Associate Scientist/Scientist I, Protein Science Developability

Your Impact at LILA

Lila Sciences is seeking an Associate Scientist/Scientist I specializing in high-throughput protein purification and analytics to join the Protein Sciences team within the Autonomous Science Platform. In this role, you will design, optimize, and execute protein purification workflows using chromatography systems, develop and validate bioassays, and apply mass spectrometry techniques to support protein characterization across Lila's autonomous laboratory platform. You will work at the intersection of protein sciences and laboratory automation, partnering closely with AI scientists, automation engineers, and cross-functional research teams to accelerate scientific workflows. Your expertise in protein analytics, method development, and data interpretation will directly contribute to the development of Lila's Scientific Superintelligence platform.

What You'll Be Building

• Design, develop, and optimize high-throughput protein purification workflows using AKTA chromatography systems (affinity, ion exchange, size exclusion) across diverse protein classes (antibodies, bi-specifics, multi-specifics, enzymes, etc.).
• Perform mass spectrometry-based analyses to confirm protein identity, assess purity, and characterize post-translational modifications.
• Develop and validate bioassays (binding, activity, and stability) to assess protein function and quality, ensuring assay robustness and reproducibility at scale.
• Identify opportunities to improve throughput, yield, and reliability of purification and analytical methods, and drive implementation of those improvements.
• Partner with automation engineers to integrate purification, bioassays, and analytical workflows into automated workcells and high-throughput platforms.
• Ensure data quality, documentation, and reproducibility in all experiments; actively contribute to knowledge sharing and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Collaborate with computational scientists to support data analysis pipelines, data processing, and the development of predictive models for protein characteristics.

What You'll Need to Succeed

• MS in Biochemistry, Biophysics, Bioengineering, Molecular Biology, or a related field with 4+ years of relevant experience, or PhD in a related discipline with 0-2 years of postdoctoral or industry experience.
• Experience operating AKTA chromatography systems for protein purification with proficiency across a wide range of chromatographic techniques (e.g. affinity, SEC, HIC, IEX, etc.), and the ability to develop, optimize, and troubleshoot purification workflows.
• Hands-on experience in LC-MS techniques for protein characterization, including intact mass analysis, peptide mapping, PTM identification, and glycosylation profiling, with exposure to interpretation of complex mass spectral data and troubleshooting instrument performance.
• Familiarity with assay development, optimization, and data analysis for bioassay techniques such as ELISA, AlphaLisa, SPR/BLI, and functional activity assays.
• Strong laboratory data analysis, digital recordkeeping (e.g., Benchling), and collaborative scientific workflows.
• Outstanding analytical and problem-solving skills with meticulous attention to data quality and reproducibility.
• Effective communication skills and an eagerness to collaborate within a fast-paced, cross-functional team.

Bonus Points For

• Experience working with laboratory automation platforms and high-throughput screening workflows.
• Familiarity with additional protein characterization techniques such as CE-SDS, SEC-MALS or DSF.
• Experience with data analysis tools (e.g., Python, R, or equivalent) and automating data workflows.