What does a protein purification scientist do?
A protein purification scientist is someone who provides technical support on the characterization and production of preclinical recombinant proteins. Your duties typically include implementing the purification of diverse and novel recombinant proteins, performing quality assessments and characterization of novel therapeutic proteins, and conducting small molecule/protein conjugations. In addition, you are responsible for planning, designing, implementing, and analyzing experiments. As a protein purification scientist, you are also responsible for writing and reviewing technical reports and protocols.
Protein purification scientist responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real protein purification scientist resumes:
- Manage sample inventory via in-house laboratory information management system (LIMS) and implement additional systems for sample and chemical organization.
- Analyze targeted protein with HPLC and SDS-PAGE.
- Project and personnel management for large scale GMP downstream purification of plant make pharmaceuticals.
- Purify triple label protein to support NMR studies as an alternative to obtain structural information and understand protein dynamics.
- Utilize HPLC to quantify product through experimentation leading to identification of start material changes and anticipate manufacturing results.
- Key activities include process chemistry development, synthesis of intermediates, compound purification and structure identification, and comprehensive scientific documentation.
- Purify refolded proteins using various IMAC and anion-exchange chromatographies.
- Evaluate patient samples to identify biomarkers providing the development of asthma patient stratification methods.
Protein purification scientist skills and personality traits
We calculated that 12% of Protein Purification Scientists are proficient in Western Blotting, HPLC, and Elisa.
We break down the percentage of Protein Purification Scientists that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Western Blotting, 12%
Aided in the development of a system that utilized LICOR technologies for Western Blotting experiments within the company.
- HPLC, 12%
Utilized HPLC to quantify product through experimentation leading to identification of start material changes and anticipated manufacturing results.
- Elisa, 11%
Experienced scientist in standardizing ELISA assays for existing and synthetic molecules in cancer therapy for Personalized Drug Management.
- ION Exchange, 10%
Worked with different types of Sepharose resins, including Protein G, A, DEAE ion exchange, and IgM.
- Cell Culture, 8%
Isolated DNA from cell culture to determine possible genetic markers of osteoarthritis pain which lead to a novel target opportunity.
- Laboratory Equipment, 7%
Performed lab managerial tasks such as hematology analyzers QC/maintenance, as well as maintaining the calibration schedule for laboratory equipment.
"western blotting," "hplc," and "elisa" are among the most common skills that protein purification scientists use at work. You can find even more protein purification scientist responsibilities below, including:
Communication skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a protein purification scientist to have is communication skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "medical scientists must be able to explain their research in nontechnical ways." Protein purification scientists often use communication skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "participated in method transfers of new products with akzo nobel served as qc representative on employee communication committee"
Observation skills. Another essential skill to perform protein purification scientist duties is observation skills. Protein purification scientists responsibilities require that "medical scientists conduct experiments that require monitoring samples and other health-related data." Protein purification scientists also use observation skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "performed an evaluation of the cam simulations by the comparisons with observational data involving extensive data analysis. "
The three companies that hire the most protein purification scientists are:
Compare different protein purification scientists
Protein purification scientist vs. Quality control
As the name entails, the job of a quality control inspector is to inspect, maintain, and improve the quality and standard of products. They are responsible for ensuring the company's reputation is not damaged due to defective products or inferior manufacturing processes. This can be done by detecting and resolving the problem early on, and returning the product for repair. A quality control inspector should also notify the supervisors immediately when issues arise and coordinate with them to address the problem.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between protein purification scientists and quality control. For instance, protein purification scientist responsibilities require skills such as "western blotting," "elisa," "ion exchange," and "cell culture." Whereas a quality control is skilled in "quality checks," "product quality," "safety standards," and "quality standards." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Quality controls tend to reach lower levels of education than protein purification scientists. In fact, quality controls are 13.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 10.7% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Protein purification scientist vs. Quality control associate
In a manufacturing setting, a quality control associate is in charge of conducting various tests to ensure that the products meet the company's standard criteria. Their responsibilities revolve around inspecting the workforce and workload involved in the production process, identifying errors or inconsistencies, recommending solutions and alterations, and maintaining records and documentation. Furthermore, as a quality control associate, it is essential to coordinate with department staff and produce progress reports, all while adhering to the company's policies and regulations.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, protein purification scientist responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "western blotting," "ion exchange," "cell culture," and "biophysical characterization." Meanwhile, a quality control associate has duties that require skills in areas such as "qc," "test methods," "environmental monitoring," and "test results." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
In general, quality control associates achieve lower levels of education than protein purification scientists. They're 12.0% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 10.7% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Protein purification scientist vs. Research associate
A research associate is responsible for assisting the research team, organizing and interpreting findings, and verifying information before presenting the study to the board. Research associates duties also include gathering and comparing data from multiple sources, analyzing the current industry trends, creating draft outlines for reports, collecting individual contacts for interview purposes, and helping with the development of research procedures. A research associate must have excellent time-management skills and ability to multi-task, especially on meeting strict deadlines and conducting studies.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, protein purification scientists are more likely to have skills like "ion exchange," "biophysical characterization," "biophysical techniques," and "sops." But a research associate is more likely to have skills like "patients," "research projects," "data analysis," and "data collection."
When it comes to education, research associates tend to earn similar degree levels compared to protein purification scientists. In fact, they're 0.4% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Protein purification scientist vs. Chemist
Chemists are generally responsible for observing and investigating chemical substances to create new and safe compounds essential for practical applications. They are often grouped depending on a particular area of specialization to focus and understand the complexities of the matter. A chemist usually takes time performing research and conducting experiments to test and further improve the quality and usage of a specific chemical substance. Chemists are expected to write on their observations and findings to establish scientific results.
Types of protein purification scientist
Updated January 8, 2025
