Assistant or Associate Project Scientist/Scientific Managing Director - NSF Center for Genetically Encoded Materials - Department of Chemistry

The Department of Chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley seeks applications for an Assistant Project Scientist or Associate Project Scientist, who will work closely with Professor Alanna Schepartz as a Scientific Managing Director. The primary responsibilities of this position will be to design, perform, and analyze experiments relevant to the research mission of the NSF Center for Genetically Encoded Materials (C-GEM).

C-GEM is repurposing the ribosome, nature's protein synthesizing machine, to biosynthesize genetically encoded, sequence-defined chemical polymers and natural product-like molecules with unprecedented structures, functions, and activities. C-GEM's goal is to transform the way scientists design and produce materials and medicines.

The general position duties of the Scientific Managing Director include:

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  Independently design and execute experiments related to C-GEM's research aims

  
  
  
  
  • Perform rigorous analysis, interpretation, and compilation of experimental data
  • Develop and optimize novel synthetic methodology for C-GEM science
  • Plan and contribute to discussions on the determination of future project directions.
  • Remain up to date with the latest scientific literature in the field of genetically encoded materials, peptide chemistry, and any other relevant C-GEM subfields to inform research direction.
  • Prepare and publish manuscripts in high-impact journals
  • Present primary research findings at seminars and conferences.
  • Maintain clear documentation of protocols, analyses, and results
  • Prepare figures and text summarizing findings for grant reporting
  • Train junior lab members, including graduate students and undergraduate researchers, on specific experimental techniques and lab best practices.
  • Offer project-specific research guidance to graduate students and undergraduate researchers (troubleshooting, project arc development, etc).
  • Provide feedback on fellowship applications, manuscripts, and research presentations prepared by junior lab members as needed.
  • Identifies synergies between groups with otherwise disparate research programs and encourages these collaborations.
  • Identifies gaps in C-GEM expertise and proposes solutions (collaborations, guest speakers, etc.).
  • Tracks C-GEM interdisciplinary activities and milestones for reporting and improvement purposes.
  • Facilitates intellectual property development (patents, technology licensing) in conjunction with C-GEM faculty, tech transfer offices, and industrial partners.
  • Per the C-GEM data management plan, promotes public accessibility of C-GEM work through preprints and deposition of data and reagents into appropriate repositories.
  • Oversees Executive Committee review and decisions on ad-hoc proposals from potential new Seed Investigators.
  • Oversees distribution of C-GEM career development funds to graduate students and postdocs.
  
  
  
  

Supervisory duties:

• Provides general direction to a reportee and ensures completion with respect to all Center programming needed to meet strategic plan objectives and broader impact goals. Programming includes but is not limited to: GEM-inars (research talks from non-C-GEM academic speakers), All-Hands (C-GEM team research presentations), C-GEM SURP, community outreach, project meetings (small-group collaboration updates), and other ad-hoc guest speakers. Develops and organizes team retreat conferences and public forums to present C-GEM research.

Manages C-GEM financial and HR resources:

• Develops a complex annual $4M+ budget based on Executive Committee review and Director recommendations from a competitive internal funding process.
• Oversees post-award research administrators to gather expenditure information for subawards and Berkeley grant accounts, generate projections, and ensure responsible use of funds.
  
  
• Oversees Centerwide HR including: development of job postings and leading hiring processes for Center staff, summer undergraduate researcher registration, and postbaccalaureate hiring. Provide assistance to faculty onboarding new postdocs, grad students, and other personnel.
• Oversees procurement for large C-GEM expenditures including equipment, chemicals, and specialized services.
• Develops annual call for proposals to allocate funding among C-GEM investigators. Oversees review of proposals by the External Advisory Board and Executive Committee. Facilitates connections between investigators during the call for proposals to increase synergy and applications of C-GEM discoveries.
• Oversees execution of projects including identifying and tracking reportable metrics of success for each project.

Serve as primary contact for C-GEM

• Liaises with the National Science Foundation, C-GEM Executive Committee, External Advisory Board (EAB), Industrial Affiliates Group (IAG), Chemistry department, partner institutions, other Berkeley departments, Center participants, and other partners. Gives presentations on the research program and other activities when relevant.
• Represent C-GEM to committees and external groups. Includes College of Chemistry DEIB committee, Berkeley Coalition for Education and Outreach, CCI Managing Directors group, and CCI Directors of Education and Outreach group.
• Serve as campus expert on NSF, virtual site visits, and collaborative research development to the Berkeley Research Development Office (BRDO) as requested.
• Direct overall compliance with NSF Cooperative Agreement including annual progress report, increment request, initiate new subawards, and provide other documents as requested.
• Organize C-GEM annual meetings and meetings of the Executive Committee, EAB, and IAG directly or via subordinates. Set agendas, lead meetings in conjunction with the faculty Director, and evaluates meetings for impact and ideas for improvement.
• Manages and oversees organizational tools including GEM-NET Slack workspace, member database, project management systems, email lists/google domain, and custom software.
• Develops an industry membership program (Industrial Affiliates Group) in collaboration with IPIRA/IAO, identifies and recruits new industrial contacts to the IAG. Connects IAG members with C-GEM faculty and researchers where appropriate.
• Writes reports for NSF as needed

Program: https://gem-net.net/

Department: https://chemistry.berkeley.edu/home

Union contract: https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/resources/employment-policies-contracts/bargaining-units/academic-researchers/contract/

PhD or equivalent international degree or enrolled in a PhD or equivalent international degree program

PhD or equivalent international degree

• PhD or equivalent international degree in Chemistry or related field
• Experience in liaising with industrial and governmental partners
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Extensive experience in scientific writing and editing
• Strong record in publications
• Expertise in organic synthesis and complex biomolecule characterization, particularly structural characterization of atropoisomeric small molecules and/or peptides
• Experience with solid-phase peptide synthesis and peptide macrocyclization
• Extensive working knowledge of the field of genetic code expansion
• Strong track record of scientific mentorship and academic collaboration
• Experience leading community engagement and STEM outreach
• Demonstrated ability to report scientific research in accordance with NSF guidelines

• 3-5 required (contact information only)

UC Berkeley is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in our public mission of research, teaching, and service, consistent with UC Regents Policy 4400 and University of California Academic Personnel policy (APM 210 1-d). These values are embedded in our Principles of Community, which reflect our passion for critical inquiry, debate, discovery and innovation, and our deep commitment to contributing to a better world. Every member of the UC Berkeley community has a role in sustaining a safe, caring and humane environment in which these values can thrive.

The University of California, Berkeley is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status.

For more information, please refer to the University of California's Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment Policy and the University of California's Anti-Discrimination Policy.

In searches when letters of reference are required all letters will be treated as confidential per University of California policy and California state law. Please refer potential referees, including when letters are provided via a third party (i.e., dossier service or career center), to the UC Berkeley statement of confidentiality prior to submitting their letter.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

Unless stated otherwise, unambiguously, in the position description, this position does not include sponsorship of a new consular H-1B visa petition that would require payment of the $100,000 supplemental fee.

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.

• "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment or discrimination, as defined by the employer.
• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
• APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment