Role: Research Associate II, Lead Discovery (Temporary)
Length of contract: 6 months with potential for extension or conversion to full-time
Pay: $40-$55 per hour; this is a W-2 position.
We are seeking a highly motivated and results-driven Research Associate II to join our Lead Discovery team. This role will support routine cell-based assay execution, SAR and screening campaigns, hit confirmation, and assay optimization in a fast-paced drug discovery environment. The successful candidate will have a strong foundation in mammalian cell culture and cell-based assays, with an interest in expanding their experience in high-throughput screening (HTS), data quality, and troubleshooting.
Key Responsibilities
• Perform routine cell-based assays to support SAR, primary screening, hit confirmation, selectivity, and project-specific Lead Discovery activities.
• Culture, maintain, expand, and bank mammalian cell lines while monitoring cell health, passage number, confluency, and readiness for screening.
• Execute cell-based screening assays using luminescence-based readouts such as Bright-Glo, HiBiT and CellTiter-Glo, as applicable.
• Support assay setup, optimization, miniaturization, and qualification for 384- and 1536-well screening formats.
• Operate laboratory automation and screening instrumentation used for cell dispensing, compound transfer, reagent addition, plate handling, and detection.
• Generate and use assay-ready plates (ARPs) and coordinate with Compound Management to ensure compounds and plates are available for scheduled experiments.
• Perform routine data QC, review plate-level assay performance, identify potential issues such as high variability, low signal, spatial effects, or dispensing errors, and escalate or troubleshoot as appropriate.
• Analyze and document experimental results using Microsoft Excel, GraphPad Prism, CDD, and other applicable data systems.
• Maintain accurate and timely records in electronic laboratory notebooks and screening trackers, including assay conditions, run metadata, deviations, and troubleshooting notes.
• Work closely with Compound Management, Biology, Data Science, and project teams to support assay priorities and deliver reliable data on schedule.
• Contribute to SOP development, workflow standardization, continuous improvement, and implementation of new automation and screening processes.
Qualifications
• BS in Biology, Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Pharmacology, or a related field with 2+ years of relevant laboratory experience, or MS in a related field.
• Strong hands-on experience with mammalian cell culture and cell-based assays.
• Ability to independently manage multiple cell lines, experiments, and assay timelines with strong attention to detail.
• Experience with quantitative cell-based assay readouts such as luminescence, fluorescence, or related technologies.
• Basic understanding of assay quality and screening metrics, including signal-to-background, coefficient of variation (CV), Z-prime, and concentration-response analysis.
• Ability to recognize unexpected assay results, investigate potential causes, and communicate issues clearly.
• Experience analyzing data using Microsoft Excel, GraphPad Prism, or similar analytical software.
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Self-motivated, flexible, collaborative, and comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities.
Preferred Qualifications
• Experience with high-throughput screening, SAR assays, primary screening, hit confirmation, or assay miniaturization.
• Experience with instrumentation such as PreciseDrop II, Echo acoustic dispensers, PHERAstar plate readers, MultiFlo FX, or comparable platforms.
• Experience troubleshooting assay performance, liquid-handling issues, automation errors, plate handling, or screening data-quality issues.
• Experience with 384- and/or 1536-well assay formats and low-volume liquid handling.
• Familiarity with assay data-management systems such as Abase or similar platforms.
• Experience with molecular biology techniques, including stable cell-line generation, transient transfection/transduction, or related methods.
