About DiffUSE

DiffUSE is a project at the Astera Institute building open infrastructure for studying protein dynamics directly from experimental data. We work at the interface of structural biology (crystallography, cryo-EM), modern machine learning, computational biophysics, and open scientific tooling. Our team spans computational biologists, ML researchers, software engineers, and program staff, collaborating across Astera, Radial, and partner institutions.

We are growing, and we want to hear from people who would be excited to join us, even if we have not yet posted the specific role that fits you.

• Submit your CV and one paragraph telling us what you can contribute to diffUSE

• We review submissions on a rolling basis

• If there is a fit now or in the near future, we will reach out

• We will only respond if we are interested in exploring further

Role categories We're Actively Building Around

Computational and data science

• Diffraction data processing and structural data pipelines

• Multiconformer and heterogeneity analysis from large datasets

• Data standards work (mmCIF and related)

• Macromolecular ensemble metrics

Machine learning research for macromolecules and biophysics

• Representation learning for protein dynamics

• ML on raw experimental data rather than processed structures

• 3D vision and geometric deep learning backgrounds especially welcome

Dataset generation and open release

• Designing and running campaigns to generate large structural datasets

• Partnering with external collaborators to open and standardize existing datasets

• Bridging experimental facilities, data producers, and the open-science community

Software and infrastructure engineering

• Scientific data infrastructure, pipelines, and tooling

• Open-source release engineering, reproducibility, and developer experience

Program and operations

• Program management, scientific coordination, communications

• Open-science publishing and community building

What We Look For Across All Roles

• Familiarity with protein biophysics and the experimental methods that generate structural data

• High agency: you identify what needs doing and move it forward without waiting for direction

• Ability to drive projects and people, including collaborators outside your reporting line

• Comfortable owning a problem end-to-end and unblocking collaborators

• Strong commitment to open science and public-good infrastructure

• Comfort working at the boundary between disciplines

• Bias toward shipping, iteration, and rapid feedback

• Clear written and verbal communication

• Track record of independent work inside collaborative teams

Logistics

• Location: in-person at Astera in Emeryville, California

• Astera is a 501(c)(3) private operating foundation

• This is not an application to a specific posted role; we will reach out only if there is a fit

To apply

• Send your CV

• Include one short paragraph: which role category, and why DiffUSE specifically