SlipstreamJobs tracks this role from the company's public career site. Apply directly on the employer's site.
Salary: USD 111,725 - 161,950 / annual
Glyphic Biotechnologies is developing a massively parallel, single-molecule proteome sequencing platform to transform life science discovery. The company has raised over $80M in venture funding and non-dilutive grants.
You will lead research on the library preparation stage of Glyphic's single-molecule protein sequencing platform (ProSE), reporting to the Director of Assay Development. You will own how DNA molecules produced by the protein sequencing assay are prepared for and read on the nanopore—the final steps from library prep through sequencing. ProSE outputs are non-standard sequencing templates with unique constraints that off-the-shelf kits cannot address. Your role is to design creatively around these constraints and turn one-off accuracy and read-count gains into reproducible, reliable results.
Key responsibilities include:
**Library Preparation & Method Development:**
- Own end-to-end library prep method development for nanopore sequencing: multiplexing, sample barcoding, second-strand synthesis, end repair, and adapter ligation, with goals to maximize read count and efficiency while reducing run-to-run variability.
- Own the interface between the protein sequencing assay and library prep; design and test new approaches to make accuracy gains reproducible.
- Develop on-bead preparation and clean-up methods for high-sensitivity sequencing from low-input material, with characterization assays tracking efficiency, yield, purity, and construct integrity.
- Feed library prep requirements back into upstream construct and oligo design, collaborating with relevant scientists.
- Contribute to experimental design for ProSE studies and sequencing runs; work with automation teams to move proven manual workflows to automated platforms.
**Mechanistic Investigation & Troubleshooting:**
- Investigate and resolve yield-limiting artifacts from protein sequencing assay chemistry and DNA library characteristics that reduce yield or bias results, including modified nucleotides and secondary structure effects.
- Use computational tools (SnapGene, mFold, NUPACK) to predict outcomes and validate at the bench.
- Use sequencing data as a system-level measurement; correlate library preparation variables with read counts, pore health, and classification accuracy; design experiments to explain observations.
**Leadership & Collaboration:**
- Provide technical guidance and research experiment design to team members running routine library prep.
- Work closely with oligo synthesis, assay development, integration, automation, and bioinformatics teams to optimize the full sample-to-sequencer pipeline; maintain rigorous documentation.
The ideal candidate thinks systemically about how upstream chemistry, construct design, and nanopore flow cell behavior shape data. You have developed library prep methods for demanding templates and are comfortable working independently on open-ended problems. Direct nanopore experience is welcome but not required; the company values the ability to learn new platforms quickly and reason from first principles.
This is a full-time, exempt, in-person position at the Berkeley, CA location.
**Requirements:**
*Required:*
- PhD in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Bioengineering, Chemical Biology, or related field with 1+ years of industry experience; OR MS with 5+ years of relevant experience.
- Demonstrated experience developing or substantially re-engineering a sequencing library prep method for demanding templates (beyond running existing kits), such as low-input, PCR-free, single-molecule, single-stranded, or damaged DNA.
- Deep understanding of enzymatic DNA manipulation (ligation, end repair, phosphorylation, polymerase extension, adapter attachment), including how the enzymes work.
- Experience working with chemically modified DNA or RNA, and troubleshooting nucleic acid secondary structure and its effects on reaction or sequencing performance.
- End-to-end systems thinking: ability to reason about how upstream chemistry, construct design, and sequencing hardware each contribute to results, and to design experiments that separate them.
- Demonstrated ability to reason from first principles to predict reagent and condition efficacy, rather than relying solely on empirical screening.
- Proficiency with DNA characterization and QC methods such as capillary or gel electrophoresis.
- Experience guiding bench work of others (research associates, students, junior scientists).
- Excellent problem-solving skills and strong attention to detail.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with ability to collaborate across diverse scientific and technical backgrounds.
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment with evolving priorities.
*Nice to have:*
- Hands-on experience with nanopore sequencing or another single-molecule DNA sequencing technology (e.g., PacBio).
- Experience characterizing electrochemical properties of nanopores or related systems (ion channels, nanoelectrodes).
- Experience with single-stranded DNA or RNA library prep, or PCR-free preparation with modified oligonucleotides in enzymatic workflows.
- Familiarity with automated liquid handling platforms (Hamilton, KingFisher).
- Background in protein sequencing, proteomics sample preparation, or peptide chemistry, including oligo-peptide conjugate characterization (LCMS, HPLC).
- Comfort using AI tools (Claude, Claude Code) to accelerate literature review, protocol design, and data analysis.
