Arena BioWorks, located in Cambridge, MA, is a new biomedical research institute focused on uncovering the mechanisms of human disease to identify opportunities for therapeutic intervention. The Institute's private funding model allows Arena to advance novel therapeutics by forming and supporting biotech companies up to the early clinical/series B stage.
As a Research Associate working on the Chemical Biology and Chemical Proteomics Team, you will work collaboratively with supervising scientists to support platforms at the intersection of chemical proteomics and high-throughput screening to understand human disease biology and drive the discovery of new small molecule-protein interactions. In this role, the qualified candidate will participate in the development and application of chemical biology assay formats for the discovery and study of protein-ligand interactions, in conjunction with ongoing mass spectrometry (MS)-based discovery efforts.
The ideal candidate should have familiarity with chemical biology, molecular biology, and/or biochemical techniques and be enthusiastic to learn more about the application of chemoproteomic technologies to identify therapeutically valuable protein-ligand interactions to generate meaningful insights into human disease. The candidate should strongly value collaborating with scientists across diverse teams and scientific areas and enjoy continuously learning from the expertise of their peers and colleagues.
Specific Responsibilities:
- Develop and apply plate-based assay formats for discovery and study of ligand-protein interactions.
- Validate small molecule-protein interactions of interest using biochemistry, chemical biology, and molecular biology techniques including western blotting, molecular cloning, site-directed mutagenesis, mammalian tissue culture, and protein expression.
- Support and collaborate with MS-based discovery platforms.
- Present regular research updates and participate externally at scientific conferences and symposia.
- Work with a diverse team of chemists, chemical biologists, biologists, and data scientists to support discoveries within ABW.
Qualifications:
- B.S. or M.S. in Chemistry, Chemical Biology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, or related field, with at least 2 years laboratory experience in an academic or industry setting.
- Hands-on experience with high-throughput small-molecule binding assay technologies (e.g. HTRF, AlphaScreen, SPR, BRET, etc.) use of plate readers and liquid handling systems, as well as mammalian cell culture.
- Experience with molecular biology techniques including DNA cloning, site-directed mutagenesis, and western blotting.
- Familiarity with small-molecule chemistry is preferred.
- Interest in or experience with mass spectrometry-based proteomics is preferred.
- Highly organized with the demonstrated ability to analyze, interpret, and present data in a clear fashion.
- A passion for learning is strongly desired, and the right candidate is highly adaptable, a strong problem solver, with the ability to think critically and work collaboratively.
- Ability to work across multi-disciplinary teams and actively contribute to a supportive and positive work culture.