Surface / Polymer Scientist

About Nuclera
Nuclera is a next-generation DNA synthesis company creating solutions for the synthetic biology, enzyme engineering, and pharmaceutical industries. Our enzyme-mediated DNA synthesis platform will enable the rapid and cost-effective production of highly accurate, ultra-long DNA products. We are building a benchtop synthesis instrument capable of making long-length variant DNA and genome libraries for protein, biological pathway, and ultimately genome-scale engineering.
 
Job description
The Surface Chemist will join the instrumentation department at Nuclera, interfacing with experts in chemistry, biochemistry and engineering to develop a new device to revolutionize and democratize the field of DNA synthesis. The successful candidate will use their experience to improve surface attachment of DNA and other biomolecules on engineered surfaces while avoiding non-specific binding of various reaction components. 
 
This is a great opportunity to join a rapidly growing R&D team and to expand the candidate’s repertoire beyond conventional academic surface-chemistry pursuits.

Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Designing and building innovative surfaces, surface coatings, and characterizing those surfaces using sound scientific methods; this may involve some synthesis of new compounds in our fully-equipped chemistry laboratory
• Playing a lead role in surface and polymer chemistry
• Testing surfaces in the laboratory using direct and indirect measures of binding, uniformity, stability, compatibility, etc.
• Working with microfluidic engineers to develop Nuclera's benchtop DNA synthesis device

Required qualifications

• A PhD in surface chemistry or equivalent experience modifying glass or polymer surfaces with macromolecules
• At least 2 years’ direct experience with creating and characterising new surfaces
  Demonstrated ability to design, conduct and analyse practical experiments

Desirable qualifications and skills

• Liquid-handling and microfluidics background
• Experience with surface measurement methods like XPS (ESCA), raman spectroscopy, microscopy, profilometry, etc.
• Some theoretical and practical knowledge of the chemistry of biological macromolecules
• The ability and desire to work alongside life scientists and engineers in a team
• Ability to be creative and work independently when required
• Strong communication skills and a collaborative mentality
• Attention to detail and good manual dexterity