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Protein Design Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

EVOZYNE INC

Applied AI Research Fellow

Chicago, IL · On-site

Rather than focusing on structure alone, we build models that learn how protein sequence drives function, enabling the design of novel proteins optimized across multiple objectives, including potency ...

University of Utah

Post Doc Res Assoc

Campus, IL · On-site

$15 - $18.75/hr

Computational approaches for high-throughput sequencing, high-content imaging, protein design, etc. * Mitochondrial function assays or metabolomics * Cell culture of primary, immortalized, IPSCs or ...

University of Utah

Post Doc Res Assoc

Campus, IL · On-site

$15 - $18.75/hr

Computational approaches for high-throughput sequencing, high-content imaging, protein design, etc. * Mitochondrial function assays or metabolomics * Cell culture of primary, immortalized, IPSCs or ...

University of Utah

Post Doc Res Assoc

Campus, IL · On-site

$15 - $18.75/hr

Computational approaches for high-throughput sequencing, high-content imaging, protein design, etc. * Mitochondrial function assays or metabolomics * Cell culture of primary, immortalized, IPSCs or ...

Archer Daniels Midland

... design and development (CD&D). The position reports directly to the VP, Protein North America and ... will be located in Decatur, IL Responsibilities: * Assess and evaluate consumer-demand retail data ...

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Protein Design information

What is protein design?

Protein design is the process of creating new proteins or modifying existing ones to have specific functions or properties. This can involve using computational tools, laboratory techniques, or a combination of both to predict and engineer amino acid sequences that will fold into desired three-dimensional structures. Protein design is used in various fields, including medicine, biotechnology, and research, to develop novel enzymes, therapeutics, or materials. The field requires a strong understanding of biology, chemistry, and computer science to achieve successful outcomes.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a protein design scientist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Protein Design Scientist, you need a strong background in molecular biology, biochemistry, and computational modeling, typically supported by an advanced degree in a relevant field. Proficiency with tools such as Rosetta, PyMOL, and molecular dynamics simulation software, as well as experience with protein expression and purification techniques, is essential. Analytical thinking, problem-solving, and effective communication are important soft skills to drive innovation and collaborate with interdisciplinary teams. These skills are crucial for designing functional proteins, troubleshooting experiments, and advancing research goals in biotechnology and pharmaceutical development.

What are some typical challenges faced by professionals in protein design, and how are they addressed within a team setting?

Professionals in protein design often encounter challenges such as predicting accurate protein folding, ensuring stability, and achieving desired biological activity. These complexities are typically addressed through close collaboration with computational biologists, structural biologists, and experimental scientists. Teams frequently hold cross-functional meetings to troubleshoot issues, share findings, and iterate on design strategies based on laboratory results. This collaborative environment helps leverage diverse expertise and accelerates the development of novel proteins with desired functions.

What is the difference between Protein Design vs Protein Engineering?

AspectProtein DesignProtein Engineering
Required CredentialsBiochemistry, Molecular Biology, BioinformaticsBiochemistry, Molecular Biology, Bioinformatics
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, biotech companies, academiaResearch labs, biotech companies, academia
Industry UsageDesigning novel proteins, drug development, synthetic biologyModifying existing proteins for improved function or stability

Protein Design focuses on creating new proteins with specific functions, often using computational methods. Protein Engineering involves modifying existing proteins to enhance or alter their properties. Both roles require similar skills and are used in research, biotech, and pharmaceutical industries, but their goals differ: one designs from scratch, the other optimizes existing proteins.

What are popular job titles related to Protein Design jobs in Illinois?

For Protein Design jobs in Illinois, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Protein Design jobs in Illinois look for?

The top searched job categories for Protein Design jobs in Illinois are:

What cities in Illinois are hiring for Protein Design jobs?

Cities in Illinois with the most Protein Design job openings:

Protein Design jobs near you
Infographic showing various Protein Design job openings in Illinois as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 72% Full Time, 26% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution.

Applied AI Research Fellow

EVOZYNE INC

Chicago, IL • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 4 days ago

Job description

Evozyne is one of the few AI-native biotech companies designing de novo therapeutic proteins and advancing them toward the clinic. Our teams apply AI to develop novel therapies within complex biological systems where data is imperfect, and discoveries have meaningful impact on patients’ lives. We are transforming how the industry approaches protein engineering.

Our platform, EvoGen, is both generative and predictive. Rather than focusing on structure alone, we build models that learn how protein sequence drives function, enabling the design of novel proteins optimized across multiple objectives, including potency, stability, specificity, and immunogenicity. Our model development is tightly integrated with proprietary experimental data, enabling rapid learning from biological reality. We combine sequence-based models and variational autoencoders (VAEs) with Bayesian optimization, using experimental data to rapidly design and refine proteins into impactful therapeutics.

The Applied AI Research Fellowship at Evozyne is designed for researchers who want to stress‑test ambitious ideas against one of the most challenging frontiers in applied AI today: generative design under real‑world biological constraints. As a Fellow, you will work on foundational questions in representation learning, generative modeling, and optimization, with the opportunity to see your ideas evaluated against real experimental outcomes and translated into therapeutic programs.

Your work will directly influence how Evozyne evaluates, evolves, and deploys its generative AI models for protein design.

Who You Are

You’re excited by problems where the data is messy, the constraints are real, and the path forward isn’t obvious. You thrive in ambiguity, and you’re motivated by applying your work to real-world scientific challenges to see how your ideas hold up in practice. You are already operating at the leading edge of applied AI and want to push your thinking further by applying it to complex, high-impact challenges in drug discovery.

What You’ll Be Investigating

As an Applied AI Research Fellow, you will help drive the evolution of Evozyne’s generative AI design platform. Example research areas include:

  • Benchmarking generative protein models, including Evozyne’s own, on their ability to produce functionally diverse and biologically meaningful designs.
  • Evaluating the value of integrating large-scale metagenomic resources (e.g., Global Ocean Gene Catalog) into current internal database.
  • Exploring alternatives and extensions to Bayesian Optimization such as Knowledge Gradient, Entropy Search, and related methods for multi-objective optimization problems.
  • Developing and applying deep learning approaches for remote homology detection
  • Investigating multi-family VAE models to enable protein design when sequence support is limited or when optimizing phenotypes across protein families.

These efforts are intended to surface failure modes, challenge assumptions, and directly inform how Evozyne designs proteins and advances therapies.

Education + Experience

  • Late-stage PhD student or postdoc in a quantitative or computational field
  • Hands-on experience applying AI/ML to complex, real-world or scientific datasets
  • Experience working on problems where data is noisy, incomplete, or difficult to interpret
  • Familiarity with modern machine learning approaches (e.g., deep learning, generative models, or related methods)
  • Evidence of meaningful contribution to research, open-source work, or applied projects
  • Exposure to interdisciplinary work (e.g., biology, chemistry, physics, or other scientific domains) is a plus

Why Evozyne

Few places offer the combination of proprietary experimental data, real therapeutic programs, and the freedom to explore foundational AI questions under real biological constraints. If you want your best ideas tested where they matter most, and the chance to help redefine how AI is applied to protein design, we’d like to connect.

Apply