Senior Scientist, Ensemble–Function Mapping

Astera Institute•Emerybille, CA

16d•Onsite

About The Position

The Astera Institute is seeking a full-time Senior Scientist, Ensemble–Function Mapping to lead a computational team that turns protein conformational ensembles into predictions of function. The team will develop methods linking ensembles to allosteric coupling, catalytic efficiency, and binding specificity, and build platforms and pipelines to test which structural data matter most. The goal is a landmark finding that links ensembles to function. The role is part of Prism, a program in Radial, Astera’s Life Sciences Division. Prism is building open, usable tools, methods, and infrastructure to study protein dynamics from experimental data and apply them to questions including binding affinity, enzyme engineering, and pathogenic variants. The position is on-site in Emeryville, California, with approximately 10% travel for in-person collaboration and presentations. Relocation packages will be considered. The role reports to the Scientific Program Director.

Requirements

PhD in a relevant area.
At least 4 years of work experience.
Experience managing a team of scientists.
Background in computational biophysics, with a record of research connecting protein structure or dynamics to function.
Experience with machine learning approaches that link protein structure to function.
Extensive experience working with at least one type of experimental structural data: X-ray, EM, NMR, or HDX-MS.
An execution-forward approach: moving quickly from hypothesis to working analysis and using results to guide next steps.
Clear communication with modelers, experimentalists, and external collaborators, including the ability to explain what a finding means and what it does not mean.

Nice To Haves

Working knowledge of multiple experimental structural biology methods.
Fluency in the mechanistic literature on allostery, conformational selection, and binding specificity.

Responsibilities

Lead Prism's research connecting conformational ensembles to function.
Set the scientific vision for predicting and explaining allosteric coupling, catalytic efficiency, and binding specificity, and drive the work toward high-impact findings.
Manage and mentor a team of scientists and recruit additional hires with expertise in machine learning and statistical mechanics.
Work with the Scientific Program Director to determine strategy and prioritize approaches, systems, and science within the team.
Partner with Prism's modeling and encoding team, alongside the Scientific Program Director, to ensure cohesion across the project.
Build platforms and analysis pipelines to measure how different types of structural data, and ensemble models derived from them, change functional predictions.
Validate platforms and pipelines on well-chosen test cases.

Benefits

Top-tier health insurance plans, with 99% of premiums covered by Astera for employees and dependents.
Daily lunch, plus a well-stocked fridge and pantry.
Licenses for frontier AI tools and software.
403(b) retirement plans.
Flexible paid time off.
Paid parental leave.
Commuter benefits.
Health and dependent care flexible spending accounts.
Visa sponsorship.
Relocation packages will be considered.