Scientist, Molecular Biology

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Job description

**Kelly Services is currently seeking a Scientist** **, Molecular Biology** **for a Direct Hire role in San Diego.**

**Job Title** : **Scientist, Molecular Biology**

Pay: $80-90k depending on experience

**Job Description** :

We are seeking an innovative and enthusiastic Scientist with molecular and synthetic biology experience to join our dynamic team and contribute to breakthrough discoveries. The role includes pathway cloning and characterization, library design and construction, cell-free biosynthesis, and strain engineering to advance our lasso drug candidates toward the clinic. Candidates will be part of a multi-disciplinary team and develop a cutting-edge platform in an exciting start-up environment, where everyone makes a difference.

**Key Responsibilities**

+ Engineer pathways and cells to overproduce lasso peptides and lasso peptide analogs

+ Cultivate natural and engineered microorganisms for lasso peptide production

+ Use cell-free methods to produce and test pathway enzymes and lasso peptides

+ Develop high throughput methods and assays for discovery of natural and evolved lasso peptides

+ Create, characterize, and screen diverse lasso peptide libraries based on computational designs, including the introduction of non-natural amino acids and lipid groups

+ Overexpress, isolate, and purify lasso peptide biosynthetic enzymes

+ Biochemically characterize lasso peptide biosynthetic pathways from various natural hosts, including Gram positive bacteria, Gram negative bacteria, and archaea

+ Acquire, evaluate, interpret, prepare, and clearly present experimental results

+ Follow laboratory safety procedures and wear personal protection equipment at all times in the lab

**Qualifications and Skills**

+ Ph.D. in a life sciences discipline such as molecular biology, synthetic biology, biochemistry, or biological engineering, with a minimum of 1 year of laboratory experience in a biotechnology or pharmaceutical setting, or M.S. with a minimum of 3 years of industrial experience

+ Skilled in recombinant DNA techniques, including DNA design, cloning, DNA/RNA isolation, and sanger sequencing

+ Familiarity with expressing genes and gene clusters in host organisms and cultivating various bacteria, e.g., _E. coli_ , _Pseudomonas, Streptomyces_

+ Preferably skilled in protein expression, isolation, and in vitro characterization

+ Proficient in DNA visualization software, e.g., Geneious, etc. and basic bioinformatic tools, e.g., BLAST, sequence alignment, genomic database search

+ Able to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic, multi-disciplinary, team-driven work environment

+ Must be detail-oriented, self-motivated, and able to work independently

+ Excellent organizational, interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills

**Work Environment** :

This position is based in San Diego. This position primarily will involve working in a laboratory and office setting and will require extensive interaction and communication with other individuals from different backgrounds.

\#TJP2021_SPEC

**You should know:** Your safety matters! Vaccination against COVID-19 may be a requirement for this job in compliance with current client and governmental policies. A Kelly recruiter will confirm and share more details with you during the interview process.

**Why Kelly** **®** **?**

Kelly® Science & Clinical is your connection to premier scientific and clinical companies looking to hire talented people just like you. Every day, we match science professionals with dream jobs that fit their skills and interests-it's the way we think job searching should be. Nearly 100 percent of our science recruiters have a professional background/education in science, so we know a thing or two about the science market and how to get you noticed.

**About Kelly** **®**

At Kelly, we're always thinking about what's next and advising job seekers on new ways of working to reach their full potential. In fact, we're a leading advocate for temporary/nontraditional workstyles, because we believe they allow flexibility and tremendous growth opportunities that enable a better way to work and live (plus, did we mention we provide a ton of benefits ?). Connecting great people with great companies is what we do best, and our employment opportunities span a wide variety of workstyles, skill levels, and industries around the world.

Kelly is an equal opportunity employer committed to employing a diverse workforce, including, but not limited to, minorities, females, individuals with disabilities, protected veterans, sexual orientation, gender identity. Equal Employment Opportunity is The Law. ()