Work in Washington Veterans Jobs

Req #: 237699

Department: BIOCHEMISTRY/IPD

Posting Date: 08/30/2024

Closing Info: Open Until Filled

Salary: $14,500 - $16,000 per month

Shift: First Shift

Notes: As a UW employee, you will enjoy generous benefits and work/life programs. For a complete description of our benefits for this position, please visit our website, click here. (https://hr.uw.edu/benefits/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/02/benefits-professional-staff-librarians-academic-staff-20230701_a11y.pdf )

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills, and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.

UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits, and natural beauty.

The Department of Biochemistry has an outstanding opportunity for a Research Scientist/Engineer Principal to join their team.

Located at the University of Washington in Seattle, the Institute for Protein Design is a unique interdisciplinary environment where world-class researchers create new biomolecules. Our mission is to create proteins that solve modern challenges in medicine, technology, and sustainability. Joining our team means becoming part of one of the largest and most innovative public universities in the world. Your work here will support scientific inquiry and help ensure that laboratory breakthroughs lead to positive impact. The ideal candidate will utilize his/her advanced knowledge in molecular and synthetic biology and high-throughput wet lab expertise to perform large scale multiplex screening of de novo computationally-designed protein libraries using yeast surface display to complete complex design projects.

POSITION PURPOSE

The IPD Research Scientist Principal leads professional research in the massively parallel wet lab screening and optimization of de novo computational protein minibinder designs, including their protein production and biophysical characterization using biolayer interferometry and surface plasmon resonance. The research duties involve wet lab activities, the management of technical support staff, and coordination of numerous collaborative activities.

The position is devoted to scientific research, specifically the generation of DNA oligo chip encoded libraries for high throughput wet lab screening of computationally designed proteins. This involves simultaneously being actively involved in numerous ongoing research projects requiring the determination of the most suitable methods to be used in each project. The position uses professional judgment to determine which wet lab experiments are required to verify hypotheses on how best to design and screen large libraries of computationally designed proteins. The position requires ongoing review of pertinent literature for information that will further research goals. The position requires the preparation of research reports for presentation or publication. Works collaboratively with the IPD Executive Director to achieve complex research goals involving multiple laboratories.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Lead yeast surface display scientific research (50%) • Provide expertise in wet lab yeast surface display library research • Optimize methods to generate chip encoded gene assembled libraries for high throughput screening • Develop custom molecular cloning workflows to generate assembled ScFv libraries • Protein production and structural characterization of de novo designed potential drug candidates • Direct the activities of staff scientists and technical support

Serve as a project leader and individual collaborator involved in specific protein design projects required at the IPD (20%) • Lead key collaborative projects with external and international collaborators in preparation and screening of computationally designed protein libraries • Work closely with IPD Translational Lead and research project managers to guide scope and workflow of priority programs • Work with IPD grants time to develop grant proposal strategies related to screening work at IPD • Attend conferences and meetings as an IPD representative as leading expert in protein design screening platforms • Would be the leader in presenting papers, leading the research of the Screening teams at IPD

Supervision of multiple screening project teams (20%) • Oversee activities of project teams involved in DNA oligo demultiplexing and JIT-SAPP pipelines • Responsible for evaluating staffing needs, hiring, onboarding, training, and performance evaluations • Would oversee a team of at least 4 RS/Es and around 5 undergraduate student assistants across multiple sites where the IPD has researchers (SLU, Ben Hall, MolES/NanoES, HSB) • Mentor and supervise research scientists involved in adjacent pipelines, providing guidance and direction on projects • Work together to maintain and optimize protocols

Manage the data repository and prepare technical reports (10%) MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Ph.D in Protein Biochemistry or Bioengineering + 7 years or more experience in related filed.

Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Advanced expertise in protein design research, specifically wet lab preparation and screening of de novo computationally designed protein libraries, with a full understanding of the underlying principles and concepts. May be recognized as a leader in their area of expertise. • Recognized as a resource for others to use in dealing with complex wet lab methods, equipment, processes, or procedures. Anticipates future needs in technology support. • In-depth understanding of organizational structure both within and outside the work unit, including the role of each position in the group and in other groups. • Ability to develop innovative processes to achieve goals. Directs others to develop essential tasks. Reviews work activities to determine where new information could improve processes or move projects forward. • Proficient in preparation and screening of de novo computationally designed protein libraries.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

An ideal candidate will be someone who (i) works without technical supervision (supervision and guidance relate largely to overall objectives, critical issues, new concepts, and policy matters); (ii) consults with supervisor/principal investigator concerning unusual problems and developments; (iii) selects and applies standardized scientific procedures and techniques to assignments of moderate complexity, involving potentially conflicting design requirements, (iv) continually learns and develops new computational protein design methods, (v) can independently manage individual research projects that they own, (vi) can manage the activities of other collaborating researchers in complex computational protein design projects, (vii) maintains substantial knowledge of state-of-the-art principles and theories; (viii) and has a deep desire and ability to train others as a mentor in all of these areas.

Application Process: The application process may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment, you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are access ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.

University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, among other things, race, religion, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.