Computational Chemistry / Theory Consultant

ABOUT ASTERA

Astera is a private foundation on a mission to steer science and technology toward an abundant future. We believe the coming years will bring an era of unprecedented scientific and technological advancement as exponential progress in AI converges with central advances in other fields to dramatically accelerate innovation. This inflection point provides an unparalleled opportunity to fundamentally rethink the institutions, systems, and tools that drive scientific progress.

Unlike traditional non-profit research organizations, projects supported by Astera operate like high-velocity startups, allowing us to focus on ambitious goals, match structure to problem, and attract strong technical talent and leadership. You can read more about our mission, vision, and programming here https://astera.org/vision/.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Astera Institute is seeking a Computational Chemistry / Theory Consultant to provide the specialist molecular-simulation and theory for a nanoscale electrostatic actuator — the electrostatics that drive it and the mechanics of its moving parts (charged plate, force transmitter, and amplifying linkage) — and predict the experimental quantities the team measures on the bench. This position reports to Dr. Jeremy Barton (Astera Institute Resident, Project Lead). This is a contract position.

RESPONSIBILITIES

- Model electrostatic actuation — how an applied field drives the charged DNA-origami plate through an ionic solution and into a polymer cushion — using appropriate methods (e.g., Poisson–Boltzmann, explicit-ion molecular dynamics, or continuum modeling) to predict the device's voltage–displacement and force behavior.

- Model the actuator's nanomechanics: the stiffness and mechanical modes of the plate, force transmitter, and amplifying linkage, and the coupled electro-mechanical response.

- Predict single-molecule fluorescence (FRET) distances, expected structural geometry (for cryo-EM comparison), operational force-...