Computational Biotechnology Specialist (Internal Employment Opportunity)

Department:

Division of Research and Innovation

Special Instructions to Applicants:

This is an Internal Employment Opportunity.

When applying you will be required to attach the following electronic documents:

1) A resume/CV; and

2) A cover letter indicating how your qualifications and experience have prepared you for this position.

The salary range for this position is $66,317- $78,000. Starting salary will be commensurate with skills, education, and experience.

For additional information please contact: Chris Larson at [email protected]

Job Summary:

This is an Internal Employment Opportunity.

The Division of Research and Innovation’s Biotechnology Translational Institute (BTI) is seeking a Computational Biotechnology Specialist. This is a full-time (1.00 FTE), 12-month, professional faculty position.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and apply computational methods, scientific software, and AI-enabled tools to support BTI research programs, with an initial emphasis on protein engineering and genetic code expansion workflows.
• Integrate computational predictions with experimental results to guide iterative protein-engineering and GCE workflows, including data interpretation, variant prioritization, troubleshooting, and recommendations for subsequent computational or experimental work.
• Validate computationally designed protein variants through experimental construction, screening, characterization, and related protein-engineering and genetic code expansion workflows.
• Develop and support BTI’s digital laboratory environment by connecting experimental workflows, research data, scientific computing, software, analytical instruments, and laboratory information systems.
• Evaluate emerging computational, AI, automation, and digital laboratory technologies for potential BTI use and provide technical recommendations based on scientific value, reproducibility, interoperability, and scalability.
• Build and maintain working partnerships with OSU AI, research computing, and other computational-resource stakeholders, as well as vendors and research collaborators, to coordinate access to shared infrastructure, identify available capabilities, and support integration with BTI research workflows.
• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures, technical documentation, and user guidance for BTI computational and digital laboratory systems; train and support BTI researchers and staff in their effective and consistent use.

Oregon State University’s Biotechnology Translational Institute (BTI) is a new institute focused on advancing protein engineering and genetic code expansion (GCE) technologies from research to commercial application. The BTI is built around an industry-facing model that combines specialized scientific expertise, shared technical infrastructure, sponsored research, fee-for-service activities, commercialization support, and workforce development within a common platform. Its current scientific foundation centers on GCE and related protein-engineering technologies, enabling the design, production, and evaluation of proteins with expanded chemical and functional capabilities. The BTI is structured to make it easier for companies, researchers, and entrepreneurs to access OSU expertise, develop and test new technologies, form research partnerships, and move promising protein-engineering innovations toward commercial and societal use.

Reporting to the BTI Executive Director and working closely with institute leadership, researchers, and staff, the Computational Biotechnology Specialist supports BTI’s research programs at the intersection of AI-enabled scientific workflows, digital laboratory systems, computational protein engineering, and experimental research. The position applies computational methods to protein design and GCE workflows, develops and improves digital tools that connect laboratory and computational activities, and performs targeted experimental work to support validation and iterative research. The position also evaluates emerging computational and digital methods, recommends approaches for BTI use, and helps implement reproducible workflows and integrated laboratory-computational systems that improve research efficiency, data quality, and technical capability while supporting future translational applications.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in biochemistry, biophysics, molecular biology, bioengineering, computational biology, computer science, or a closely related field.
• Experience applying computational methods to biological or biochemical research problems.
• Demonstrated programming experience in Python or a comparable scientific programming language.
• Experience developing, modifying, or executing computational workflows and working in Linux-based or comparable scientific computing environments.
• Laboratory experience in protein biochemistry, molecular biology, protein engineering, genetic code expansion, or a closely related area.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze scientific data, troubleshoot technical problems, and document methods and results in a reproducible manner.
• Ability to work across computational and experimental research activities, learn new research tools, and communicate and collaborate effectively within a multidisciplinary research team.

This position is designated as a critical or security-sensitive position; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a criminal history check and be determined to be position qualified as per University Standard: 05-010 et seq. Incumbents are required to self-report convictions and those in youth programs may have additional criminal history checks every 24 months.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated capability in computational protein design, including protein structure prediction, molecular modeling, protein-ligand interactions, sequence design, variant prioritization, or AI/machine-learning methods applied to protein engineering.
• Proficiency with advanced scientific computing workflows, including Python or comparable tools, high-performance or GPU computing, batch processing, version control, and reproducible software environments.
• Wet-lab experience in protein engineering and genetic code expansion, including directed evolution, incorporation of noncanonical amino acids, protein expression and purification, or related experimental methods.
• Familiarity with digital laboratory systems and research informatics, including automated data-processing workflows, laboratory-computational integration, scientific data-management platforms, laboratory information systems, or instrument-data interfaces.

Working Conditions/Schedule:

• Hybrid position (on-site and remote) with majority of work conducted on the Corvallis campus during regular business hours. • Work is performed in a combination of computational/office and research laboratory environments, with regular use of computers, scientific computing systems, laboratory equipment, biological materials, and chemicals. • The incumbent must complete and maintain applicable laboratory safety and compliance training and follow established requirements for work in research laboratory environments.

Salary Range:

$66,317 - $78,000

Anticipated Start Date:

2026-11-01

Anticipated End Date:

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability, protected veteran, and other protected status.

OSU will conduct a review of the National Sex Offender Public website prior to hire.

OSU is a fair chance employer committed to inclusive hiring. We encourage applications from candidates who bring a wide range of lived experience including involvement with the justice system. If this position has “critical or security-sensitive” responsibilities and/or driving duties and you are selected as a finalist, your initial job offer will be contingent upon the results of a job-related pre-employment check (such as a background check, motor vehicle history check, sexual misconduct reference check, etc.). Background check results do not automatically disqualify a candidate. Take a look at our Background Checks website including the for candidates section for more details. If you have questions or concerns about the pre-employment check, please contact OSU’s Employee and Labor Relations team at [email protected].