Molecular Design & DNA Nanotechnology Lead

Responsibilities

• Design the DNA-origami actuator mechanism — the charged drive plate, the force-transmitting structure, and the amplifying lever or four-bar linkage — that turns a small electrostatic deflection of the plate into a larger, controlled output displacement within a sub-200-nanometer footprint.
• Use coarse-grained molecular-dynamics simulation (e.g., oxDNA) to predict the mechanism's mechanical behavior — stiffness, compliance, and thermal stability of its motion — and iterate the design.
• Fold and optimize the DNA origami in the wet lab (annealing, buffer, and magnesium conditions), and design the site-specific chemistry that anchors the plate and mechanism to the device surface.
• Own folding yield and quality control, and prepare structures for characterization by atomic-force microscopy (AFM), cryo-electron microscopy, and single-molecule fluorescence.
• Lead a small, interdisciplinary founding team and collaborate closely with device-physics, controls, and computational colleagues.

Qualifications

• PhD in structural DNA nanotechnology, biophysics, bioengineering, chemistry, or a related field, with demonstrated DNA-origami design and folding experience.
• Proficiency with DNA-nanostructure design tools and coarse-grained molecular-dynamics simulation (e.g., caDNAno, oxDNA).
• Hands-on wet-lab command of folding, gel and AFM quality control, and purification.
• A track record of taking nanoscale structures from design through to characterized, functional devices.
• Ability to lead a small interdisciplinary team and communicate across disciplines.

Nice-to-Haves

• Bias to action – launch and iterate on thoughtful experiments rather than waiting for perfect plans.
• Flexible by default – role expected to evolve significantly over 6–12 months.
• High standards, internally driven.
• Highest levels of integrity, judgment, and stewardship.
• Embrace AI-driven tools as force multipliers.