Role: Associate Scientist

Count: 2

Department: Drug Discovery – Protein Sciences

Experience: PhD with 0-2 years of research experience

Job type: Onsite, Full time

Location: NUVO Labs Pvt. Ltd. (Meril Group) Vapi, Gujarat.

Description

We are seeking motivated and detail-oriented candidate for the role of Associate Scientist in our Protein Sciences team to enable our early-stage drug-discovery programmes.

The successful candidate will support our protein-ligand binding studies through execution and analysis of relevant biophysical and biochemical studies. The candidate is expected to produce high-quality data to characterize biomolecular interactions. The role also requires prior hands-on experience in recombinant protein production and characterization.

The candidate is expected to be a team player, who will work closely with various multidisciplinary teams and establish reliable experimental workflows to characterize protein-ligand binding and generate high-quality data to support hit identification and early-stage lead development.

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
- Analyse 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.

Essential Qualifications

- PhD in Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Biophysics,



Structural Biology, Molecular Biology, or a related discipline.
- 0–2 years of relevant post-PhD research experience.

Required Skills

- 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

- Hands-on experience in any or some of the following methods: surface plasmon resonance (SPR), biolayer interferometry (BLI), isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), microscale thermophoresis (MST), fluorescence-based binding assays, or related biophysical techniques.
- Familiarity with enzyme kinetics, thermal-shift assays or functional activity assays.
- Experience in cell-based assays for evaluating protein function or ligand mediated biological responses.
- Experience in FPLC based protein purification, and protein quality assessment.
- Familiarity with protein stability, aggregation, and protein–ligand interaction principles.

Desired Attributes

- A hands-on, methodical, and data-driven approach to experimental science.
- Strong analytical thinking and a willingness to learn recent 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.

📌 Associate scientist (Vapi)
🏢 Meril
📍 Vapi