Sr Research Associate/ Scientist, Enzyme Development

ZymoChem • San Leandro, CA

8d • $110,000 - $140,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Enzyme Development Sr. Research Associate / Scientist I joins an interdisciplinary team working on the biocatalytic foundation of Zymochem. The successful candidate will work in a fast-paced, goal-oriented environment and advance their career at the cutting edge of synthetic biology. We are looking for a curious problem-solver with an interest in the nuts-and-bolts of challenging biocatalysts. We also want a collaborative spirit, who will support multiple stages in the R&D pipeline. The successful candidate will exercise both their knowledge and creativity to characterize Zymochem’s C2 pathways and engineer improvements in them.

Requirements

• BS, MS, PhD in Chemistry, Chemical Biology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, (Bio)chemical Engineering, or related field.
• 1-6+ years of relevant industrial experience. Leveling dependent on overall experience between education and work experience.
• Solid knowledge of biochemistry, enzyme mechanisms, and reaction dynamics.
• Strong basic molecular biology skills for cloning (PCR, Gibson, Golden Gate, etc.).
• Experience in protein purification, biophysical characterization and enzyme kinetic characterization.
• Experience developing new assays and / or troubleshooting existing ones.
• Experience developing and executing screens & selections for collections of proteins (low-, med-, or high-throughput).
• Strong data analysis skills.
• Rigorous attention to detail in experimental design, execution, variability, and reproducibility.
• Strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills – you will need to communicate to experts and non-experts with different expertise in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent time management skills, effective with multitasking, and an adept ability to improvise work plans while maintaining efficiency.
• Ability to safely move up to 25 lbs between locations.
• Ability to follow safety protocols and procedures.
• Legal authorization to work in the United States is required.

Nice To Haves

• Experience making medium or large libraries a plus.
• Experience connecting sequence, structure, and function with SOTA computational tools (Eg. Rosetta, Schrodinger BioLuminate, etc.).
• Experience sifting through large databases (eg. NCBI, metagenomic databases) to identify candidate enzymes.
• Experience building protocols for lab automation (BioMek, Opentrons, etc.).
• Experience translating enzyme engineering goals to improve productivity in strains and fermentations.

Responsibilities

• Own the execution of enzyme characterization and engineering campaigns – primarily in the lab, but also with computational tools.
• Design - Connect sequence-structure-function with computational tools, and use this to design the DNA library that will be used in the protein engineering campaign.
• Build - Library construction, cloning, and QC.
• Test - More than 50% of your time will be spent testing proteins. This will include both library screening and protein purification + characterization.
• Develop and refining high-throughput screens, and using Automation to improve assay throughput.
• Learn - Integrating the data from the protein engineering & characterization into testable insights to inform further improvements.
• Work collaboratively with Biology, Strain engineering and Fermentation teams to apply those insights to improve strain productivity.
• Perform research with experimental rigor and to communicate the findings clearly.
• Gather and analyze data, discuss with team members to develop next steps and new ideas, and present findings to the broader team.
• Clearly document and maintain laboratory notebooks and computer documentation and protocols.
• Research, read, comprehend, and summarize relevant scientific literature to support work, contribute to optimization of projects and to explore new technologies or strategies for improvement.
• Participate and contribute ideas in group and project meetings or with other internal and external stakeholders.
• Assist with basic technical document revision and support scientists or engineers for projects, publications, and patents.
• Other duties may be assigned.

Benefits

• Competitive pay range of $110,000-140,000 based on experience.
• Company stock options
• 401(k) retirement plan (traditional and Roth) with up to 4% company match
• 100% Employee coverage on base medical, dental, and vision plans and up to 80% dependent coverage.
• Life and long-term disability insurance.
• Additional benefits include FSA, commuter, and supplemental life insurance.
• Flexible time off policy with 18 days Paid Time Off (PTO) per year and 11 paid company holidays per year.
• Relocation assistance may be agreed upon as well.
• Monthly Team all-hands and social events.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree