Research Associate, Computational Ion Channel Design, Synthetic and Structural Biology

Research Associate, Computational Ion Channel Design, Synthetic and Structural Biology

IOB - Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel

Basel, Switzerland

The Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel (IOB) seeks a highly motivated Research Associate. IOB is a research institute combining basic and clinical research. Its mission is to drive innovations in understanding vision and its diseases and develop new therapies for vision loss. It is a place where your expertise will be valued, your abilities challenged, and your knowledge expanded.

We are recruiting a Research Associate in computational ion channel and membrane-protein design (protein design, structural and synthetic biology). In this role, you will drive an end-to-end, design–build–test cycle: computationally design engineered ion channels (e.g., light-responsive membrane proteins), translate designs into expression constructs, and validate function in mammalian systems in collaboration with colleagues performing quantitative assays (with access to high-throughput electrophysiology and advanced imaging). The position combines modern structure-based and generative design approaches with hands-on experimental execution (mammalian cell culture, transfection/transduction, expression optimization, and protein/function characterization).

Your responsibilities

• Own the computational and structural design cycle for ion channels and light-sensitive membrane proteins (concept → design hypotheses → in silico screening → selection of candidates for testing), in close interaction with experimental and translational collaborators;
• Define clear design objectives and success criteria, and translate designs into practical construct and assay plans;
• Develop and apply learned-model–assisted protein design workflows (structure prediction, inverse folding/sequence design, sequence scoring, and generative proposal methods) and integrate them with experimental feedback across iterative design cycles;
• Execute a targeted experimental validation workflow (limited hands-on bench work): some routine mammalian cell culture, DNA cloning/construct handling as needed, transfection/transduction, and small-scale expression testing in HEK/CHO (or equivalent);
• Coordinate and interpret functional readouts generated with the team (e.g., electrophysiology, imaging, biochemical assays), using results to iterate designs;
• Communicate progress and results clearly in internal updates, written documentation, and project meetings; contribute to conference presentations and manuscripts as appropriate;
• Maintain accurate records and effective day-to-day communication with your supervisor and collaborators.

Requirements

• PhD (or equivalent experience) in computational biology, protein engineering, structural biology, biophysics, biochemistry, molecular/cell biology, or a closely related field;
• ≥3 years of post-graduate (or equivalent) experience with at least two of the following:
  • computational/structure-based protein design (especially membrane proteins or ion channels);
  • learned-model–assisted protein design workflows (e.g., structure prediction, inverse folding/sequence design, protein language-model–based sequence scoring, and generative sequence/structure proposal tools);
  • generative or library-based design and screening strategies (incl. directed evolution);
  • molecular biology for rapid design–build–test cycles (cloning, construct design, expression optimization);
  • metagenomic mining/discovery pipelines and annotation;
  • quantitative functional screening (microplate assays and/or electrophysiology/imaging readouts).
• Strong motivation to develop and refine methods, primarily in silico, with a light but competent experimental component;
• Highly organized and precise; comfortable managing multiple design iterations with rigorous documentation and version control;
• Solid programming and data-analysis skills (e.g., Python) and experience working with structural biology and protein-design software/toolchains (e.g., Rosetta; structure-prediction workflows such as AlphaFold-derived or equivalent; inverse-folding/sequence-design and generative design tools; MD/analysis toolchains);
• Practical competence with mammalian cell culture and sterile technique; familiarity with BSL1/BSL2 environments;
• Evidence of impact in protein design (e.g., first-author work, open-source contributions, released methods, or demonstrated engineered-function outcomes).