Associate scientist

About the Role

Meril is seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Associate Scientist for its Protein Sciences team in Drug Discovery. This role will support early-stage drug-discovery programs by executing and analyzing relevant biophysical and biochemical studies for protein-ligand binding.

Key Responsibilities

• Biophysical and Biochemical Studies
• Execute and optimize biophysical assays to characterize protein interactions with small molecules and peptides.
• Determine and evaluate relevant interaction parameters, including binding affinity, kinetics, and thermodynamic or stability-related properties, using appropriate techniques.
• Perform biochemical assays to assess protein activity and ligand-mediated functional modulation.
• Establish, optimize, and troubleshoot assay conditions to ensure data quality, reproducibility, and suitability for drug-discovery applications.
• Protein Production and Characterization
• Perform recombinant protein expression and purification using appropriate expression systems and chromatographic techniques.
• Assess protein purity, homogeneity, stability, and suitability for biophysical, biochemical, and functional studies.
• Optimize protein production and purification workflows to improve yield, quality, and consistency.
• Cell-Based Assays and Functional Evaluation
• Execute cell-based assays to investigate functional effects of small molecules or peptides in accordance to project requirements.
• Correlate biophysical binding data with biochemical activity and cellular effects to support the interpretation of molecular interactions.
• Data Analysis and Scientific Reporting
• Analyze and interpret experimental data using appropriate quantitative and statistical methods.
• Prepare meticulous experimental records, reports, and presentations summarizing methods, results, and conclusions.
• Communicate findings effectively and collaborate with colleagues across protein sciences, biology, and medicinal chemistry.
• Laboratory Operations and Collaboration
• Maintain accurate laboratory records, protocols, and experimental documentation.
• Follow laboratory safety practices and contribute to the maintenance of equipment and experimental workflows.
• Collaborate with team members to support project timelines, experimental planning, and continuous improvement of laboratory practices.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• PhD in Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Biophysics, Structural Biology, Molecular Biology, or a related discipline.
• 0–2 years of relevant post-PhD research experience.
• Practical experience in performing biophysical and/or biochemical assays to study protein–small molecule or protein–peptide interactions.
• Hands-on experience in recombinant protein expression, purification, and basic protein characterization.
• Working knowledge of quantitative experimental data analysis, assay controls, and principles of reproducibility.
• Strong experimental aptitude, attention to detail, and the ability to troubleshoot technical challenges.
• Preferred skills include experience with: surface plasmon resonance (SPR), biolayer interferometry (BLI), isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), microscale thermophoresis (MST), fluorescence-based binding assays, enzyme kinetics, thermal-shift assays, functional activity assays, cell-based assays, FPLC based protein purification, and protein quality assessment.

Qualifications

• PhD in Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Biophysics, Structural Biology, Molecular Biology, or a related discipline.
• 0–2 years of relevant post-PhD research experience.
• Hands-on experience in recombinant protein production and characterization.
• Ability to work closely with various multidisciplinary teams and establish reliable experimental workflows.
• Desire for a hands-on, methodical, and data-driven approach to experimental science.
• Strong analytical thinking and a willingness to learn new experimental techniques.
• Ability to work independently on defined experimental tasks while collaborating effectively within a multidisciplinary team.
• Scientific curiosity, accountability, and a commitment to generating reliable and reproducible data.