Project Associate – Strain Modification for High-Value Protein Production

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.
• Master’s 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.