Research Associate III / Senior Research Associate, Strain Engineering

Research Associate III / Senior Research Associate, Strain Engineering

W2 Contract

Salary Range: $93,600 - $114,400 per year

Location: Menlo Park, CA - Onsite Role

Job Summary:

In this role, you will engineer and optimize yeast to produce valuable plant natural products for pharmaceutical production. You will be part of an interdisciplinary, dynamic, and enthusiastic team and must demonstrate great flexibility, creativity, and initiative. We need someone with a strong desire and ability to learn and contribute as a leader and team player within a cross-functional project team.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Formulate scientific hypotheses, construct new strains, and test modifications to increase the production of plant natural products in yeast.
• Apply a range of molecular biology techniques for designing, constructing, transforming, and screening genetically engineered microbial strains and enzyme libraries in bacteria and yeast.
• Design and construct custom DNA sequences (plasmids, linear DNA, gene libraries) via standard molecular biology workflows in E. coli and yeast.
• Develop and execute cell-based assays for strain assessment and functional characterization of various novel proteins according to internal procedures.
• Facilitate the scheduling and coordination of complex multi-day experimental schedules and workflows.
• Analyze data, documenting and presenting results and ideas.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements and Qualifications:

• B.A./B.S. or M.S. in molecular biology, microbiology, biology, chemistry, engineering, or other related disciplines
• 5+ years of relevant experience working in a laboratory environment
• Proficient with molecular biology and genetic engineering methods, including PCR, primer design, genomic DNA/plasmid DNA isolation, gel electrophoresis, restriction digest, cloning, DNA sequencing, strain verification by PCR analysis, and experimental troubleshooting strategies
• Proficiency with techniques used for DNA construction and assembly, DNA transformation into E .coli and S. cerevisiae
• Experience with culturing microbial organisms in microtiter plates and shake flasks
• Familiarity with microbial metabolism and/or metabolic pathway databases (e.g., KEGG)
• Experience with yeast cultivation and genetic manipulation (transformations, genomic modifications) is required; experience with CRISPR/Cas systems for genetic engineering is a plus.
• Able to work under deadlines and has good time management skills
• Capability to manage and organize multiple ongoing multi-day workflows, including scheduling instrumentation, preparing reagents and materials, and interfacing and communicating within and across our interdisciplinary teams
• Well-organized, detail-oriented, and flexible to work and communicate effectively in a fast-paced environment

Bayside Solutions, Inc. is not able to sponsor any candidates at this time. Additionally, candidates for this position must qualify as a W2 candidate.

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Desired Skills and Experience
Molecular biology, genetic engineering, PCR, primer design, genomic DNA/plasmid DNA isolation, gel electrophoresis, restriction digest, cloning, DNA sequencing, strain verification, DNA construction, KEGG, yeast cultivation, CRISPR, laboratory