The University of Georgia · 4 months ago
Senior Research Associate
Athens, GA
Full-time
Onsite
Mid, Senior Level
$65K/yr - $65K/yrThe University of Georgia is a prestigious institution known for its commitment to higher education and academic excellence. They are seeking a Senior Research Associate who will oversee the design and generation of glycoenzyme expression constructs, manage protein purification and characterization, and mentor junior staff. The role involves significant collaboration with faculty, students, and external partners to advance research in biochemistry.
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Responsibilities
Design recombinant expression constructs for a large library of glycoenzymes, using computational analysis of modeled protein structures and applying protein engineering strategies to target specificities in glycan synthesis
Plan and execute site-directed mutagenesis, domain swapping, and construct optimization, ensuring a range of enzyme variants to yield broad substrate and activity ranges
Develop and document experimental protocols for cloning, expression, and characterization of glycoenzymes, maintaining accurate and reproducible workflows
Evaluate protein models and predict structure-function relationships to prioritize constructs for synthesis and analysis
Troubleshoot construct design issues, incorporating feedback from initial expression and activity results to refine and improve enzyme design
Oversee and perform large-scale expression and purification of recombinant proteins in various host systems (e.g., E. coli, mammalian cells), troubleshooting issues in protein yield, solubility, and purity
Conduct detailed biophysical and enzymatic analyses (e.g., SDS-PAGE, thermal stability, enzyme assays, kinetic profiling), characterizing both wild-type and engineered enzyme forms for activity and stability
Optimize purification protocols (affinity, size-exclusion) for recovery of active recombinant proteins, including scaling up for preparative purposes
Analyze and interpret kinetic parameters (e.g., Km, Vmax, turnover number) for multiple substrates to generate comparative data datasets for enzyme variants
Document experimental outcomes, maintaining accurate lab records and preparing technical summaries to guide team efforts
Directly supervise research technician(s), graduate, and undergraduate students, assigning tasks, setting priorities, and monitoring progress related to enzyme expression projects
Develop training materials and provide hands-on instruction, ensuring junior staff and trainees are proficient in molecular biology, protein expression, and analytical methods
Facilitate regular check-ins and constructive feedback sessions, mentoring trainees and fostering a collegial, high-performance group culture
Organize and lead project meetings for supervised staff, clarifying goals, troubleshooting experiments, and resolving challenges as they arise
Prepare detailed written reports summarizing project status, challenges, milestones, and recent findings for distribution to the PI, collaborators, and funding bodies
Present project progress and troubleshoot issues at weekly laboratory meetings, using data visualizations and oral communication skills to clearly communicate complex results
Contribute to the preparation of manuscripts, grant applications, and presentations for scientific conferences, as required by the PI
Coordinate experimental efforts and timelines with outside collaborative partners, including academic and industry groups
Prepare and ship samples (proteins, constructs, data) according to collaboration agreements, ensuring compliance with shipping regulations and quality standards
Draft and review collaborative reports summarizing shared results and experimental findings
Serve as the primary contact for collaborators, responding to technical questions, coordinating material transfers, and ensuring joint objectives are met
Qualification
Required
Requires at least a baccalaureate degree in the field
Exceptional track record with first author publications supporting expertise in recombinant protein expression in mammalian cells and bacteria, including protein purification, characterization, and enzymatic assays
Experience in personnel supervision
Good interpersonal skills to work in a diverse research environment
Detailed knowledge in recombinant protein expression, protein purification, enzyme assays and kinetic analysis
Preferred
PhD in biochemistry and/or molecular biology
Company
The University of Georgia
The University of Georgia, a land-grant and sea-grant university with state-wide commitments and responsibilities, is the state's flagship institution of higher education.
Founded in 1785
10001+ employees
H1B Sponsorship
The University of Georgia has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
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Funding
Current Stage
Late StageLeadership Team
Mark Johnson
Chief Technology Officer, Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication
Alan Dorsey
Professor of Physics and Associate Chief Information Officer for Research
Recent News
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2023-10-27
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