Postdoctoral Researcher in Protein Design and Optimization - Remote

About the Role

Join us as a Postdoctoral Researcher in Protein Design and Optimization in a remote capacity, where you will make a significant impact on the world through innovative research. At Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), we are dedicated to advancing science and technology to enhance U.S. security and promote global stability. This role offers the opportunity to work on high-impact multidisciplinary research at the intersection of protein design, ultra-high-throughput experimentation, and directed evolution.

What You'll Do

• Design, construct, and characterize yeast surface display libraries, primarily focusing on antibody fragments using FACS and MACS.
• Develop and optimize flow-cytometry binding assays and complementary characterization methods such as ELISA, BLI, and SPR.
• Implement directed-evolution workflows in collaboration with the project team.
• Collaborate with automation engineers to transition manual protocols onto liquid handling and robotic platforms.
• Work closely with machine learning experts to design antibody libraries and analyze experimental data.
• Present research progress and results to interdisciplinary team members, including those without wet-lab backgrounds.
• Contribute to manuscript preparation and patent disclosures arising from your work.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• PhD in Biochemistry, Bioengineering, Synthetic Biology, Chemical Biology, Chemical Engineering, or a related field with a strong emphasis on molecular microbiology or protein biology.
• Experience in protein engineering, protein-protein interactions, and antibody biology.
• Practical experience with flow cytometry and FACS-based cell sorting, including proficiency with relevant software.
• Significant experience with molecular cloning and library-scale assembly.
• Competency in basic yeast genetics and cultivation.
• Familiarity with statistical analysis of experimental data and proficiency in at least one data analysis environment (e.g., Python, R, MATLAB).
• Strong verbal and written communication skills to collaborate effectively in a multidisciplinary team environment.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team.

Nice to Have

• Experience with yeast display and high-diversity libraries.
• Hands-on experience with MACS for qualitative enrichment of display libraries.
• Exposure to directed evolution approaches and experience engineering antibodies or antibody fragments.
• Comfort with automation and liquid handling platforms.
• Familiarity with AI-based protein design concepts and tools.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary of $118,884 annually.
• Flexible benefits package including 401(k) and education reimbursement.
• Relocation assistance to help you settle into your new role.
• Flexible schedules depending on project needs.
• A collaborative and innovative work environment.