Senior Scientist, Protein Biochemistry and Assay Development

Who We Are:

Calico (Calico Life Sciences LLC) is an Alphabet-founded research and development company whose mission is to harness advanced technologies and model systems to increase our understanding of the biology that controls human aging. Calico will use that knowledge to devise interventions that enable people to lead longer and healthier lives.  Calico’s highly innovative technology labs, its commitment to curiosity-driven discovery science, and, with academic and industry partners, its vibrant drug-development pipeline, together create an inspiring and exciting place to catalyze and enable medical breakthroughs.

Position Description:

The Cellular Models and Assay Technologies (CMAT) group at Calico is looking for a talented and creative bench scientist with extensive experience in the design and implementation of protein-based assays. As an individual contributor, the successful candidate will perform hands-on laboratory work, including the use of automated platforms for protein purification, and operation of state-of-the-art equipment for the biophysical and biochemical characterization of protein assay systems. In this position, the scientist will closely collaborate with the full breadth of early research, technology, and preclinical scientists across the company, in order to enable early research and drug discovery projects. It is expected that the successful candidate will stay current with state-of-the-art assay technologies to implement the most appropriate and intelligent solution to the problem at hand. As such, the ideal candidate will be intellectually and technically nimble, curious, creative, quantitative, technology-oriented, collaborative, well-organized, proactive, and capable of quickly grasping the fundamentals of new biological systems.

Main Responsibilities: 

• Design, engineer and implement protein-based assays that report on various biological phenomena (i.e. PPIs, enzymatic reactions, oligomerization) with a diversity of readouts (i.e. luminescence, fluorescence, AlphaLISA, HTRF, split FPs, split luciferases), and modifiers (i.e. metabolites, aptamers, peptides, quenched-pair probes)
• Assay optimization for HTS, i.e. miniaturization, Z-factor estimation, automation
• Construct design, protein expression (from bacteria and mammalian cells) and purification (with affinity tags and FPLC columns)
• Serve as a technical and scientific expert on project teams, including contributing ideas, developing plans, execution of the plan, timely reporting of the results, drawing conclusions, and making recommendations
• Evaluate and implement emerging technologies, methods, and engage and evaluate CROs

Position Requirements:

• PhD in biochemistry, or related fields and 4+ years of experience in protein-based assay development in an industry setting
• Experience establishing protein-based assays with imaging and plate-reader outputs
• Protein design, expression, and purification from various systems
• Experience with lab automation and high throughput screening platforms
• Quantitative data analysis skills (e. with Python, R, MATLAB or PRISM)
• Other techniques: ELISA, SDS-PAGE/WB, molecular biology
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Detail-oriented and organized
• Flexible and capable of multitasking
• Must be willing to work onsite at least four days per week

Nice to Have:

• Some experience working with lipid systems (i.e. GUVs, vesicles, supported lipid bilayers)
• Microfluidics-based assays
• Automation workflows

The estimated base salary range for this role is $153,000 - $166,000. Actual pay will be based on a number of factors including experience and qualifications. This position is also eligible for two annual cash bonuses.

Calico requires all new hires to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 prior to the first date of employment.  As required by applicable law, Calico will consider requests for Reasonable Accommodations.