[Full Time] Senior Scientist, RNA Therapeutics at Ginkgo Bioworks (United States)
Senior Scientist, RNA Therapeutics
Ginkgo Bioworks United States
Date Posted: 08 Jun, 2023
Work Location: Boston, United States
Salary Offered: Not Specified
Job Type: Full Time
Experience Required: 3+ years
Remote Work: No
Stock Options: No
Vacancies: 1 available
Our mission is to make biology easier to engineer. Ginkgo is constructing, editing, and redesigning the living world in order to answer the globe’s growing challenges in health, energy, food, materials, and more. Our bioengineers make use of an in-house automated foundry for designing and building new organisms.
Ginkgo is continuously crossing new frontiers of biological engineering, and we have a record of delivering to our partners what was (until recently) thought impossible. Now, our expansion into mammalian cell engineering promises to push our boundaries even further, and so we’re looking for curious, creative, and driven pioneers in this field.
We’re searching for a highly skilled and motivated Senior Scientist with expertise in RNA translation. As a successful applicant, you are able to independently design, conduct, and analyze in vitro and cell-based experiments aimed toward engineering RNA sequences aimed at delivering long-term or tissue-specific translation, impact splicing or generally modulate host cell biology. You are familiar with how RNA secondary structure and topology affects both its generation (in vitro or in vivo) and its function. You can also leverage a deep understanding of RNA-centric technologies to assess RNA translation in vitro and in cells in a high-throughput fashion. Additionally, you will develop assays to interrogate RNA translational status, RNA structure-function relationships, RNA-protein interactions, and RNP function. You have demonstrated experience owning and delivering technical milestones under defined timelines. As a driven and organized team member, you are flexible and can adapt to the changing demands of a fast-paced environment. Internal Title will be a Senior Mammalian Engineer 1.
Please note: this role would primarily be based in our Boston, Seaport location, but may require some flexibility to occasionally be present at the Cambridge location.
Responsibilities
- Work on a range of projects that directly impact the progress of Ginkgo’s mammalian team. Will design, conduct and analyze in vitro and cell-based experiments, independently and/or in collaboration with colleagues across the institution.
- Perform multiple molecular and cellular biology techniques, including RNA transcription, tissue culture, cell transfection, qPCR, and other biochemical assays.
- Perform screens to evaluate translation in a high throughput manner using next generation sequencing techniques.
- Analyze and share data within the Company with high integrity, quality and clarity.
- Support resource management and project planning across the broader project team.
- Communicate project and team performance to leadership and external customers.
- Identify and help develop new technologies to drive next-generation RNA platform development.
- Provide technical support, including scientific strategy and messaging, to Ginkgo’s Commercial Team, and directly interface with current and potential external partners.
- Coordinate efforts across interdisciplinary teams within Ginkgo’s foundry and 3rd party vendors.
Required Experience and Capabilities
- PhD +3 years industry experience in molecular biology, bioengineering, biochemistry, or a closely related field or equivalent experience. Industry experience in RNA biology (need not be directly therapeutics) is preferred.
- Proven track record of scientific innovation, as demonstrated by peer-reviewed publications and/or presentations.
- Deep hands-on experience with complex experimental design employing molecular biology techniques related to in vitro transcript analysis, gene expression, and RNA biology in mammalian cells.
- Expertise in in vitro transcription, analytical tools of RNA (gel electrophoresis, enzymatic reactions, immunoblotting, ELISA, qPCR and/or ddPCR).
- Experience with Riboseq, Polysome Profiling, RNA-seq, RIP-seq, SHAPE-seq or other chemical probing methods.
- Proficiency in in vitro transcription/translation systems and in vivo cell based reporter assays.
- Experience in RNA-protein interaction, genome-wide RNA technologies, or transcriptomics approaches.
- A strong publication record and demonstrated ability to perform impactful research in the field of RNA biology as part of a multidisciplinary, broadly collaborative team are required.
- Quantitative and statistical analysis of data. Demonstrated ability and willingness to quickly learn and perform in new areas, implement new techniques and instruments.
- Strong molecular biology expertise, with significant experience in mammalian cell culture and next-generation sequencing technologies.
- Experience establishing cell-based assays.
- Ability to work with interdisciplinary teams in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.
- Good communication and organization skills, with the ability to effectively convey project plans and complex technical information to a range of internal teams and external partners.
- Ability to handle multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
- Can and will do attitude and innovative mindset.
Additional Preferred Capabilities
- Direct experience in generating and screening large libraries of RNA elements to elucidate sequence-structure-function relationships between those elements and RNA processes (ie catalysis, translation, stability, interference, etc).
- Ability to effectively interface with custom and commercial LIMS systems, and utilize software tools for sample and workflow management. Familiarity with scripting to automate tasks is a plus.
We also feel that it’s important to point out the obvious here – there’s a serious lack of diversity in our industry, and that needs to change. Our goal is to help drive that change. Ginkgo is deeply committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in all of its practices, especially when it comes to growing our team. Our culture promotes inclusion and embraces how rewarding it is to work with people from all walks of life.
We’re developing a powerful biological engineering platform, so we must remain mindful of the many ways our technology can – and will – impact people around the world. We care about how our platform is used, and having a diverse team to build it gives us the best chance that it’s something we’ll be proud of as it continues to grow. Therefore, it’s critical that we incorporate the diverse voices and visions of all those who play a role in the future of biology.
It is the policy of Ginkgo Bioworks to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees, employment applicants, and EOE disability/vet.
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