Associate Scientist II, Molecular & Computational Biology

Tonix Pharmaceutical • Frederick, MD

32d • $60,000 - $90,000

About The Position

Tonix Pharmaceuticals is seeking a highly motivated Associate Scientist to join our multidisciplinary R&D team at the Frederick Research & Development Center. This role integrates computational protein structure analysis with hands-on molecular biology and protein biochemistry. The successful candidate will contribute to host-directed therapeutic discovery, antiviral platforms, and vaccine design by combining AI/ML-based protein modeling with molecular biology and protein science to generate, express, and analyze protein targets.

Requirements

• B.S. or M.S. in Microbiology, Biochemistry, Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, or related field.
• Hands-on experience with protein structure prediction and computational protein design tools.
• Familiarity with core molecular biology and protein biochemistry methods (PCR, cloning, bacterial expression, Western blotting).
• Strong communication skills and ability to work in cross-functional teams within Tonix's integrated discovery pipeline.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with cloud computing platforms (Google Cloud, AWS) for large-scale protein modeling.
• Exposure to machine learning approaches in protein design and immunology.
• Prior experience with protein engineering for therapeutic applications.
• Track record of contributions to publications, posters, or conference presentations.
• Proficiency in Python, especially ML/AI packages. Experience in Linux operating systems and shell programming is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Perform protein structure modeling and design using platforms such as AlphaFold2/3, ESM, RFdiffusion, ProteinMPNN, and NetMHC.
• Build and refine bioinformatics workflows for large-scale sequence and structural analysis of host and viral proteins
• Perform molecular cloning, PCR, DNA and RNA isolation, bacterial transformation, and mutagenesis to generate expression constructs.
• Carry out protein expression and purification followed by protein characterization
• Collaborate with Tonix's imaging and cell biology teams to translate computational predictions into testable hypotheses in assays and animal models.
• Contribute to the development of user-friendly computational pipelines and visualization tools for internal scientists.
• Document and communicate results in reports, regulatory filings, and presentations to internal teams, collaborators, and external partners.
• Maintain awareness of emerging computational biology technologies to enhance Tonix's drug discovery capabilities.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance, Basic and Voluntary Life and AD&D Insurance, Short- and Long-Term Disability Insurance, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Account, and Employee Assistance Programs
• Pet Insurance
• Retirement Savings 401k with company match and annual discretionary stock options
• Generous Paid Time Off, Sick Time, & Paid Holidays
• Career Development and Training

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Industry: Chemical Manufacturing
• Number of Employees: 51-100 employees