The NSF Center for Genetically Encoded Materials (C-GEM) is seeking a Project Scientist at UC Berkeley to contribute to a spectacular interdisciplinary collaboration focused on expanding the chemical and functional potential of the proteome. The successful applicant will play key roles in the design, synthesis, structural analysis, evolution, and/or application of next-gen materials and biologics prepared in cells using the translational apparatus as a molecular catalyst. The position is affiliated with the Schepartz laboratory (Departments of Chemistry and Molecular and Cellular Biology) and offers unlimited opportunity to engage with all C-GEM members.

This position involves the design and execution of experiments, as well as data management, data analysis, manuscript preparation, oral presentations, and contributions to grant proposals and progress reports. It offers extensive opportunities for mentorship of undergraduates, graduate students, and post-baccalaureate researchers, as well as public outreach through community and citizen science programs.

Recent C-GEM advances include the identification of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases that accept an array of exotic non-alpha amino acid monomers (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41557-023-01224-y), elucidating the structures of aminobenzoic acid monomers in the peptidyl transferase center of wild type ribosomes (https://doi.org/10.1021/acscentsci.3c00153), and the use of RiPP biosynthetic enzymes to modify protein and peptide backbones (https://doi.org/10.1021/acscentsci.1c01577).