Research Scientist I, Biochemistry and Microbiology Division
New England Biolabs
Summary
We are inviting applicants for the position of Research Scientist I. Reporting to the Associate Director of Research (Biochemistry and Microbiology Division) and working in close collaboration with the Research Cores, you will be an integral member of the Design-Build-Test-Learn (DBTL) Team responsible for our protein engineering efforts. You will be the team's link between enzyme biochemistry at the bench and automated, high-throughput engineering.
Job description
The Role
We are inviting applicants for the position of Research Scientist I. Reporting to the Associate Director of Research (Biochemistry and Microbiology Division) and working in close collaboration with the Research Cores, you will be an integral member of the Design-Build-Test-Learn (DBTL) Team responsible for our protein engineering efforts. You will be the team's link between enzyme biochemistry at the bench and automated, high-throughput engineering.
How you'll contribute
- Design: Apply your knowledge of enzyme chemistry and structure to guide residue selection and engineering strategy.
- Assay translation: Work with research labs to translate assays for a variety of enzyme families into robust, high-throughput formats, optimizing them for throughput and automation before handing them to the Functional Screening Core for testing.
- Kinetic workflows: Establish high-throughput kinetic workflows and manage data generation and analysis using modern kinetic tools.
- Build: Advise on clone design and protein purification needs, and work with the Cloning and Protein Purification Core on defining the best strategies.
- Test: Validate successful hits from the Functional Screening Core and biochemically characterize the most promising ones using high-throughput kinetics.
- Learn: Interpret results together with the Bioinformatics Core and advise on the design of the next engineering cycle.
Required Qualifications/ Experience
- Ph.D. in a scientific discipline with 1-2 years of academic or industry experience.
- Working knowledge of protein structure-function relationships and mechanistic enzymology.
- Experience with directed evolution or protein engineering.
- Experience developing or miniaturizing plate-based assays; familiarity with liquid-handling automation is required.
- Ability to collaborate effectively across labs and core facilities.
- Strong ability to multitask and perform effectively under pressure while maintaining high attention to detail.
- Excellent organizational and communication skills, including rigorous lab notebook practices.
- Proven "good hands" at the bench and the ability to perform careful and consistent experiments.
What will make you stand out
- Knowledge of electron pushing and organic chemistry.
- Experience across diverse enzyme families.
- Creativity and an innovative approach to problem-solving.
- Excitement for continued learning and for tackling new projects.
Requirements
- Ph.D. in a scientific discipline with 1-2 years of academic or industry experience
- Working knowledge of protein structure-function relationships and mechanistic enzymology
- Experience with directed evolution or protein engineering
- Experience developing or miniaturizing plate-based assays
- Familiarity with liquid-handling automation
- Ability to collaborate effectively across labs and core facilities
- Strong ability to multitask and perform effectively under pressure while maintaining high attention to detail
- Excellent organizational and communication skills, including rigorous lab notebook practices
- Proven good hands at the bench and ability to perform careful and consistent experiments
Benefits
- Annual discretionary profit-sharing bonus
- Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
- 10% 401(k) match
- Health insurance
Company overview
New England Biolabs (NEB) is a leading American life sciences company founded in 1974 by Harvard Medical School professor Donald Comb. Headquartered in Ipswich, Massachusetts, NEB has established itself as the industry leader in the discovery and production of enzymes for molecular biology applications. The company offers the largest selection of recombinant and native enzymes for genomic research and has expanded its product portfolio to include solutions for PCR, gene expression, next-generation sequencing sample preparation, synthetic biology, glycobiology, epigenetics, and RNA analysis. As a privately held company with subsidiaries and distributors in 34 countries worldwide, NEB maintains a strong commitment to scientific excellence and innovation. The company operates with a unique corporate philosophy that encourages scientific dialogue and maintains a collaborative research environment. NEB also provides free access to important research databases including REBASE, InBASE, and Polbase, demonstrating its dedication to supporting the broader scientific community. With Nobel laureate Sir Richard John Roberts serving as chief scientific officer, NEB continues to advance molecular biology research through high-quality reagents and innovative technologies.