Scientist I, Protein-Protein Interactions – New Technologies

About Enlaza Therapeutics

Enlaza Therapeutics is pioneering a disruptive new class of biologic drugs called War-Locks. Unlike traditional protein therapeutics, War-Locks are uniquely engineered to bind specifically and irreversibly to disease-related targets. We are committed to developing these innovative therapies to help patients battling cancer and other serious illnesses.

Role Description

Enlaza Therapeutics’ New Technologies team is seeking a highly motivated Scientist I with expertise in protein-protein interactions, alongside experience in molecular biology, protein engineering, and protein production. The ideal candidate is a highly motivated individual with extensive hands-on experience and a deep theoretical understanding of the quantitative characterization of antibody binding. This person will help steer the development of new therapeutic concepts and applications. The ideal candidate should:

• possess strong scientific rigor, creativity, and problem-solving skills
• be proficient in independently designing and executing experiments
• have excellent communication, documentation, and organizational skills
• be eager to expand their skill set in a fast-paced, collaborative research environment

This laboratory-focused position offers an exceptional opportunity to work with a driven team committed to excellence while interfacing directly with multiple research groups, including biotherapeutic discovery, platform engineering, protein sciences, pharmacology, and leadership.

Responsibilities

• Design, execute, and interpret protein-protein interaction and kinetic binding assays using Bio-Layer Interferometry (BLI)
• Serve as the subject matter expert for BLI and establish rigorous, quantitative guidelines for evaluating binding kinetics, affinity, and assay quality
• Optimize BLI experimental conditions, including buffer systems, immobilization strategies, and analyte concentrations for robust and reproducible results
• Maintain and calibrate BLI instrumentation and help implement best practices across the team
• Utilize molecular biology and protein engineering knowledge to design novel multifunctional antibodies
• Express and purify (using affinity, ion exchange, size exclusion, and other chromatographic methods) protein candidates with high quality and purity specifications; operate lab-scale systems such as ÄKTA
• Perform routine protein analysis techniques such as ELISA, SDS-PAGE, and Western blotting
• Coordinate antibody characterization workflows, including sample submission for LC-MS, analytical SEC, and functional cell assays; analyze, organize, and present resulting data
• Lead and prioritize multiple concurrent research activities with minimal supervision
• Maintain thorough, accurate, and timely documentation of experiments in an electronic laboratory notebook (ELN), adhering to internal protocols and regulatory standards
• Clearly and effectively communicate experimental plans, progress, and findings to supervisors, cross-functional teams, and company-wide audiences through reports and presentations
• Proactively track emerging developments in protein chemistry, synthetic biology, and related disciplines, and leverage cutting-edge technologies to fuel innovation

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Biology, Biochemistry, Biological Engineering, Chemical Biology, Chemical Engineering, Immunology, or related scientific discipline
• Minimum of 0 – 2 years related experience; may include post-doctoral experience
• Highly collaborative with strong written and verbal communication abilities
• Comfortable working in a dynamic, fast-paced, cross-functional team setting
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills; able to prioritize and manage multiple projects concurrently

Additional experience preferred by not required:

• Demonstrated and extensive hands-on experience in BLI assay setup, development, execution, and data analysis
• Deep theoretical understanding of key concepts in protein-protein interactions, including affinity, kinetics, valency, selectivity, epitope mapping, thermodynamics, and binding models
• Familiarity with protein engineering techniques, including mutagenesis, affinity maturation, or humanization
• Skilled in a range of modern molecular biology techniques, including vector design, PCR, site-directed mutagenesis, gel extraction, restriction cloning, Gibson Assembly, Golden Gate Assembly, and plasmid preparation
• Strong background in recombinant protein production and purification from E. coli and/or mammalian systems; familiarity with laboratory-scale purification chromatography platforms such as ÄKTA
• Competent in data analysis and interpretation using tools like Excel, Prism, JMP, Geneious, SnapGene, PyMOL, and Benchling; familiarity with MOE and FlowJo is a plus
• Experienced in standard protein characterization methods such as ELISA, SDS-PAGE, and Western blotting
• Familiarity with LC-MS-based characterization and analytical SEC
• Prior exposure to engineered protein binders (e.g., antibodies, nanobodies/VHHs, DARPins)

Compensation

In addition to a competitive compensation package with stock options, the company also offers a comprehensive benefits package for our employees and their families, which includes medical, dental, vision, and supplemental disability insurance.

Job Type

Full-time

Annual Salary Range

$112,000.00 – $135,000.00

Supplemental Pay Types

Bonus pay

Benefits

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible schedule
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Flexible vacation
• Paid holidays
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance