SwiftScale Biologics uses our cell-free protein synthesis platform to enable (1) fast protein therapeutic development through to clinical batches and (2) synthesis of proteins that are very difficult to express in cells. Our mission is to use our platform technology to enable our partners to advance dozens of novel therapeutics to the clinic where they can improve the lives of thousands of patients. Building from the work of Prof. Matthew DeLisa (Cornell University) and Prof. Michael Jewett (Northwestern University), our cell-free platform provides a unique opportunity to produce glycoproteins in vitro, enabling a variety of exciting applications. We are looking for someone who shares our goal of getting life-saving therapeutics to patients more quickly than would otherwise be possible to join our tightly-knit team.

In this position, you will help expand the applications of cell-free technology in the biopharmaceutical industry by supporting and executing research and development projects. The work will involve cell-free and cellular protein synthesis optimization, protein purification, and protein characterization using SDS-PAGE, UPLC, and ELISA binding evaluation. You'll also work with our platform development team to improve our platform to make a wider variety of proteins and scale-up the cell-free protein synthesis process from the bench scale to GMP clinical batches.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Support and execute experiments to screen, characterize, and produce preparative amounts of protein therapeutic candidates.
• Perform and optimize cell-free protein expression of various therapeutic proteins.
• Prepare and validate materials for cell-free protein expression for use at the bench and pilot scale.
• Purify proteins at scales from magnetic beads to AKTA Explorer/AKTA Pilot.
• Characterize proteins using UPLC, SDS-PAGE, and ELISA.
• Design DNA using synthetic biology-based methods
• Perform experiments using PCR, protein and DNA electrophoresis, Western blotting, expression, cell culture (bacterial)
• Interpret and present experimental data to colleagues and company leadership.
• Prepare reagents for testing and process samples via automated systems in accordance with the laboratory's standard operating procedures (SOPs)
• Help improve and build upon our cell-free synthesis, purification, and characterization platform to deliver new classes of proteins, expand throughput, and increase speed.

QUALIFICATIONS

• [Required] Direct experience working with molecular cloning, protein expression, purification, and characterization (preferably of protein therapeutics).
• [Required] BS (+2 years experience) or MS (with highly-related thesis experience), in Bioengineering, Biochemistry, Microbiology Synthetic Biology, Biological Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Biotechnology, Chemical Engineering, or related fields.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret, compile, and present experimental data.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, team-based small company environment with a drive to creatively solve problems around how to speed up protein therapeutic development and experimental workflows.
• Availability to work full-time hours at our Oakland, CA location.
• High intrinsic motivation and a desire to learn new techniques.
• [Preferred] Direct experience with automation and high-throughput workflows.
• [Preferred] Direct experience with in vitro transcription-translation or cell-free protein synthesis methods.

Our work environment is focused on treating everyone on our team with respect, fostering a collaborative environment, taking ownership of our work, learning new skills, and having fun.

This is a contract position with competitive compensation and opportunity for renewal.