Assistant/Associate Project Scientist - Protein Engineer - Innovative Genomics Institute

The Innovate Genomics Institute (IGI) is presently seeking a highly motivated Assistant or Associate Project Scientist to perform research on molecular systems enabling the tissue-targeted therapeutic delivery of genome editing reagents. This interdisciplinary work will be performed as part of a team at UC Berkeley, centered in the laboratory of Ross Wilson, IGI Scientific Director of Therapeutic Delivery.

Specific research activities will involve protein engineering to generate novel macromolecules supporting development of improved CRISPR-based genetic therapies. Major tasks will include project design, molecular design and cloning, recombinant expression from multiple hosts, protein purification, enzyme engineering, chemical biology, quality assessment, and preparation of novel genome editing enzymes for use in tissue culture experiments.

The Project Scientist will also collaborate with IGI investigators at UCB, UCSF, and other IGI-affiliated universities in the effort to advance the delivery of genome editing for therapeutic use. In addition to their own efforts, this Project Scientist will guide genome editing efforts of one or more research technicians and/or postdoctoral scholars. The Project Scientist will report directly to Ross Wilson.

Duties for this position include:

* Design and optimize expression cassettes for targeted host expression.

* Expression & purification of novel, engineered protein domains to enable targeted CRISPR delivery (ie. to target hematopoietic stem cells, T cells, and/or glioma cells, etc).

* Design and execute in vitro assays to validate engineered domains.

* Obtain consistent and reliable data, maintaining electronic lab notebook (ELN) records.

* Manage multiple projects and tasks in parallel in order to meet program-based milestones.

* Train one or more postdoctoral researchers and/or one or more technicians.

* Collaborate with principal investigators, postdocs, and students at partner universities and provide input to their research teams.

* Design and develop useful and practical intellectual property.

* Contribute to high-quality, high-impact publications in peer-reviewed journals.

* Attend scientific and technical conferences to discuss accomplishments at the IGI and establish relationships with other leaders in the field.

PhD or equivalent international degree

At least two years post-PhD research experience

*Ph.D. or equivalent degree in Chemistry, Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Bioengineering, or related discipline.

* Ability and willingness to travel occasionally as required.

* Proficiency in construct engineering, cloning techniques, mutagenesis, and other molecular biology techniques related to protein engineering.

* Experience designing, executing, and completing projects to meet milestones.

* Strong background in protein purification techniques, including affinity chromatography, size exclusion chromatography, ion exchange, dialysis, and protein characterization using both gravity and AKTA FPLC separation.

* Biophysical/analytical characterization of complex, multi-subunit proteins and/or nanomaterials for drug delivery (e.g. DLS, TEM, LC-MS, electron microscopy).

* Experience in optimizing protein expression from various expression hosts, including E. coli and mammalian cell systems and purification protocols to achieve high yields and purity. Ability to self-direct troubleshooting and address challenges related to protein expression and purification.

* Proficiency in analyzing and characterizing purified proteins using techniques such as SDS-PAGE, Western blotting, and mass spectrometry.

* Experience with molecular structure visualization software (PyMol, etc.) to design experimental constructs.

* Experience with bioconjugation chemistry: click chemistry, disulfide chemistry, etc.

* Experience with tissue culture of cells relevant to bioengineering and/or genetic therapeutic development.

* Experience using high-throughput screening of reagents for intracellular delivery activity.

* Experience developing in vitro assays to validate and quantify protein activity.

* Experience with DNA and RNA NGS platforms to validate in vivo genome editing.

* The ability to mentor and guide other team members in protein engineering and purification techniques. Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate with, to efficiently work with, and to maintain external collaborations with a diverse group of researchers.

• 3 required (contact information only)

UC Berkeley is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in our public mission of research, teaching, and service, consistent with UC Regents Policy 4400 and University of California Academic Personnel policy (APM 210 1-d). These values are embedded in our Principles of Community, which reflect our passion for critical inquiry, debate, discovery and innovation, and our deep commitment to contributing to a better world. Every member of the UC Berkeley community has a role in sustaining a safe, caring and humane environment in which these values can thrive.

The University of California, Berkeley is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status.

For more information, please refer to the University of California's Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment Policy and the University of California's Anti-Discrimination Policy.

In searches when letters of reference are required all letters will be treated as confidential per University of California policy and California state law. Please refer potential referees, including when letters are provided via a third party (i.e., dossier service or career center), to the UC Berkeley statement of confidentiality prior to submitting their letter.

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As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.

• "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment or discrimination, as defined by the employer.
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