Scientist, Research Scientist, Biotech Research

Actalent is hiring for a Scientist in the Thousand Oaks area - Structural Biology and Cryo-EM Data Workflows

Job Description

This onsite Scientist role is based in Thousand Oaks and focuses on developing robust, user-centered automation workflows for cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) data processing, reporting, and scientific decision support. The position combines deep structural biology and cryo-EM expertise with strong computational skills to leverage AI and modern software practices, reducing manual documentation, improving data traceability, and creating standardized, reusable analysis tools.

The standard schedule is approximately 8:00 AM-5:00 PM, Monday through Friday, with a generally consistent routine and no anticipated regular overtime or weekend work. The assignment is expected to run for 12 months, and candidates outside the area may be considered if they are willing and able to relocate at their own expense.

Responsibilities

+ Develop robust, user-centered automation workflows for cryo-EM data processing, reporting, and scientific decision support.

+ Combine practical understanding of structural biology and cryo-EM workflows with computational skills to leverage AI for reducing manual documentation and improving data traceability.

+ Create standardized, reusable analysis tools that support structural biology experiments and decision-making.

+ Meet regularly with structural biologists to understand current workflows, identify pain points, and translate scientific needs into clear, actionable software requirements.

+ Design, develop, test, document, and maintain software tools that integrate with existing structural biology and cryo-EM workflows.

+ Implement reproducible software practices, including use of Git Lab version control, code review, automated and manual testing, dependency management, release documentation, and user instructions.

+ Validate tools against representative datasets, troubleshoot failures, and refine workflows based on feedback from experimental and computational scientists.

+ Maintain clear, comprehensive documentation of assumptions, input requirements, limitations, data provenance, and expected outputs for all tools and workflows.

+ Present progress updates, tool demonstrations, technical recommendations, and concise literature or technology evaluations to scientific stakeholders.

+ Collaborate closely with both experimental and computational scientists to ensure tools and workflows are scientifically sound, practical, and aligned with user needs.

+ Apply strong documentation and reproducible-development practices to ensure that workflows and tools can be reliably reused and extended.

+ Contribute to a solid record of scientific publications, presentations, or technology innovation through the development and deployment of novel cryo-EM data-processing solutions.

Essential Skills

+ Deep training and hands-on expertise in cryo-EM data processing, including single particle analysis, tomography, or microcrystal electron diffraction (MicroED) for structural biology applications.

+ Direct, hands-on responsibility for cryo-EM data processing and structure determination or solving, beyond upstream contributions such as protein purification or sample preparation.

+ Strong familiarity with cryo-EM software packages such as EPU and CryoSPARC.

+ Experience developing custom data analysis pipelines that utilize scripting and multiple programs for cryo-EM data analysis.

+ Comfort working at the Linux command line to control data-processing programs, including the ability to develop scripts, data-processing pipelines, reports, and scientific visualizations.

+ Familiarity with working in high-performance computing (HPC) environments, including clusters and job schedulers, for large-scale cryo-EM data processing.

+ Strong documentation skills and commitment to reproducible-development practices, ensuring traceable and repeatable workflows.

+ Solid record of scientific publications, presentations, or technology innovation related to structural biology, cryo-EM, or scientific computing.

+ High level of organization with great attention to detail, strong communication skills, and excellent interpersonal abilities.

+ Proven ability to work collaboratively with both experimental and computational scientists to deliver practical, scientifically rigorous solutions.

Additional

Skills & Qualifications

+ Recent PhD in structural biology, biophysics, computational biology, or a related field is ideal; candidates with a…