Research Associate – Protein Biomanufacturing
Roke Biotechnologies, Durham, NC, United States
Roke Biotechnologies is a Durham, NC-based biotech startup transforming protein biomanufacturing. Spun out of Duke University in 2020, Roke develops low-cost, scalable manufacturing platforms for recombinant proteins and peptides using engineered E. coli strains. Our proprietary two-stage expression system, chromatography-free purification methods, and integrated strain engineering tools reduce costs and timelines across various applications.
Roke operates out of Duke’s BRiDGE startup incubator, with growing revenue from enzyme sales and technology licensing. Our team is small, highly technical, and collaborative — this is an opportunity to make a direct and meaningful contribution to an early-stage company at an exciting inflection point.
The Role
We are hiring a Research Associate to join our team and contribute to a project focused on developing a low-cost protein biomanufacturing platform for growth factor alternatives. This role will focus on purification process development, strain engineering, and bioreactor scale-up using Roke’s engineered E. coli strains.
This is a hands-on, bench-focused position ideal for someone with 1–3 years of experience in microbiology, molecular biology, or bioprocess engineering who wants to work at the intersection of synthetic biology and applied manufacturing.
Key Responsibilities
Perform strain engineering and genome editing in E. coli to improve purification performance
Scale up optimized processes in a 1-L bioreactor
Optimize purification conditions using Design of Experiments (DoE) approaches
Characterize protein expression and purity using SDS-PAGE, qPCR, endotoxin testing, and related analytical methods
Maintain detailed experimental records, summarize results, and contribute to technical reports and grant deliverables
Support general lab operations including reagent and buffers preparation, strain maintenance, and equipment upkeep
Required Qualifications
B.S. or M.S. in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Biomedical Engineering, Microbiology, Chemical/Biological Engineering, or a related field
1–3 years of hands-on laboratory experience (including academic research; graduate work counts)
Demonstrated experience with E. coli protein expression, molecular cloning, and strain engineering or genome editing
Familiarity with protein purification techniques (e.g., chromatography, precipitation, filtration)
Proficiency with standard analytical methods such as SDS-PAGE, Western blot, ELISA, and/or qPCR
Experience with bioreactor operation
Strong attention to detail, ability to maintain thorough lab notebooks and experimental records
Ability to work independently and take ownership of experiments while collaborating within a small team
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with Design of Experiments (DoE) methodology and statistical analysis
Familiarity with endotoxin testing
Experience interpreting proteomics or mass spectrometry datasets
Programming skills (Python preferred) for data analysis
Experience working in a startup, incubator, or small-team research environment
Compensation and Benefits
Salary $44,000-$50,000 per year
Health insurance (medical, and vision)
Opportunity to work at the forefront of biomanufacturing innovation in a collaborative, fast-paced startup environment
Hands-on mentorship from experienced scientists (PhD-level) with deep expertise in synthetic biology and bioprocess engineering
Duration
This position is funded for 18 months through a grant. However, Roke is actively growing and fully intends to retain this role and transition it to a permanent position, contingent on performance and continued funding (including additional grants and revenue growth).
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Roke operates out of Duke’s BRiDGE startup incubator, with growing revenue from enzyme sales and technology licensing. Our team is small, highly technical, and collaborative — this is an opportunity to make a direct and meaningful contribution to an early-stage company at an exciting inflection point.
The Role
We are hiring a Research Associate to join our team and contribute to a project focused on developing a low-cost protein biomanufacturing platform for growth factor alternatives. This role will focus on purification process development, strain engineering, and bioreactor scale-up using Roke’s engineered E. coli strains.
This is a hands-on, bench-focused position ideal for someone with 1–3 years of experience in microbiology, molecular biology, or bioprocess engineering who wants to work at the intersection of synthetic biology and applied manufacturing.
Key Responsibilities
Perform strain engineering and genome editing in E. coli to improve purification performance
Scale up optimized processes in a 1-L bioreactor
Optimize purification conditions using Design of Experiments (DoE) approaches
Characterize protein expression and purity using SDS-PAGE, qPCR, endotoxin testing, and related analytical methods
Maintain detailed experimental records, summarize results, and contribute to technical reports and grant deliverables
Support general lab operations including reagent and buffers preparation, strain maintenance, and equipment upkeep
Required Qualifications
B.S. or M.S. in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Biomedical Engineering, Microbiology, Chemical/Biological Engineering, or a related field
1–3 years of hands-on laboratory experience (including academic research; graduate work counts)
Demonstrated experience with E. coli protein expression, molecular cloning, and strain engineering or genome editing
Familiarity with protein purification techniques (e.g., chromatography, precipitation, filtration)
Proficiency with standard analytical methods such as SDS-PAGE, Western blot, ELISA, and/or qPCR
Experience with bioreactor operation
Strong attention to detail, ability to maintain thorough lab notebooks and experimental records
Ability to work independently and take ownership of experiments while collaborating within a small team
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with Design of Experiments (DoE) methodology and statistical analysis
Familiarity with endotoxin testing
Experience interpreting proteomics or mass spectrometry datasets
Programming skills (Python preferred) for data analysis
Experience working in a startup, incubator, or small-team research environment
Compensation and Benefits
Salary $44,000-$50,000 per year
Health insurance (medical, and vision)
Opportunity to work at the forefront of biomanufacturing innovation in a collaborative, fast-paced startup environment
Hands-on mentorship from experienced scientists (PhD-level) with deep expertise in synthetic biology and bioprocess engineering
Duration
This position is funded for 18 months through a grant. However, Roke is actively growing and fully intends to retain this role and transition it to a permanent position, contingent on performance and continued funding (including additional grants and revenue growth).
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