IPD, including:

Training IPD researchers on Core-specific workflow for peptide synthesis and purification.

Work directly with Principal Investigators, postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and laboratory staff in assisting with and conducting experiments.

(15%) Perform routine data analysis of de novo proteins utilizing intact protein mass spectrometry

Maintain and troubleshoot LC/MS instrumentation (Agilent)

Develop and implement new methods as called for optimization of intact protein mixtures, antibodies

Process and deconvolute results via software such as Agilent Bio Confirm and PMI-Byos

Work directly with researchers-postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and laboratory staff-in communication of troubleshooting and results

(5%) Maintain databases and inventories. This includes:

Preparation and maintenance of standard laboratory stocks and reagents necessary to research workflow

Maintain inventory for all chemicals, supplies, reagents, and biological samples

Maintain and troubleshoot laboratory equipment, including prep-scale HPLCs (Agilent), peptide synthesizers (CEM, Gyros), flash chromatography system (Biotage), and lyophilizers (Labcon)

Work with Laboratory Manager to assist with laboratory-wide EH&S compliance

(5%) Assist with managing undergraduate research assistants.

(5%) Present scientific data, attend meetings and team building events.

Required Qualifications

"To be considered for this opportunity your

application must demonstrate you meet both the minimum qualifications and additional

qualifications listed below. Equivalent education and/or experience may substitute for

minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license,

certification, and/or registration."

Minimum Requirements

Applicants who do not meet these qualifications WILL NOT be forwarded to the Hiring Department.

Bachelor's Degree in Biochemistry, Chemistry or related field and 2 years of relevant experience in modern peptide synthesis techniques, purification and analysis.

Equivalent education and/or experience may substitute for minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license, certification, and/or registration.

Additional requirements:

Strong communication and organization skills and great attention to detail

A willingness to acquire new skills and learn on the job.

Proficient in modern peptide synthesis techniques, purification and analysis

Desire:

At least three years of full-time laboratory experience

Proficient with peptide chemistry and/or synthetic chemistry and/or medicinal chemistry

Experience with lab instrument use and…