Job Title: Senior Research Associate, High-Throughput Protein Binder Screening
Location: Watertown, MA
Employment Type: Full-time, on-site
About Digital Biology
Digital Biology is the data lab for AI protein drug engineering, building a measurement-driven discovery engine for next-generation biologics. We combine high-throughput experimental systems, advanced molecular technologies, automation, and computational modeling to generate biological data at unprecedented scale and resolution.
Our team works across protein engineering, functional screening, spatial biology, and AI-guided drug discovery. We partner with leading biotechnology and pharmaceutical organizations to build training and validation datasets that enable the design of better therapeutic proteins.
The Position
Digital Biology is seeking a Senior Research Associate to execute and scale high-throughput protein binder screening campaigns . You will operate a core experimental workflow for external partners developing world-leading AI protein-design models, generating the large, consistent, and information-rich datasets required to train and improve those systems.
This is a highly hands-on role for a scientist who is excellent at executing scaled, multi-step assays with precision and throughput. You will be responsible for running binder-selection campaigns across large libraries and target panels, measuring assay performance, and ensuring that every campaign produces reproducible, decision-quality data.
You will work closely with protein engineers, molecular biologists, automation engineers, and computational scientists. The ideal candidate combines strong experimental discipline with the curiosity and initiative to continually make workflows more reliable, faster, and more scalable.
Responsibilities
Execute end-to-end, high-throughput display campaigns, including library preparation, production, selection, amplification, and sequencing preparation
Manage concurrent partner campaigns against defined timelines, quality standards, and deliverables
Optimize key steps within complex workflows and improve throughput, reproducibility, cost, and turnaround time
Maintain rigorous documentation, sample traceability, and standardized procedures
Collaborate with computational teams to structure experimental data and metadata for downstream analysis
Partner with automation engineers to optimize robotic liquid-handling workflows
Communicate campaign progress, results, risks, and recommendations to stakeholders
Required Qualifications
BS, MS, or equivalent experience in protein biochemistry, molecular biology, biological engineering, or a related field
Industry experience with high-throughput assays and strong molecular biology fundamentals
Demonstrated ability to execute and troubleshoot complex, multi-step workflows
Experience with or strong interest in laboratory automation
Preferred Qualifications
Direct experience with phage display or yeast display.
High-throughput cloning and/or library experience.
Experience with library preparation for NGS.
Experience operating or developing workflows for automated liquid handlers.
Why You Might Be a Good Fit
You are energized by ambitious, high-throughput experiments where execution quality directly determines the value of the data.
You take ownership of complex workflows, proactively troubleshooting and improving their reproducibility, efficiency, and scale.
You thrive in a fast-moving, collaborative environment and communicate effectively across scientific, computational, and engineering teams.
What We Offer
Shaping the data foundations behind AI-driven protein and antibody design.
Building, scaling, and leveraging one of the most powerful wet-lab screening platforms in biotech.
Working closely with experts in protein engineering, bioinformatics, automation and computation.
An ambitious team solving hard problems at the intersection of hard tech, biology, and ML.
Competitive salary, equity and benefits.
Digital Biology is an…