Research Assistant

Part/Full time Research Assistant (Synthetic Biology, Computational Biology, and/or Process Optimization Focus)
 

📍 Location: Remote and Hybrid Roles Available, with research taking place at the Indiana Bioscience Research Institute in the 16 Tech Innovation District (Indianapolis, IN)
 

As a research assistant, you will work closely with Ourobio and its contractors to assist in the development of Ourobio’s fermentation process and products, working in/across: Systems Biology, Genetic Engineering and Protein Engineering, Bioprocess Optimization, and Downstream Processing (incl. Sys, Mech, & ChemE). Your work will help to accelerate strain engineering, improve production yields, and accelerate the commercialization of sustainable biomaterials.
 

Key Responsibilities (across roles):

Design and conduct experiments to improve bioplastic and pigment production.

Utilize molecular biology and various analytical techniques techniques (e.g., PCR, mutagenesis, DNA assembly, CRISP) to engineer and optimize microbial strains.

Develop and refine fermentation processes, extraction protocols, and analytical methods.

Analyze data, interpret results, and contribute to scientific discussions within the team.

Perform metabolic modeling using software such as MATLAB or Python to predict yield improvements and guide genetic modifications.
 

Qualifications:

Enrolled in or recently graduated from a relevant program (Biochemistry, Microbiology, Bioengineering, Biomedical, Chemical, Systems, Industrial, or Mechanical Engineering, or related field).

Strong analytical skills and ability to read and interpret scientific literature.

Confidence in/around the lab and learning new research techniques.

Familiarity with modeling and laboratory terms and techniques such as nSDS-PAGE, gel electrophoresis, Western blotting, spectroscopy, chromatography, fermentation, HPLC, GCMS, LCMS, etc. 

Experience with coding (Python, MATLAB, R) is preferred for modeling-focused interns.