Scientist II Screening
AI-first protein-design company using generative foundation models and wet-lab validation to create functional proteins and genome-editing systems.
Funding history
About Profluent
Profluent develops AI models for de novo protein design, with applications in biomedicine, agriculture, and industrial biology. Its platform includes protein-generation models such as ProGen3 and the AI-designed OpenCRISPR-1 gene editor.
Skills
Candidate Availability
Required and preferred rules are kept separate and reflect the wording in the original posting.
About the Role
You will establish and lead a centralized gene editor screening function. You will design, run, troubleshoot, and analyze mammalian genome editing assays with NGS readouts in arrayed and pooled formats. You will set assay and data-quality standards, maintain sample traceability, deliver analysis-ready datasets, and coordinate screening workflows across Automation, Bioinformatics, Data Science, and Biology. You will also hire, train, mentor, and manage Research Associates while improving throughput, consistency, and assay sensitivity.
Requirements
- PhD in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Cell Biology, or a related field and 2+ years of relevant industry experience, or an MS in a related field and 10+ years of relevant industry experience
- Hands-on experience with bacterial and mammalian cell culture, genome editing, and NGS-based assays
- Experience with high-throughput experimentation and analysis of large datasets
- Experience with LIMS or ELN systems for sample and experiment tracking
- Ability to establish technical standards and drive consistent execution across operators
Responsibilities
- Build and lead a team of 2–4 Research Associates, including hiring, training, performance management, and career development
- Train and mentor staff on aseptic technique, assay execution, and documentation standards
- Foster a supportive team culture that prioritizes growth, engagement, and well-being
- Prioritize, schedule, and resource cross-functional experiments with Automation and Bioinformatics
- Design, execute, troubleshoot, and analyze mammalian genome editing assays with NGS readouts in arrayed and pooled formats
- Onboard new assays and extend existing assays to new enzyme classes
- Maintain sample chain of custody from plate mapping through automation, sample preparation, and sequencing submission
- Communicate technical results to expert and non-expert audiences
- Deliver QC'd, analysis-ready datasets with documented QC flags
- Define and enforce technical standards and maintain SOPs
- Qualify new assays and define acceptance criteria based on reproducibility data
- Maintain cell line quality and inventory for screening assays
- Characterize assay sensitivity and minimum detectable activity differences
- Identify and plan infrastructure projects to improve assays and processes
- Coordinate process development across Automation, Bioinformatics, Data Science, and Biology
- Evaluate centralization of high-throughput workflows
- Work with leadership to refine the scope of core functions