About the RoleWe are seeking a highly hands-on
Research Associate to join our team supporting protein science and cell biology workflows on a proprietary physical AI platform. This role is ideal for someone who loves being at the bench, has honed their craft in a fast-paced industry lab, and takes pride in rigorous, reproducible science.
You will collaborate closely with scientists and roboticists to execute, validate, and optimize protein characterization workflows and cell-based assays as part of an autonomous laboratory platform. If you thrive when given end-to-end ownership of tasks and bring the technical intuition to work independently, we want to hear from you.
Key Responsibilities - Protein Expression: Execute protein expression experiments across multiple host systems (e.g., mammalian, E. coli , cell-free) across various scales, from small-scale screens to larger production runs.
- Biophysical Characterization: Perform characterization and developability assays, including Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR), Bio-Layer Interferometry (BLI), and DSF/DSC.
- Cell-Based Assays: Execute binding and functional assays to evaluate candidates against cell-surface targets and assess functional activity.
- Cell Culture Operations: Own the day-to-day operation and organization of the cell culture facility, including routine passaging using sterile technique, inventory tracking, and equipment maintenance.
- Documentation & Quality: Maintain accurate, meticulous experimental records in Electronic Lab Notebooks (ELN) and contribute to standard operating procedure (SOP) development.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with scientists and roboticists to ensure seamless handoffs and timely execution across screening and characterization workflows.
Required Qualifications - Education: B.S./B.A. or M.S. in Biology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, or a related scientific discipline.
- Experience:
- 4-6 years of hands-on industry lab experience with a B.S./B.A., OR
- 2-4 years of hands-on industry lab experience with an M.S. (Deep bench experience is valued over advanced degrees).
- Expression Expertise: Demonstrated experience in protein expression utilizing mammalian cell lines (e.g., Expi293, ExpiCHO) and/or microbial systems.
- Characterization & QC: Strong bench experience with high-throughput protein quality control and biophysical characterization.
- Cell Culture & Flow: Industry experience maintaining mammalian cell lines and conducting cell-based assays, including flow cytometry.
- Mindset & Execution: Strong documentation habits, acute attention to detail, the ability to work independently on defined objectives, and a scrappy, proactive problem-solving mindset.
Preferred Qualifications - Familiarity with early developability assessment assays (e.g., HIC, AC-SINS, PSR).
- Hands-on experience with analytical characterization techniques such as HPLC-SEC, HPLC-HIC, or FACS-based binding assays.
- Experience with imaging-based cell assays (e.g., high-content imaging, fluorescence microscopy).
- Familiarity with cell-free protein expression systems or specialized enzyme workflows.
- Prior exposure to or comfort working with laboratory automation and robotic platforms.
Schedule & Shift Information This role operates across two non-standard shifts:
- Evening Shift: Monday - Friday, 6:00 PM - 2:00 AM
- Weekend Shift: Saturday - Sunday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Bonuses of joining us! - Pioneer Physical AI: Work at the cutting edge of autonomous science, bridging wet-lab biology with robotics and artificial intelligence.
- True Ownership: Drive workflows end-to-end with high autonomy, seeing the direct impact of your experimental results on platform development.
- High-Impact Collaboration: Work alongside top-tier roboticists, software engineers, and protein biochemists in a fast-moving, innovative environment.
