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Entry Level Protein Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

University of Utah

Post Doc Res Assoc

Campus, IL

$65K - $73K/yr

... P1 - Entry Level Pro FLSA Code Administrative Patient Sensitive Job Code? No Standard Hours per ... Mitochondrial protein import, organelle proteostasis, or quality control. * Functional genomics:

University of Utah

Post Doc Res Assoc

Campus, IL

$65K - $73K/yr

... P1 - Entry Level Pro FLSA Code Administrative Patient Sensitive Job Code? No Standard Hours per ... Mitochondrial protein import, organelle proteostasis, or quality control. * Functional genomics:

University of Utah

Post Doc Res Assoc

Campus, IL

$65K - $73K/yr

... P1 - Entry Level Pro FLSA Code Administrative Patient Sensitive Job Code? No Standard Hours per ... Mitochondrial protein import, organelle proteostasis, or quality control. * Functional genomics:

University of Utah

Post Doc Res Assoc

Salt Lake City, UT · On-site

$65K - $73K/yr

... P1 - Entry Level Pro FLSA Code Administrative Patient Sensitive Job Code? No Standard Hours per ... Mitochondrial protein import, organelle proteostasis, or quality control. * Functional genomics:

Cargill

Fermentation Scientist

Plymouth, MN

$50K - $80K/yr

In this role, you will perform entry level research on a multidisciplinary team to develop, plan ... Master's degree or other post-secondary degree in biochemical engineering, chemical engineering ...

New

Cargill

Fermentation Scientist

Plymouth, MN

$50K - $80K/yr

In this role, you will perform entry level research on a multidisciplinary team to develop, plan ... Master's degree or other post-secondary degree in biochemical engineering, chemical engineering ...

New

Takeda

Entry Level Phlebotomist

Longview, TX

$15.25 - $19/hr

You will perform venipuncture of donors and programming of plasmapheresis machine. You will monitor ... protein, and weight. You will enter donor information into the Donor Information System (DIS). You ...

Takeda

Entry Level Phlebotomist

Findlay, OH · On-site

$16 - $20/hr

You will perform venipuncture of donors and programming of plasmapheresis machine. You will monitor ... protein, and weight. You will enter donor information into the Donor Information System (DIS). You ...

Takeda

Entry-Level Phlebotomist

Sheboygan, WI · On-site

$17 - $21.25/hr

You will perform venipuncture of donors and programming of plasmapheresis machine. You will monitor ... protein, and weight. You will enter donor information into the Donor Information System (DIS). You ...

Takeda

Entry Level Phlebotomy

Davenport, IA

$16.25 - $20.25/hr

You will perform venipuncture of donors and programming of plasmapheresis machine. You will monitor ... protein, and weight. You will enter donor information into the Donor Information System (DIS). You ...

Takeda

Entry Level Phlebotomist

Pittsburgh, PA · On-site

$16.50 - $20.75/hr

You will perform venipuncture of donors and programming of plasmapheresis machine. You will monitor ... protein, and weight. You will enter donor information into the Donor Information System (DIS). You ...

Takeda

Entry Level Phlebotomist

Greenfield, WI · On-site

$16.25 - $20.25/hr

You will perform venipuncture of donors and programming of plasmapheresis machine. You will monitor ... protein, and weight. You will enter donor information into the Donor Information System (DIS). You ...

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Showing results 1-20

All JobsEntry Level Protein Engineer Jobs

Entry Level Protein Engineer information

See salary details

$30K

$69.4K

$118K

How much do entry level protein engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 27, 2026, the average yearly pay for entry level protein engineer in the United States is $69,362.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $51,500.00 and $78,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What types of projects and daily tasks can an entry level protein engineer expect to work on?

As an entry level protein engineer, you can expect to be involved in a variety of tasks such as designing and expressing recombinant proteins, performing mutagenesis experiments, and analyzing protein structure and function using techniques like SDS-PAGE, Western blotting, and spectroscopy. You'll often collaborate closely with senior scientists, molecular biologists, and bioinformaticians to troubleshoot experiments or interpret data. Many entry level roles also include maintaining lab equipment, preparing reagents, and documenting experimental results. These tasks help build a solid foundation of laboratory skills and scientific knowledge, while giving you exposure to the collaborative and interdisciplinary nature of modern protein research.

What is the difference between Entry Level Protein Engineer vs Entry Level Biochemist?

AspectEntry Level Protein EngineerEntry Level Biochemist
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, or related field; basic lab skillsBachelor's in Biochemistry, Chemistry, or related field; laboratory experience
Work EnvironmentBiotech or pharmaceutical labs focusing on protein design and engineeringResearch labs, biotech companies, or academic settings studying biochemical processes
Employer & Industry UsageBiotech firms, pharmaceutical companies, research institutionsResearch institutions, biotech companies, academic labs

Entry Level Protein Engineers focus on designing and modifying proteins using computational and laboratory techniques, often working in biotech and pharmaceutical settings. Entry Level Biochemists conduct experiments to understand biochemical processes, working across similar environments. Both roles require a bachelor's degree and lab experience, but Protein Engineers emphasize protein design, while Biochemists focus on biochemical research.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Entry Level Protein Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Entry Level Protein Engineer, you need a background in biochemistry, molecular biology, or a related field, with experience in protein expression, purification, and characterization. Familiarity with laboratory techniques such as SDS-PAGE, Western blotting, and use of bioinformatics tools like PyMOL or BLAST is highly valuable. Attention to detail, strong analytical thinking, and effective teamwork are crucial soft skills for this role. These competencies ensure accurate experimental results, efficient collaboration, and the ability to solve complex problems in protein research and development.

What does an entry level protein engineer do?

An entry level protein engineer assists in designing, modifying, and analyzing proteins to improve their functions or create new ones. They typically work in laboratory settings, performing experiments, analyzing data, and collaborating with senior scientists. Their responsibilities may include protein expression, purification, and characterization, as well as using computational tools to model protein structures. Entry level protein engineers play a vital role in research and development in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and related industries.
More about Entry Level Protein Engineer jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Protein Engineer jobs? The most popular types of Protein Engineer jobs are:
What job categories do people searching Entry Level Protein Engineer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Entry Level Protein Engineer jobs are:
Entry Level Protein Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Entry Level Protein Engineer job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 96% Full Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 90% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $69,362 per year, or $33.3 per hour.
Post Doc Res Assoc

Post Doc Res Assoc

University of Utah

Salt Lake City, UT

$65K - $73K/yr

Full-time

Retirement

Posted 14 days ago

University Of Utah rating

7.2

Company rating: 7.2 out of 10

Based on 157 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

336th of 541 rated colleges and universities

Job description

Details
Open Date 03/27/2026 Requisition Number PRN44612B Job Title Post Doc Res Assoc Working Title Post Doc Res Assoc Career Progression Track A00 Track Level P4 - Advanced, P3 - Career, P2 - Developing, P1 - Entry Level Pro FLSA Code Administrative Patient Sensitive Job Code? No Standard Hours per Week 40 Full Time or Part Time? Full Time Shift Day Work Schedule Summary VP Area U of U Health - Academics Department 01502 - Department of Biochemistry Location Campus City Salt Lake City, UT Type of Recruitment External Posting Pay Rate Range $65,600 to $73,136 Close Date 08/26/2026 Priority Review Date (Note - Posting may close at any time) Job Summary
The Ho lab at the University of Utah is launching an ambitious program to systematically discover, map, and therapeutically harness mitochondrial microproteins to reverse mitochondrial dysfunction in rare and common disease. Microproteins encoded by small open reading frames (smORFs) are an enormous, largely uncharted space of short proteins that regulate core aspects of mitochondrial metabolism, import, and stress responses, and represent a new class of therapeutic targets. Building on our leadership in microprotein discovery and function, we are now expanding in Utah to recruit multiple postdoctoral fellows to apply high throughput methods and machine/deep learning to unlock the full potential of the dark proteome.
Responsibilities
Scientific vision
Ribosome profiling has uncovered nearly 10,000 human microproteins, yet fewer than 1% are functionally characterized, and a substantial fraction appear to localize to mitochondria ("mito-MPs"). Our longterm goal is to:
  • Create a comprehensive, experimentally validated functional atlas of mitochondrial microproteins
  • Reverse mitochondrial dysfunction in rare mitochondrial diseases as well as common metabolic disorders
Postdocs in the lab will drive one or more of the following thrusts (projects can be tailored to your background):
  1. Mapping the mitochondrial microproteome
  2. Systemslevel functional mapping of mitoMPs
  3. Hypotheses-driven interrogation of mito-MP biology
  4. AIguided design of therapeutic microproteins
If you are excited by the idea of treating microproteins as programmable therapeutic modules and want to work at the intersection of mitochondrial biology, functional genomics, and machine learning, we would love to hear from you.
Methods and platforms in the lab
Depending on your project and interests, you will have the opportunity to work with:
  • Highthroughput functional genomics: pooled CRISPR and baseediting screens, barcoded overexpression libraries, massively parallel reporter assays.
  • Advanced cell and mitochondrial biology: primary human fibroblasts, mitochondrial bioenergetics, import assays, respiratory chain phenotyping, in vivo disease models.
  • Multiomics: singlecell and bulk transcriptomics, untargeted metabolomics, quantitative proteomics.
  • Computational and AI approaches: microprotein bioinformatics, multiomic integration, protein language models, generative sequence design, and model interpretability (e.g., SHAP, attention mapping).
The Ho lab culture emphasizes team science, rigorous mechanistic work, and translation; you will join a collaborative network of basic and clinical partners aimed at moving microprotein discoveries toward therapeutic applications.
Ideal candidate profile
We are recruiting multiple postdocs, and strongly encourage applicants from all scientific and personal backgrounds. Ideal candidates will bring expertise in at least one of the following areas, and enthusiasm to learn across disciplines:
  • Mitochondrial biochemistry, bioenergetics, or oxidative phosphorylation.
  • Rare mitochondrial diseases or mitochondrial dysfunction in metabolic disease.
  • Mitochondrial protein import, organelle proteostasis, or quality control.
  • Functional genomics: CRISPR/Cas9 or baseediting screens, highthroughput reporter assays.
  • Singlecell or spatial transcriptomics / proteomics / metabolomics in metabolic or mitochondrial contexts.
  • Microprotein or peptide biology; therapeutic peptide, mRNA, or gene therapy development related to mitochondrial disease.
  • Computational biology / bioinformatics, especially ribosome profiling, disease gene discovery, or integrative multiomic analyses.
  • Machine learning for biological data (e.g., protein language models, transformers, generative models) and interest in building interpretable tools for experimental colleagues.

Qualifications
  • PhD or MDPhD in a relevant field (e.g., Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Genetics, Systems Biology, Bioengineering, Computational Biology, Biomedical Data Science).
  • Strong publication record for your career stage and evidence of driving projects to completion.
  • Demonstrated critical and creative thinking, with the ability to formulate and test mechanistic hypotheses.
  • Independence and strong organizational skills, coupled with enjoyment of close collaboration and mentoring in a team setting.
Prior experience in every technique listed is not required; we expect you to have depth in one area and motivation to expand your toolkit in others.
What we offer
  • A highly collaborative, supportive environment spanning wetlab, computational, and translational efforts, embedded in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Utah.
  • Clear lines of sight to highimpact publications and therapeutic development.
  • Structured mentoring to help you define your scientific niche, build an independent research vision, and prepare competitive grant and faculty applications.
  • Access to stateoftheart core facilities and an extensive network of international collaborators in mitochondrial biology, microproteins, and therapeutic development.

How to apply
Please email the following materials to lena@ho-lab.org with the subject line "Postdoctoral application - Microproteins & Mitochondria":
  1. CV including publication list.
  2. A 1-2 page statement of purpose describing:
    • Your past research experience.
    • How your skills intersect with our program's goals.
    • One or two scientific questions you would be excited to pursue within the themes above.
  3. Contact information for 2-3 referees.
Informal inquiries are welcome if you would like to discuss fit or project directions before applying. For more information on our work, please visit www.ho-lab.org.
Minimum Qualifications Preferences Type Benefited Staff Special Instructions Summary Additional Information
The University is a participating employer with Utah Retirement Systems ("URS"). Eligible new hires with prior URS service, may elect to enroll in URS if they make the election before they become eligible for retirement (usually the first day of work). Contact Human Resources at (801) 581-7447 for information. Individuals who previously retired and are receiving monthly retirement benefits from URS are subject to URS' post-retirement rules and restrictions. Please contact Utah Retirement Systems at (801) 366-7770 or (800) 695-4877 or University Human Resource Management at (801) 581-7447 if you have questions regarding the post-retirement rules.
This position may require the successful completion of a criminal background check and/or drug screen.
The University of Utah values candidates who have experience working in settings with students and possess a strong commitment to improving access to higher education.
Veterans' preference is extended to qualified applicants, upon request and consistent with University policy and Utah state law. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.
Consistent with state and federal law, the University of Utah does not discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, or protected veteran's status. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and 34 CFR part 106. The requirement not to discriminate in education programs or activities extends to admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, to the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, or both.
To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability or if you or someone you know has experienced discrimination or sexual misconduct including sexual harassment, you may contact the Director/Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX (OEO). More information, including the Director/Title IX Coordinator's office address, electronic mail address, and telephone number can be located at the: University of Utah NonDiscrimination page.
Online reports may be submitted at https://oeo.utah.edu

https://publicsafety.utah.edu/safetyreport/ This report includes statistics about criminal offenses, hate crimes, arrests and referrals for disciplinary action, and Violence Against Women Act offenses. They also provide information about safety and security-related services offered by the University of Utah. A paper copy can be obtained by request at the Department of Public Safety located at 1658 East 500 South.
As per University of Utah policy 5-108: Transfer of Benefits Eligible Staff Members, a new hire to the University of Utah who is still serving a 12 month probationary period will not be hired into another University of Utah job (a transfer) until the successful completion of the probationary period.

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The University of Utah is the state’s flagship institution of higher education, with 18 schools and colleges, more than 100 undergraduate majors and graduate programs, and an enrollment of more than 38,000 students. It is a member of the Association of American Universities—an invitation-only, prestigious group of 71 leading research institutions. The U is advancing a new national model for higher education that delivers societal impact through education, research, health care, and community service, while making social, economic, and cultural contributions that improve lives across Utah and around the world.

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10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Salt Lake City, UT, US

Year founded

1850

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