Scientist, Protein Production and Characterization

Deerfield Management Companies•San Diego, CA

About The Position

We are seeking a highly motivated and skilled Scientist to join our Protein Sciences team and contribute to both day-to-day operations and the advancement of Protein Science workflows. This position will focus on the design, optimization, and execution of transient transfection processes at various scales for antibody and protein production in mammalian expression systems. The successful candidate will leverage expertise in biophysical characterization and biochemical modification to evaluate key protein attributes. This position will report to the Associate Director of Protein Sciences and work closely with scientists in the Antibody Discovery, Antibody Engineering, Protein Sciences, and Project Management teams. The ideal candidate will drive innovation through process refinement and high-throughput automation, while advancing developability and purification strategies for novel biologic formats. This role offers the opportunity to work in a fast-paced, collaborative research environment, where creative solutions and a strong scientific approach are key to success.

Requirements

Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Chemistry, Molecular Biology, Protein Engineering, or a related field with 1-3 years of industry experience or MS with 5-7 years of direct industry experience is required
Proven hands-on experience with multiple mammalian expression platforms is required
Proficiency with AKTA instrumentation, demonstrating a broad range of standard and specialized purification (e.g., affinity, ion exchange, HIC and SEC) and protein QC techniques is required
Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and communication skills with meticulous attention to detail
Motivated self-starter with excellent organization, teamwork, and a passion for scientific innovation

Nice To Haves

Experience with therapeutic antibody developability assessment is highly desirable

Responsibilities

Independently design and execute transient transfection workflows for antibodies and proteins in various mammalian expression systems
Provide leadership in protein purification by designing and improving methods for throughput, quality, and efficiency
Drive developability assessment efforts by designing and executing analytical studies to evaluate protein stability, purity, and key biophysical characteristics
Support production of complex construct design strategies (e.g., VLPs, nanodiscs), to enable immunization of challenging targets
Execute high throughput processes to support protein production workflows using Bravo and other robotic platforms
Effectively maintain meticulous records of lab activities using electronic notebook (Benchling); communicate findings clearly through written reports and presentations to support project progression and scientific decision-making
Contribute innovative ideas and collaborate effectively across teams to drive research excellence and project success in a fast-paced environment