Scientist, Protein Expression & Purification

Job Description

Protein Scientist

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W2 Contract 12-months

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San Diego, CA (Onsite)

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Up to $54.48/hour + Benefits

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Summary

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We are seeking an experienced Protein Scientist to join a collaborative research team supporting therapeutic discovery and development. In this role, you will design, express, purify, and characterize recombinant proteins to support lead generation across multiple therapeutic modalities, including antibodies, small molecules, and peptides.

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The ideal candidate has strong hands-on experience producing and characterizing a diverse range of proteins, including challenging protein targets. You will collaborate with scientists across protein sciences, medicinal chemistry, peptide chemistry, antibody engineering, assay development, and other research functions to advance discovery programs.

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What You'll Do

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• Design, express, purify, and characterize recombinant antigens and protein targets to support therapeutic lead generation.
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• Develop and optimize protein expression workflows using bacterial ( E. coli ), baculovirus expression vector (BEV), and mammalian expression systems.
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• Establish and optimize purification workflows for a variety of protein classes, including membrane proteins, using chromatography techniques such as IMAC, size-exclusion chromatography (SEC), ion-exchange chromatography (IEX), and affinity purification.
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• Assess protein quality using analytical techniques, including SDS-PAGE, analytical SEC, differential scanning fluorimetry (DSF), and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS).
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• Troubleshoot complex protein expression and purification challenges and implement effective solutions.
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• Characterize protein-protein and protein-ligand interactions using biophysical techniques, including surface plasmon resonance (SPR), biolayer interferometry (BLI), microscale thermophoresis (MST), steady-state (SS) analysis, DSF, and affinity-selection mass spectrometry (AS-MS).
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• Prepare, review, and maintain experimental protocols, laboratory records, data summaries, reports, and other scientific documentation.
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• Collect, organize, interpret, and analyze scientific data to support project decisions and research deliverables.
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• Collaborate with cross-functional scientific teams to communicate findings, resolve technical challenges, and advance project objectives.
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• Stay current with relevant scientific literature, emerging methodologies, and best practices in protein science.
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What You Bring

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• PhD in Protein Engineering, Protein Science, Biochemistry, Biophysics, or a related scientific field; a bachelor's or master's degree with equivalent relevant experience may also be considered.
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• At least 2 years of relevant industry experience in protein sciences, protein biochemistry, or a related field.
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• Strong hands-on experience in protein design, expression using E. coli , BEV, and mammalian systems, and purification across a variety of protein classes.
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• Demonstrated experience characterizing proteins to assess quality and suitability for research applications.
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• Strong troubleshooting skills for complex protein expression and purification challenges.
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• Working knowledge of scientific methods, experimental execution, data review, documentation practices, and laboratory procedures.
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• Ability to organize and analyze scientific data, document findings, and communicate results to technical and cross-functional audiences.
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• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, sound judgment, and the ability to follow established laboratory procedures.
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• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively across scientific teams.
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• Ability to work onsite in San Diego, CA.
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Bonus Points If You Have

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• Experience producing, purifying, and characterizing membrane proteins or other challenging protein classes.
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• Experience with biophysical characterization techniques, including SPR, BLI, MST/SS, DSF, and AS-MS.
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• Experience supporting antibody discovery, small-molecule discovery, peptide chemistry, or other therapeutic development programs.
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