Project Associate – Strain Modification for High-Value Protein Production

We are looking for a motivated and technically strong candidate to work on a 1-year project focused on modifying and optimizing production strains for high-level expression of high-value proteins. The project will involve strain engineering clone generation screening and characterization to improve protein yield expression stability and reproducibility.

The goal of the project is to generate improved strain candidates capable of producing high-value proteins at enhanced levels for downstream research and development applications.

Key Responsibilities

• Review scientific literature and existing protocols related to strain engineering recombinant protein expression and host strain improvement.

• Design and execute strain modification strategies to enhance high-value protein production.

• Perform molecular biology workflows such as plasmid design PCR cloning transformation colony screening and construct verification.

• Generate and screen modified strain variants for improved protein expression.

• Evaluate different expression constructs promoters signal peptides copy number strategies selection markers or integration approaches as relevant to the project.

• Characterize modified strains for protein expression level genetic stability reproducibility and growth compatibility.

• Perform small-scale expression screening in culture tubes microplates or shake flasks.

• Perform relevant analytical assays such as protein quantification SDS-PAGE Western blotting ELISA or other biochemical assays as required.

• Troubleshoot issues related to low expression unstable constructs poor transformation efficiency protein degradation secretion limitations or inconsistent expression.

• Maintain strain records construct maps sequence files experimental plans laboratory notebooks and analyzed datasets.

• Prepare periodic progress updates technical summaries SOPs and a final project report.

Qualifications :

• Masters or PhD degree in Biotechnology Microbiology Biochemistry Molecular Biology Life Sciences or a related field.

• Hands-on experience with molecular biology techniques such as PCR cloning transformation plasmid handling and colony screening.

• Familiarity with recombinant protein expression and strain engineering concepts.

• Experience with aseptic techniques strain maintenance and basic microbial culture.

• Ability to design controlled experiments and interpret expression data.

• Basic data analysis skills using Excel GraphPad or similar tools.

• Strong documentation organization and troubleshooting skills.

• Ability to work independently while coordinating with the broader R&D team.

  Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with promoter engineering gene integration copy number optimization secretion pathway optimization or expression cassette design.

• Prior experience modifying production strains for recombinant protein expression.

• Familiarity with sequence analysis construct design tools and primer design.

• Experience with protein expression screening and biochemical characterization.
  Knowledge of analytical methods for measuring protein concentration activity purity or expression level.

• Experience maintaining strain banks and working with good laboratory documentation practices.

Additional Information :

By the end of the 1-year project the selected candidate is expected to deliver:

• Literature and protocol review relevant to strain modification for high-value protein production.

• Designed and documented strain modification strategy.

• Generated modified strain variants and verified constructs.

• Comparative expression data across modified strain candidates.

• Identification of lead strain candidates with improved protein production.

• Characterization data covering expression level stability reproducibility and growth compatibility.

• Standard operating protocols for strain modification screening and expression evaluation.

• Troubleshooting notes and recommendations for future strain development.

• Complete strain records construct documentation lab records analyzed datasets and a final project report.
  
  Ideal Candidate Profile

  The ideal candidate is a hands-on molecular biologist with strong fundamentals in strain engineering and recombinant protein expression. They should be comfortable designing strain modification strategies generating modified variants screening expression levels troubleshooting construct or expression-related issues and documenting work clearly.

Remote Work :

No

Employment Type :

Full-time