Research Associate - Biochemistry

Are you ready to join Connecticut Innovation’s vibrant community of innovators? Connecticut Innovations (“CI”) is Connecticut’s strategic venture capital arm, and we are passionate about serving our portfolio of 220 companies across various industries, with strengths in life sciences, technology, and climate tech.

Come join one of our quickly growing portfolio companies, Enko!

Enko Overview

At Enko we believe that to create the future the world wants, we need to change the way the world grows. Our goal is not just to create something better, but to play a part in something bigger. Enko discovers and develops novel products for farmers to protect their crops from pests and disease.

Key Facts

• Our products address a $70 billion core market focused on crop health with expansion into adjacent markets worth $300 billion.
• We have $150 million in capitalization, with $80 million raised as part of a Series C in December 2022
• Our global investors include Anterra Capital, Nufarm, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Eight Roads Ventures, Finistere Ventures, Rabo Food & Agri Innovation Fund, Novalis LifeSciences, Taher Gozal, Germin8 Ventures, TO Ventures Food, Endeavor8, Connecticut Innovations, Silver Blue LLC, and Alumni Ventures Group.
• We have over 40 novel, active pipeline programs and 5 strategic partnerships announced, including Syngenta and Bayer.
• Our headquarters and research facility in Mystic, CT has 90,000 square feet of state-of-the-art labs and computer-controlled greenhouses built for pre-field experimentation and scale.

Our agricultural innovation platform, Enkompass™, uses A.I. and machine learning to create more effective ways of finding and selecting the right treatments for the right targets. Led by a team of proven scientists, entrepreneurs, and industry veterans, Enko’s innovative science, agile design, and discovery of new modes of action is producing next-generation crop protection solutions that will overcome the critical challenges facing industry. The industry has taken notice, and we have active projects with many key industry players…with more to come!

The Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Research Associate is responsible for routine enzyme assay screening of discovery compounds, with a focus on results delivery and technical excellence. The successful candidate will contribute to production-scale enzyme assay development activities in support of target-based, lead discovery and optimization programs, and will have demonstrated the ability to thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced, and innovative environment. They will have an opportunity to join a culture that nurtures scientific excellence, a sense of urgency to achieve project success, and success built on collaboration and personal accountability.

Major responsibilities include:

• Execution of established enzyme assays, for the purpose of determining the inhibitory properties of discovery compounds and calculation of IC50 values.
• Management of chemical inventories on-site, utilization of liquid handling automation and standard multi-channel, high-throughput automation at 96- and 384-well scale.
• Providing and maintaining documentation records of work, preparation of SOPs and registration of reagents in company electronic notebook system and databases.
• Assisting with managing enzyme assay workloads across the internal team and through CROs including tech transfer and support, domestic and international shipments, and courier deliveries.
• Collaborating with a team of scientists to produce high quality data, suitable for downstream target-based discovery.

Qualifications and Skills:

• BS in biology, biochemistry, molecular biology, or a related discipline.
• A minimum of 2 years of academic or industry experience with high throughput screening, execution of enzyme assays, inhibitor studies or lab automation.
• Strong expertise in enzymology or biochemistry is a plus.
• Demonstrated proficiency in experimental design and execution, data analysis, record keeping and data-driven decision making.
• Experience with electronic laboratory notebooks.
• Excellent written and oral communication and ability to learn and manage essential technical capabilities and capacities effectively with minimal direct supervision.
• Desire and ability to excel in a multidisciplinary environment; open-minded and capable of receiving feedback.

Why Work at Enko?

• Our products address a $70 billion core market focused on crop health with expansion into adjacent markets worth $300 billion.
• We have $150 million in capitalization, with $80 million raised as part of a Series C in December 2022
• Our global investors include Anterra Capital, Nufarm, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Eight Roads Ventures, Finistere Ventures, Rabo Food & Agri Innovation Fund, Novalis LifeSciences, Syngenta, TaherGozal, Germin8 Ventures, TO Ventures Food, Endeavor8, Connecticut Innovations, Silver Blue LLC, and Alumni Ventures Group.
• We have over 40 novel pipeline programs and 5 strategic partnerships announced, including with Syngenta and Bayer
• Our headquarters and research facility in Mystic, CT has 90,000 square feet of state-of-the-art labs and computer-controlled greenhouses built for pre-field experimentation and scale.

Enko is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.