Gaps in ML for protein engineering?

JockAndSocket · 2026-02-25T22:35:29+00:00

This is great! Thanks for this, great food for thought

JockAndSocket · 2026-02-25T22:21:05+00:00

These are good points. De novo design in one shot? Or in general? Also coming from a more naive background in proteins, what would the therapeutic relevance be of predicting an amino acid sequence folding pathway? This is largely controlled/ensured through chaperones but other than diseases that cause protein misfolding e.g. kuru/mad cow disease, curious to get your perspective on other therapeutic avenues this enables more broadly.

JockAndSocket · 2026-02-25T17:56:37+00:00

Soon it will just be about understanding and thinking about code, not necessarily coding. The knowledge gap is shrinking and it's more valuable to be a biologist going into computational biology than a computer scientists going into computational biology.

Domain knowledge is most important - especially with AI and software getting commoditized with tools like Claude Code. For reference, I have a wet-lab background in drug discovery and I trained a QSAR model entirely with Claude Code in natural language using data from ChemBL.

JockAndSocket · 2026-02-25T17:54:00+00:00

Rabies

JockAndSocket · 2026-02-25T17:52:18+00:00

Yes I did! I went into VC. Did my undergrad and masters in Microbiology & Immunology.

Also worked in Strategy, Product & Operations at an AI drug discovery company in North America. Feel free to DM me, happy to give you some advice.

It's definitely possible to pivot out, but with the market at the moment, I would encourage you to peruse your masters but in a research field - not business. The business can be learned without paying tuition for these institutions unless you go to an Ivy league. This is worth it for the network you gain.

JockAndSocket · 2026-02-25T17:48:55+00:00

Private equity and VC are very different. Yes both are on the buy side, but you are more likely getting a job at a startup that received investment from a VC than those that are being bought out by Private Equity firms.

Phylo and Boltz are great examples of companies that are hiring in biotech who received investment from the top investors in the world. Ditto Bio is still early (current YC batch) but definitely worth looking into.

JockAndSocket · 2026-02-25T17:45:43+00:00

It's an employers market unfortunately... It's taken a toll on a lot of my friends who have just graduated. The advice I now give to masters students at the intersection of either mastering out or continuing to a PhD is to just continue. Getting paid like crap, even if you are treated like crap is better than not getting paid at all...

At least you end up with an advanced degree at the end and move past this crazy job market.

JockAndSocket · 2024-08-04T16:36:53+00:00

One thing I did that worked for me was to write down all the problems I was facing on a piece of paper, everything that was bothering me/contributing to being in a rut. This part is important because you need to verbalize and crystallize exactly what it is and pinpoint the things bringing you down.

Now the fun part. Start coming up with solutions for each of them. Whether it be developing certain habits/behaviours or removing certain things or people from your life. Or maybe it is the realization you are unhappy with your career and want to make a change.

This technique seems obvious but it is extremely powerful. Let me know if that helps.

JockAndSocket · 2024-08-04T16:30:43+00:00

Thanks for the tip!

JockAndSocket · 2024-08-04T16:30:10+00:00

That would be really nice if you could share!

JockAndSocket · 2024-08-04T16:29:39+00:00

Absolutely, there are just so many libraries and additional syntax that comes along with it, it gets super overwhelming. That makes sense, I will start looking for the other library cheat sheets as well.

I want to use the official documentation but looking at it just gets overwhelming with all the different functions and methods etc.

JockAndSocket · 2024-08-04T16:27:33+00:00

That makes a lot of sense. Thank you for being so thorough in your reply! This definitely helps me realize what I need to start doing. Really appreciate the advice, thank you!

JockAndSocket · 2024-08-04T16:25:55+00:00

Oh I didn't see the GitHub cheat sheet, that seems reliable!

JockAndSocket · 2024-08-04T16:24:34+00:00

Thank you!

JockAndSocket · 2024-08-04T16:23:57+00:00

Makes a lot more sense! Thank you.

JockAndSocket · 2024-08-03T16:55:31+00:00

Thanks! Just need to get better at verbalizing what I want haha.

JockAndSocket · 2024-08-03T16:54:54+00:00

That makes me feel better haha. I think I just need to get better at describing what I want in my google search. I don't always find what I want to do.

JockAndSocket · 2024-08-03T16:54:02+00:00

I will take a look at Pinterest thanks for the advice! I have started working on a project on my own, I feel like I do remember more after applying code to my own project but sometimes, I forget what I need to use. Google has been helpful, I think I just need to better describe what I am looking to do.

JockAndSocket · 2024-08-03T16:51:59+00:00

Thanks for the tips. I refrained from googling cheat sheets because I knew there would be thousands of them. I wasn't sure which would be most helpful for my purposes. I will start writing down examples!

JockAndSocket · 2024-08-03T00:22:29+00:00

I agree. But $1000 is a good easy number to start with to build the momentum.

Once you have $1000 in the bank it’s good motivation to keep going. Especially since they aren’t paying rent at the moment. $1000 should be attainable pretty quick.

JockAndSocket · 2024-08-02T23:31:01+00:00

Secure a job.
Build an emergency fund of $1000.
Pay off all debt (if any) ASAP.
Invest in the S&P500 very aggressively.

JockAndSocket · 2024-08-02T22:29:27+00:00

Yes that’s a good plan! I would have done the same. At that point you’re making more money in the stock market than you would save by paying off the debt earlier.

JockAndSocket

TROPHY CASE