To strengthen our lab, we are looking for a Research Scientist (f/m/d) - Membrane Proteins & Automated Purification who wants to grow into a key role at the interface of biochemistry, biophysics, and high-throughput process development. From cell pellet to structure and beyond!
At Cube Biotech, we specialize in high-quality protein purification and stabilization technologies. Our customers range from leading pharmaceutical and biotech companies to academic research labs worldwide.
We are a place for people who think for themselves, question dogma, and enjoy building smarter workflows than “what everyone else is doing”. If you are curious, hands-on, and determined to learn as much as possible about membrane proteins, biophysics, and automated purification, you will feel at home here.
At Cube Biotech, we specialize in high-quality protein purification and stabilization technologies. Our customers range from leading pharmaceutical and biotech companies to academic research labs worldwide.
We are a place for people who think for themselves, question dogma, and enjoy building smarter workflows than “what everyone else is doing”. If you are curious, hands-on, and determined to learn as much as possible about membrane proteins, biophysics, and automated purification, you will feel at home here.
Research Scientist (m/f/d) - Membrane Proteins & Automated Purification
Your Mission
You will start from cell pellets and turn them into high-quality, well-understood membrane protein samples, ready for structural partners or downstream assays. The core of this role is biophysical and - chemical characterization combined with smart, automated purification workflows.
Your work largely ends when the sample is handed over: your success is measured by how stable, clean, and well-characterized your membrane protein preparations are - and by how much they help our partners generate high-quality structural and functional data.
- Develop and run purification and polishing workflows for challenging membrane proteins (e.g. receptors, ion channels, transporters), using both classical chromatography and robot-assisted purification setups.
- Design and execute systematic purification and formulation screens - different detergents and/or detergent-free systems, buffer compositions, tags, elution and wash strategies, ligands/cofactors, and additives.
- Leverage our automation platform (liquid-handling and purification robots) to: Scale from small exploratory screens to robust, semi-automated workflows Increase reproducibility and throughput of purification campaigns Capture process data that can be reused and refined across projects
- Perform in-depth biophysical characterization of membrane proteins, including: SEC and analytical SEC to assess homogeneity, aggregation state, and stability SDS-PAGE & Western blotting for purity and identity MST (MicroScale Thermophoresis) for binding affinities, ligand interactions, and conformational changes GCI (Grating-Coupled Interferometry) for kinetics and interaction analysis (on- and off-rates, complex formation) Thermal/chemical stability and aggregation readouts (e.g. nanoDSF or related methods) Additional functional or binding assays, depending on the target
- Define and document “handover criteria”: what a sample must look like (purity, homogeneity, stability, activity) to be ready for structural teams (cryo-EM, X-ray, etc.), and ensure these criteria are met.
- Take responsibility for the operation, basic maintenance, and thoughtful use of key instruments in your area (MST, GCI, chromatography systems, robots) and help optimize how we use them across projects.
- Record your work in a clear, structured way and contribute to internal knowledge bases (solubilization and purification databases, protocol libraries, best-practice documents).
Your work largely ends when the sample is handed over: your success is measured by how stable, clean, and well-characterized your membrane protein preparations are - and by how much they help our partners generate high-quality structural and functional data.
Your Profile
We are not chasing a perfect list of buzzwords - we are looking for a free thinker with genuine curiosity and the will to learn fast. You will be a strong fit if most of the following applies to you:
- You hold a Master’s or PhD in Biology, Biochemistry, Biophysics, Structural Biology, Chemistry, or a closely related field.
- You have robust, hands-on experience in protein purification, ideally with membrane proteins or other challenging targets.
- You enjoy biophysical data: you think about what SEC traces, MST binding curves, or GCI sensorgrams tell you about folding, stability, oligomeric state, and mechanism.
- Experience with MST and/or GCI is a strong plus; alternatively, you bring solid experience with other quantitative binding/interaction methods and are highly motivated to master MST/GCI quickly.
- You are curious about automation: using robots to make workflows more systematic, reproducible, and scalable is something you see as an opportunity, not a threat.
- You like to set up structured screens (multiple conditions/constructs/ligands in parallel) and are comfortable drawing clear, data-driven conclusions from complex data sets.
- You are motivated by innovation: you question protocols, refine them, and want to understand what is happening at the molecular level, not just follow a checklist.
- Youenjoy working in a collaborative, multidisciplinary team, discussing data openly, and bringing your own ideas to the table.
- You can manage several projects in parallel without compromising on documentation or scientific rigor.
- You are fluent in English (written & spoken); B1-level German or the willingness to reach it is expected.
What we Offer
- A permanent full-time position (40h/week) in Monheim am Rhein. Start Date is 01 April 2026.
- Flexible working hours for a great work-life balance.
- A scientifically driven, innovative environment where your ideas matter and where you can shape new workflows and methods
- Access to modern biophysical instrumentation (MST, GCI, chromatography systems, robots for automated workflows) and challenging real-world targets
- Close collaboration with experts in membrane protein biochemistry, biophysics, chemistry, and structural biology
- The opportunity to work on high-value membrane protein targets with direct impact on drug discovery and fundamental research
- Flat hierarchies, short decision paths, and room to grow with your responsibilities
- Subsidized meals and free refreshments
Ready to Make an Impact?
Send your CV, Cover Letter and Reference letters with your salary expectation and your earliest start date to email-we can‘t wait to meet you!
Contact Person: Frau Cao / Human Resources
Contact Person: Frau Cao / Human Resources
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