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Associate Scientist or Scientist, Analytics

New York, New York

Helaina is a VC-backed biotech startup creating a new category of functional food products.

Our vision is to bring the functional properties of human proteins to food. Helaina will be the first company to put human milk proteins into food, defining a new category of consumer nutrition products focused on supporting immunity. We see a range of opportunities to use our breast milk proteins to enhance other types of functional foods for all segments of the population.

Helaina is backed by top VCs in the industry including Spark Capital, Siam Capital, Primary Venture Partners, and Plum Alley. We are a team of change-makers looking for our next team member who is intensely passionate about advancing synthetic biology for food and beverage products and redefining the future of nutrition.

About the Job:

In this role, you will work in our lab to develop analytical methods for, and provide analytical support to the characterization and development of infant formula ingredients and products.  The successful candidate will be a hands-on, motivated self-starter with a strong sense of initiative. You will be responsible for contributing directly to Helaina’s company milestones by designing, performing, and troubleshooting experiments through the Analytics team’s objectives of analytical development and support of infant nutrition ingredients and products.  This is an excellent opportunity for someone who is hungry to work in a startup environment and ready to make a big impact in a team on future nutrition. 

What You’ll Do:

  • Perform and lead the development of analytical methods for the characterization of recombinant proteins and ingredients of food products. These will include but are not limited to sample preparation and physicochemical analysis of lactoferrin as well as other proteins by chromatography (e.g. RP, SEC, IEX, and HILIC) and mass spectrometry. 
  • Provide analytical support of R&D in the engineering of strains and the development of processes for the expression and production of recombinant proteins. 
  • Responsible for the daily operation and maintenance of the major equipment such as (U)HPLC and mass spectrometry systems. 
  • Work with external resources including CROs and CMOs/CDMOs to contribute to the company’s objectives and milestones as needed.
  • Perform analytical method development, transfer, validation, and operations, including release and stability studies, for food ingredients and finished products.
  • Provide technical support for regulatory filings, health authority questions, change control, and quality impact assessments.
  • Analyze, interpret, and present data to internal and external audiences.

About You:

  • You have a PhD, MS, or BS in analytical chemistry, analytical biochemistry, biochemistry, biology, chemistry, or other relevant scientific disciplines with 3+ years of  in-lab experience in a biotech or academic setting.
  • You have a deep knowledge and experience in analytical techniques for protein purification and analysis such as chromatography (RP, IEX, SEC and HILIC), 
  • You have experience in mass spectrometry characterization of proteins including intact protein measurement, peptide mapping, glycosylation and other post-translational modification analysis. 
  • spectroscopy (UV, Fluorescence, CD), and SDS-PAGE/western blotting would be a plus.
  • You have strong working knowledge of analytical method development, validation, transfer, and root cause analysis.
  • You are eager to make an impact in a team environment.
  • You are energetic, creative, and personally motivated by the future of food and/or biological products.
  • You are an effective communicator, both within a collaborative scientific team and in communicating science to non-technical audiences
  • Bonus points if you have: 
    • prior applied experience with recombinant protein purification and analysis.
    • prior experience of publications in peer review journals, patents, SOPs, and/or regulatory filings.

Compensation is market-competitive with a yearly cash base of $70k - $85k plus equity.

Benefits:

Helaina was founded on the belief that families should have freedom of choice.  We are committed to providing an inclusive workplace that does just that, supporting our team's health, wellbeing and professional development at every stage and milestone.  We are proud to offer comprehensive health care, generous parental leave and childcare reimbursement, equity packages and more.  A few highlights include:

  • Full medical, vision and dental coverage
  • Short and long term disability insurance coverage
  • 401k match (up to 3%)
  • Unlimited vacation days, including an all-company holiday between Christmas and New Year
  • Paid Parental Leave for both parents + flexible return to work program
  • Childcare reimbursement program
  • Commuter Benefits
  • Leadership Development coaching through BetterUp

 

Visit us at https://www.myhelaina.com/news to learn more about Helaina.

 

Helaina is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Helaina we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway.  You may just be the strongest candidate for this or other roles.  For more information, please contact careers@myhelaina.com.  

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