Protein Engineering Scientist

Location

Zwijnaarde

Working hours

Full-time

Contract Type

Permanent

Working area

R&D

Join the team

We are seeking a dynamic and highly skilled Protein Engineer to join our innovative team. The ideal candidate will possess a profound understanding of computational protein engineering with proven expertise in using physics- and AI-based modelling tools, solid knowledge in protein and plant molecular biology, and strong communication skills. As a crucial member of our research and development team, you will identify opportunities to leverage advanced AI models for protein design and optimization, and you will apply them to enhance crop traits for increased resilience and yield.

Responsibilities

You will utilize and develop physics-based or AI-driven approaches to analyze protein structures and functions, predict protein-protein interaction, with a focus on improving and designing proteins that optimize traits related to pest control, disease resistance and herbicide tolerance.
You will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including molecular biologists, agronomists, and bioinformaticians, to integrate advanced methodologies into broader crop improvement programs in Trait Research and other Seeds & Traits R&D business units.
You will identify creative opportunities to improve trait-associated lead proteins and translate them into protein engineering projects.
You will contribute to the development and execution of research plans, experimental designs, and data analysis pipelines.
You will work closely with the ML/AI community in the organization of Computational Biology groups and contribute to developing AI technologies and capabilities.
You will stay abreast of the latest advancements in protein engineering and design methodologies related to plant protein and molecular biology, applying this knowledge to drive innovation within the company.

Qualifications

You hold a Ph.D. or Master’s degree with 3+ years of experience in Protein Engineering, Computational Biology, Molecular Biology, or a related field.
You possess solid knowledge and experience of ML and physics-based tools in structure biology, functional predictions, protein design, molecular dynamics, protein-protein interactions.
You have strong programming skills in Python for data analysis and computational modeling, along with expertise in ML techniques and relevant libraries such as PyTorch and Transformers.
You have proven experience in the development of ML/AI models for protein engineering and design.
You show proficiency in molecular biology, including a deep understanding of protein biology, genomics, gene expression, signaling pathways, and metabolic processes.
You have experience conducting research to advance the state-of-the-art in protein engineering and AI methodologies while staying updated with the latest technological trends.
You possess an entrepreneurial attitude, with the ability to identify innovation opportunities that leverage your knowledge in molecular biology and machine learning methods.
You have excellent verbal and written communication skills, with experience in conveying complex scientific concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
You excel in documenting all processes, research, and findings for future reference and to ensure reproducibility.
You demonstrate the ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced, interdisciplinary research environment.

Benefits

A permanent contract within an attractive working environment in a professional and motivated team.
A role with challenging assignments and responsibilities.
An attractive base salary in relation to your diploma and competencies, an annual bonus and extra-legal benefits.

Come join us in bringing the lab to the field

About BASF’s Agricultural Solutions division

Everything we do, we do for the love of farming. Farming is fundamental to provide enough healthy and affordable food for a rapidly growing population, while reducing environmental impacts. That’s why we are working with partners and experts to integrate sustainability criteria into all business decisions. We invest in a strong R&D pipeline, combining innovative thinking with practical action in the field. Our solutions are purpose-designed for different crop systems. Connecting seeds and traits, crop protection products, digital tools and sustainability approaches, to help deliver the best possible outcomes for farmers, growers and our other stakeholders along the value chain. With teams in the lab, field, office and in production, we do everything in our power to build a sustainable future for agriculture. In 2023, our division generated sales of €10.1 billion.

For more information, please visit www.agriculture.basf.com or our social media channels.

Application process

1. Application

You found the job you like on our website. Time to hit that ‘apply’-button and let us know who you are through the application form.

2. First encounter

We are intrigued by your application and call you immediately. At this point you can expect questions like: What motivates you? And what are your skills?

3. Interview

The call went great! So here you are, ready for your interview with HR and a hiring manager. We want to know more of your story and of course, you can ask about our story as well.

4. Contract

Welcome to our team. When can you start? So we can everything ready for your first day. You know, computer, paperwork, cake, balloons …

5. Onboarding

We welcome you with open arms and get you up and running. Including our eye-opening bootscamp, from the lab to the field.