Job Description

A small biotech in Chicago is looking to add a Research Scientist I to their team (ideally contract to hire opportunity). In this role you will be reporting to the Protein Expression Core Director and will lead the development and execution of high-throughput cell-based assays and biomolecular interaction studies to characterize synthetic protein libraries. Your expertise in biochemistry and biomolecular structure/function will support iterative cycles of therapeutic protein discovery and development. In this role, you will design experiments, analyze data, and present findings to multidisciplinary teams, contributing to protocol development and project advancement.

Responsibilities:
• Design, execute, and analyze biosensor-based molecular interaction assays (SPR, BLI) to assess protein expression and binding (MOST IMPORTANT SKILL)
• Conduct purification and characterization studies of lead protein constructs for IND-related activities.
• Collaborate across teams to generate high-quality data for program decisions.
• Troubleshoot and resolve technical challenges in assays.
• Document experiments and results, and present findings in meetings.
• Adapt quickly to changing project needs and remain hands-on in the lab.

Required Qualifications:
• PhD in biochemistry, biophysics, chemical biology, or related field, with 0–2+ years of relevant experience (including postdoctoral work).
• 1–2 years of industry experience in protein expression and purification. Must  have be able to design, execute, and analyze biosensor-based molecular interaction assays (SPR, BLI) to assess protein expression and binding.
• Extensive hands-on experience with SPR/BLI biosensor platforms (e.g., Carterra, Biacore, Gator, Octet) and data analysis tools.
• Collaborative and adaptable to a fast-paced startup environment.
• Proven expertise in protein expression and purification using various hosts and FPLC platforms.
• Proficiency in protein characterization technologies (SDS-PAGE, capillary electrophoresis, light scattering, DSC/DSF) and quantification methods (ELISA, LabChip).
• Skilled in data analysis software (Prism, Origin, Matlab) and structure-viewing tools (PyMOL, Chimera).
• Strong documentation skills in electronic lab notebooks.
• Demonstrated problem-solving ability in dynamic research environments.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple priorities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications:
• Strong conceptual and technical expertise in immunology and protein structure–function relationships.
• Experience with structure determination techniques (X-ray crystallography, NMR, cryo-EM, SAXS) and in silico structure prediction/modeling tools (Rosetta, AlphaFold, VMD, MODELLER, Foldit, ProteinMPNN).
• Experience with high-throughput chemical or genetic screening experiments.
• Experience with automated liquid-handling systems (Tecan, Echo).
• Participation in IND-enabling studies for therapeutics.

Job Tags

Contract work,

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