What are the responsibilities and job description for the Scientist 1 - Protein Engineering & Manufacturing position at InQuest Technologies?
Description
OriGene at a Glance:
OriGene’s greatest asset is our People! We know and understand that employees are the force that pushes our company forward. You might be wondering, then, how is it that our employees know they are valued?
We start by respecting a work-life balance. Our leaders are aware and considerate that our employees perform at their best when energized. It is this respect for individuals’ time that has contributed significantly to the happiness and innovative spirit of our employees.
Every year, we host different events that allow our staff to unwind and get to know their colleagues rather than sitting behind a desk all the time. We do this because we want our company culture to be one of solid teamwork and tolerance for the diverse group that we have here at OriGene. In addition to this, our employees also receive abundant access to learning, development, and mentorship throughout their time and are recognized through annual merit increases and bonuses.
Moving towards the future, OriGene has made many significant advancements in maintaining a green workspace. Because labs use four times the energy of a typical office environment, we made many changes to reduce our impact on the environment and ensure the longevity of our home.
We hope that future individuals joining our team are not simply able to find a rewarding career but a positive experience to last them a lifetime.
About Us
OriGene Technologies Inc. is a thriving, reputable, and women-led life science company located in Rockville, MD, guided by a team with a combined 25 years of experience in the industry. We have grown to have a national and global presence since our foundation in 1996.
Although OriGene was created with the end goal of being “Your Gene Company,” we have added to our original initiatives to become the premier source for genomic and proteomic tools to accelerate scientific breakthroughs and novel diagnostics. We exist to serve customers by providing efficient, innovative, and comprehensive solutions for life science researchers.
Our customers come to us because we provide high-quality products that contribute to their scientific advancements, and we are proud to be a part of such incredible achievements.
Working with OriGene presents an opportunity to further your career aspirations, whether getting a professional certification or gaining tactical experience. Our leaders are committed to the professional growth of our employees because we know that this is the only way the company can continue to grow. We believe that nothing is more important than a diverse and engaged workforce, and we make every effort to display that through our recruitment practices.
To Learn More About OriGene, View Our Online Presence
OriGene Technologies Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any applicant due to any identification within a protected class.
Mission
To provide a comprehensive genome, high-quality proteins, and antibodies built upon our proprietary cDNA clone collections through innovation and dedicated customer engagement, one target at a time.
Benefits
OriGene provides a robust benefits package to its employees, including medical (prescription drug coverage and access to a comprehensive HealthJoy service), dental, and vision benefits. Our medical plans are supplemented with HSA/FSA (including dependent care) programs. Our Life/ADD, Short and Long-term Disability, and Employee Assistance Programs are fully covered by OriGene. OriGene matches employee contributions to their 401k up to 6%. In addition, OriGene offers a truly flexible working arrangement through 15 personal days every year, 11 holidays, two floating holidays.
Requirements
The ideal candidate will have an industrial background, with experience in IVD product development and a strong understanding of biotech research markets. A business- and marketing-oriented mindset is essential to align scientific innovation with customer needs and product positioning. In addition to technical responsibilities, this role may support technology transfer, regulatory submissions, and strategic planning in collaboration with other internal departments, including commercial and product management teams.
Responsibilities And Job Duties
Education & Experience
OriGene at a Glance:
OriGene’s greatest asset is our People! We know and understand that employees are the force that pushes our company forward. You might be wondering, then, how is it that our employees know they are valued?
We start by respecting a work-life balance. Our leaders are aware and considerate that our employees perform at their best when energized. It is this respect for individuals’ time that has contributed significantly to the happiness and innovative spirit of our employees.
Every year, we host different events that allow our staff to unwind and get to know their colleagues rather than sitting behind a desk all the time. We do this because we want our company culture to be one of solid teamwork and tolerance for the diverse group that we have here at OriGene. In addition to this, our employees also receive abundant access to learning, development, and mentorship throughout their time and are recognized through annual merit increases and bonuses.
Moving towards the future, OriGene has made many significant advancements in maintaining a green workspace. Because labs use four times the energy of a typical office environment, we made many changes to reduce our impact on the environment and ensure the longevity of our home.
We hope that future individuals joining our team are not simply able to find a rewarding career but a positive experience to last them a lifetime.
About Us
OriGene Technologies Inc. is a thriving, reputable, and women-led life science company located in Rockville, MD, guided by a team with a combined 25 years of experience in the industry. We have grown to have a national and global presence since our foundation in 1996.
Although OriGene was created with the end goal of being “Your Gene Company,” we have added to our original initiatives to become the premier source for genomic and proteomic tools to accelerate scientific breakthroughs and novel diagnostics. We exist to serve customers by providing efficient, innovative, and comprehensive solutions for life science researchers.
Our customers come to us because we provide high-quality products that contribute to their scientific advancements, and we are proud to be a part of such incredible achievements.
Working with OriGene presents an opportunity to further your career aspirations, whether getting a professional certification or gaining tactical experience. Our leaders are committed to the professional growth of our employees because we know that this is the only way the company can continue to grow. We believe that nothing is more important than a diverse and engaged workforce, and we make every effort to display that through our recruitment practices.
To Learn More About OriGene, View Our Online Presence
- Website
- Glassdoor
- Indeed
OriGene Technologies Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any applicant due to any identification within a protected class.
Mission
To provide a comprehensive genome, high-quality proteins, and antibodies built upon our proprietary cDNA clone collections through innovation and dedicated customer engagement, one target at a time.
Benefits
OriGene provides a robust benefits package to its employees, including medical (prescription drug coverage and access to a comprehensive HealthJoy service), dental, and vision benefits. Our medical plans are supplemented with HSA/FSA (including dependent care) programs. Our Life/ADD, Short and Long-term Disability, and Employee Assistance Programs are fully covered by OriGene. OriGene matches employee contributions to their 401k up to 6%. In addition, OriGene offers a truly flexible working arrangement through 15 personal days every year, 11 holidays, two floating holidays.
Requirements
The ideal candidate will have an industrial background, with experience in IVD product development and a strong understanding of biotech research markets. A business- and marketing-oriented mindset is essential to align scientific innovation with customer needs and product positioning. In addition to technical responsibilities, this role may support technology transfer, regulatory submissions, and strategic planning in collaboration with other internal departments, including commercial and product management teams.
Responsibilities And Job Duties
- Contribute to rational protein engineering projects; analyze protein structures and properties to design antigens for antibody and diagnostic reagent development.
- Perform recombinant protein expression, purification, formulation, and physical characterization using multiple systems (e.g., E. coli, insect, mammalian).
- Support IVD-related product development and ensure compliance with quality and regulatory standards.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with antibody, assay, clone, CRISPR, pathology reagent, lentiviral/AAV, and cell therapy R&D teams to drive innovation and expand the product pipeline.
- Maintain a strong understanding of emerging science and technologies in the biomedical and diagnostic industries.
- Engage in scientific discussions with collaborators and clients to evaluate current products, support ongoing projects, and identify new opportunities.
- Develop and optimize SOPs and validation protocols; provide on-site technical guidance and training for research associates.
- Communicate with customers to understand and fulfill custom protein and antibody project requirements.
- Coordinate with sales, marketing, new product development and technical support teams to promote products, support order fulfillment, and resolve product-related issues.
- Prepare and present technical reports, data summaries, and presentations for both internal teams and external stakeholders.
- Prepare scientific posters, abstracts, and presentations; represent the company at relevant scientific conferences and industry meetings.
- Perform routine maintenance and troubleshooting of lab equipment and instrumentation.
Education & Experience
- Master’s degree with 5–8 years of experience, or Ph.D. with 3–5 years of post-graduate experience in biology, biochemistry, molecular biology, or a related life science field.
- Industrial experience required; experience with clinical diagnostic product development and regulatory awareness is strongly preferred.
- Proven expertise in recombinant protein expression and purification from various heterologous systems (bacteria, yeast, insect, and mammalian).
- Skilled in using liquid chromatography systems (e.g., AKTA) and a variety of separation matrices (e.g., SEC, IEX, HIC).
- Proven ability to independently troubleshoot protein construct design in order to optimize protein expression and purification using various purification tags (His6, FLAG, MBP, GST, etc.)
- Experience with protein formulation and analytical techniques (e.g., analytical SEC, BLI, DSF, ELISA).
- Proficiency with structural modeling tools (e.g., PyMOL, Schrödinger, MOE, Rosetta) and structural-based protein engineering.
- Familiarity with antibody or cell-based functional assays is a plus.
- Practical experience with cell/molecular biology techniques such as PCR, mutagenesis, DNA/RNA extraction, western blotting, aseptic cell culture, and flow cytometry.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to work independently and collaboratively.
- Demonstrated success in cross-functional teamwork and project coordination across research, development, and business functions.
- Understanding of the biotech market landscape with the ability to align product development with customer needs and business strategy.
- Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to handle multiple complex projects in a fast-paced environment.
- Effective communicator with excellent written and oral communication skills; ability to convey technical information clearly to both scientific and non-scientific audiences.
