What are the responsibilities and job description for the Laboratory Assistant position at Next Gen Diagnostics?
About the company:
Next Gen Diagnostics (NGD), a young, well funded and ambitious startup aiming to become the world leader in hospital outbreak detection and sequence-based antimicrobial diagnostics, is looking for a laboratory assistant to support pathogen sequencing and antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) activities in Cambridge, MA.
Our company is young but already well known in the space of pathogen sequence-based hospital outbreak detection, AI-based resistance prediction and discovery of novel resistance causing mechanisms. We have established R&D partnerships with leading microbiology lab directors across the United States and Europe, and with major commercial, governmental and pharma partners. The lab generates bacterial whole genome sequence (WGS) and AST data supporting development and testing of novel methods that will revolutionize the way infection control, diagnostics and antibiotics development is done, as well as provide WGS-based transmission detection services to hospitals across the US.
This is a chance to join a team of world class scientists and engineers pioneering the application of WGS to microbiology diagnostics and to hospital transmission detection. NGD’s AI-driven platform has already been demonstrated to accurately predict resistance to antibiotics for which traditional methods struggle and is leading to discovery of novel resistance-causing mechanisms which we hope will play a role in the development of the novel antimicrobials that the world desperately needs.
Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in Biology or related field
- Six months or more laboratory experience preferred
- Training in sterile technique and chemical/biological safety and hygiene
- Ability to perform physical tasks such as lifting materials and standing for long periods of time, etc
- Excellent organizational skills
- Flexibility and willingness to be cross trained in both microbiology and sequencing labs and manage a variety of tasks
- Ability to work independently
- Research, computer (Excel), and communication skills
- Ability to commute or relocate to work location in Cambridge, MA
Responsibilities:
- Assist with processing of laboratory specimens, including preparation of cultures, culture media and reagent solutions, data collection, aliquotting and labeling
- Familiarity with sample quantification tools (q-bit, Nanodrop, Tapestation 4200) is a plus
- Previous experience with NGS workflows or lab automation is highly desirable but not a requirement
- Use critical thinking and understanding of biology principles to follow laboratory protocols and communicate to supervisor
- Diligent record keeping of experimental procedures and data
- Maintain inventory of lab supplies Search scientific literature, compile AST and WGS data, prepare reports
Job Type:
- Full time (40 hours/week)
- Monday-Friday, day shift
- In-person in Cambridge, MA
Benefits:
- Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package
- Private health insurance
- Stock options in a rapidly growing company led by founders with a proven track record of commercial success
- Opportunities for professional growth and development, with the potential to expand your role based on your interests and abilities
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $25.00 - $30.00 per hour
Expected hours: 40 per week
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
Schedule:
- Day shift
- Monday to Friday
Work Location: In person
Salary : $25 - $30