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Join Us
Training
We train energetic, creative, and diverse researchers from around the world at all career stages. Located at the University of Washington in Seattle, our Member Labs are led by professors who have access to the latest ideas, software, and instruments in their fields.
Undergraduates
Summer research — and beyond
Whether you attend at the University of Washington or another school, there are several ways for undergraduates to conduct research with us. Students from underrepresented communities are encouraged to apply.
Graduate Students
Earn your doctorate
Located at the University of Washington in Seattle, the Institute for Protein Design is a unique interdisciplinary environment where world-class researchers create new biomolecules. Your work here will not only support scientific inquiry but also has the potential to make a real difference in global health and sustainability.
We accept graduate student researchers from several departments and programs at the University of Washington, including:
Biochemistry
Bioengineering
Biological Physics, Structure, and Design
Chemical Engineering
Chemistry
Computer Science
Genome Sciences
Medicinal Chemistry
Molecular and Cellular Biology
Molecular Engineering
Physics
To conduct research with us, you must be enrolled in one of these UW programs (or be a visitor enrolled elsewhere). You may apply to more than one.
Please contact the programs you are interested in to learn more.
Postdoctoral Scholars
Pioneer new research
Note: To apply for a postdoc position at the IPD, please email the professor you’re interested in working with and begin a formal application in parallel. Learn more about all our Member Labs on our Faculty & Staff page.
The Department of Biochemistry at the University of Washington School of Medicine has ongoing opportunities for postdoctoral scholars to join the Institute for Protein Design in Seattle. We’re creating new proteins that solve modern challenges in medicine, technology, and sustainability. Our unique interdisciplinary environment allows researchers with expertise in computing science, biochemistry, immunology, and other disciplines to both computationally design and experimentally characterize novel biomolecules. Current projects include the design of novel therapeutics for cancer, neurological diseases, and more, as well as new vaccines, nanomaterials, and enzymes.
This is a full-time position with a 12-month service period, with the possibility for yearly renewal dependent upon performance and continued funding. The position will start as it becomes available and is open until filled.
Successful candidates will conduct research to computationally design and experimentally characterize novel biomolecules. Additional responsibilities include:
- Mentoring graduate and undergraduate students
- Participating in and contributing to regular lab meetings
- Writing and publishing results in scientific journals
- Presenting research results to peers and at conferences
- Participating in professional development activities including DEI efforts
The base salary range for this position will be $5,705 to $7,084 per month, commensurate with experience and qualifications, or as mandated by a U.S. Department of Labor prevailing wage determination. Other compensation associated with this position may include a $5000 one-time relocation payment to eligible selected candidates.
A summary of benefits associated with this title/rank can be found at https://hr.uw.edu/benefits/benefits-orientation/benefit-summary-pdfs/. Appointees solely employed and paid directly by a non-UW entity are not UW employees and are not eligible for UW or Washington State employee benefits.
Postdoctoral scholars are represented by UAW 4121 and are subject to the collective bargaining agreement, unless agreed exclusion criteria apply. For more information, please visit the University of Washington Labor Relations website.
Qualifications
Ph.D. or foreign equivalent in Biochemistry, Chemistry, or related biosciences, or Computer Science and related fields.
Application Instructions
Please provide a cover letter, CV, research statement, and DEI statement.
Employment
Joining our team means becoming part of one of the largest and most innovative public universities in the world. Your work here will support scientific inquiry and has the potential to make a real difference in global health and sustainability.
Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license, certification, or registration.
Open Positions*
*Search the keyword “IPD” on the UW hiring portal to see the most up-to-date information.
Grants Manager
The IPD has a complex sponsored research portfolio consisting of federal, philanthropic, and industry-sponsored research. The Grants Manager will provide overall management of proposals and awards for the current IPD faculty. They will commit 40% of their time to pre-award grant management, 40% to post-award grants management. Another 20% will be dedicated to a variety of other related programmatic tasks.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Pre-award grants management (40%)
- Investigate potential funding sources and opportunities and maintain funding opportunity database and reporting deliverables tracking system for all IPD grants and contracts. Recommend funding opportunities to faculty according to their research interests.
- Coordinate and develop grant documents such as budgets, justifications, biosketches, facilities, and current and pending support.
- Coordinate with and be the point of contact for external administrators preparing documents necessary for subawards.
- Support IPD with proposal submission processes including internal routing of applications, interpretation of sponsor guidelines, and development of electronic proposals.
- Support IPD Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars in preparing fellowship materials and navigating UW policies relating to grant submission.
- Submit Just-in-Time grant materials.
Post-award grants management (40%)
- Initiate and complete award setup processes and modifications.
- Support timely submission of progress reports in collaboration with the research management team.
- Coordinate and submit research related agreements, including material transfer agreements (MTAs), collaborative research agreements (CRAs), confidential disclosure agreements (CDAs) and others as needed.
- Be the main administrative point of contact for IPD’s sponsored research programs and research-related contracting.
- Proactively ensure research subcontracts are executed in a timely manner.
- Manage faculty effort certifications.
- Monitor compliance of UW and sponsor policies.
Other programmatic support (20%)
- Support project communication with both internal and external stakeholders; liaison between the project team and funding agencies or collaborators, ensuring regular program progress.
- Serve as liaison for complex regulatory or compliance matters, including coordinating with the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP), Grant and Contract Accounting (GCA), and CoMotion.
- Provide advice and interpretation of funding agencies’ regulations and UW policies and procedures to PIs and other project personnel.
- Provide and maintain expertise on UW and HHMI research-related policies.
- Participate in trainings, peer networks, and meetings, within and outside the university, related to research administration.
- Other duties as assigned or interested.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
- Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Program Management, Basic Science or related field + 2 or more years of experience in related field.
- Two years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Familiarity with University of Washington policies and procedures, particularly grants, and contracts.
- Familiarity with research, technical, and/or grant funded environments.
- Experience with UW systems: SAGE and Workday.
- Experience managing grants from federal agencies, foundations, and industry partners.
- Experience with research agreements such as CDAs, CRAs, and MTAs.
Research Scientist 1 – Core R&D Labs
As a member of our Core R&D Labs, you will make important research contributions that accelerate progress in protein design. These teams develop new research methods, collect experimental data, and help interpret results. These activities are performed in collaboration with other scientists at the Institute for Protein Design or its collaborators; they are not available for external contract work.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
(80%) – Work with other Core R&D Lab members to accomplish research goals, including by establishing and nurturing productive relationships with research colleagues, students, administrators, and others at the UW and beyond.
- Follow standard operating procedures and working guidelines.
- Optimization and development of Core-specific protocols in close scientific collaboration with postdoctoral researchers and graduate students.
- Document protocols run in the wet lab.
- Review, analyze, and troubleshoot all experimental results.
- Train IPD researchers on Core-specific workflow.
- Work directly with Principal Investigators, postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and laboratory staff in assisting with and conducting experiments.
(10%) – Maintain databases and inventories; this includes:
- Prepare and maintain standard laboratory stocks and reagents.
- Maintain inventory for all chemicals, supplies, reagents, and biological samples.
- Maintain and troubleshoot laboratory equipment.
- Work with Laboratory Management to assist with EH&S compliance.
(5%) – Assist with managing undergraduate research assistants
(5%) – Present scientific data, attend meetings and team building events
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
- Bachelor’s Degree in Biochemistry, molecular biology, or any other relevant field + one year of relevant experience, OR Equivalent combination of education/experience.
- At least one year of full-time laboratory experience.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
- Strong communication and organization skills and great attention to detail.
- A willingness to acquire new skills and learn on the job.
Research Scientist Assistant – Core R&D Labs
As a member of our Core R&D Labs, you will make important research contributions that accelerate progress in protein design. These teams develop new research methods, collect experimental data, and help interpret results. These activities are performed in collaboration with other scientists at the Institute for Protein Design or its collaborators; they are not available for external contract work.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
(70%) Work with other Core R&D Lab members to accomplish research specific goals
- Express proteins utilizing microbial systems with standard production techniques.
- Purify proteins utilizing gravity IMAC or AKTA FPLC systems using standard protocols.
- Characterize proteins using biophysical techniques such as: SDS-PAGE, Western Blot, UV-Vis, Dynamic
- Light Scattering (DLS), High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), Electron Microscopy (EM).
- Review, analyze, and troubleshoot all experimental results.
- Document protocols run in the wet lab.
- Follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) and working guidelines.
(20%) Maintain databases and inventories
- Preparation and maintenance of standard laboratory stocks and reagents necessary to research workflow.
- Maintain inventory for all chemicals, supplies, reagents, and biological samples.
- Maintain and troubleshoot laboratory equipment.
- Work with Laboratory Manager to assist with laboratory-wide EH&S compliance.
(5%) – Assist with managing undergraduate research assistants
(5%) – Present scientific data, attend meetings and team building events
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
- Bachelor’s degree in biochemistry, molecular biology, or another relevant field AND less than one year of relevant experience, OR an equivalent combination of education or experience.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
- Strong communication and organization skills and great attention to detail.
- Ability to thrive in both individual tasks and team environments/assignments.
Research Scientist Assistant – Core R&D Labs
As a member of our Core R&D Labs, you will make important research contributions that accelerate progress in protein design. These teams develop new research methods, collect experimental data, and help interpret results. These activities are performed in collaboration with other scientists at the Institute for Protein Design or its collaborators; they are not available for external contract work.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
(70%) Work with other Core R&D Lab members to accomplish research specific goals
- Express proteins utilizing microbial systems with standard production techniques.
- Purify proteins utilizing gravity IMAC or AKTA FPLC systems using standard protocols.
- Characterize proteins using biophysical techniques such as: SDS-PAGE, Western Blot, UV-Vis, Dynamic
- Light Scattering (DLS), High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), Electron Microscopy (EM).
- Review, analyze, and troubleshoot all experimental results.
- Document protocols run in the wet lab.
- Follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) and working guidelines.
(20%) Maintain databases and inventories
- Preparation and maintenance of standard laboratory stocks and reagents necessary to research workflow.
- Maintain inventory for all chemicals, supplies, reagents, and biological samples.
- Maintain and troubleshoot laboratory equipment.
- Work with Laboratory Manager to assist with laboratory-wide EH&S compliance.
(5%) – Assist with managing undergraduate research assistants
(5%) – Present scientific data, attend meetings and team building events
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
- Bachelor’s degree in biochemistry, molecular biology, or another relevant field AND less than one year of relevant experience, OR an equivalent combination of education or experience.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
- Strong communication and organization skills and great attention to detail.
- Ability to thrive in both individual tasks and team environments/assignments.
Application Process
The University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or dso@uw.edu.
Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington state law.
The application process for UW positions may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your “My Jobs” page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.
Don’t see the perfect opening?
Write to us at contact@ipd.uw.edu. We’re always on the lookout for passionate individuals.