Scientist

Location: South San Francisco, CA

Contract Length: 12 Months

Pay Rate: $55/hr

Key Responsibilities:

• Design and perform plate-based and cell-based assays (multi-color flow cytometry, Western blot, ELISA, etc.) to assess mRNA delivery and protein expression in mammalian cells using LNP systems.
• Design and perform high-throughput expression and functional screen/characterization assays for novel protein/mRNA candidates, using semi-automated instruments.
• Maintain meticulous records in an electronic lab notebook (ELN), draft standard operating procedures (SOPs), and present results at team meetings.
• Independently plan, execute, and interpret experiments, delivering data-driven insights aligned with project timelines and goals.
• Conduct molecular biology tasks, including cloning (e.g., PCR, golden gate, Gibson reactions, etc.), and optimize mRNA IVT protocols for yield and quality.
• Design, produce, and optimize lentiviral vectors, perform transduction experiments, and analyze results to advance research objectives.
• Stay current with advancements in genetic medicine, LNP technology, and molecular biology techniques to inform experimental design.
• Collaborate with antibody discovery/production teams to support pipeline projects and facilitate technology hand-offs.

Qualifications/Experience:

• Master’s degree in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Biological Sciences, or a related field with 1-3 years of industry experience, OR Bachelor’s degree in a related field with 3 years of industry experience.
• Expertise in mammalian cell culture (suspension and adherent cell lines, primary T cells) and multi-color flow cytometry (panel design, acquisition, and analysis using FlowJo) is required; Hands-on experience with immunological assays (e.g., ELISA, Luminex, cytotoxicity) is highly desirable.
• Experience with semi-automated liquid handling systems (e.g., Integra VIAFLO) for high-throughput workflows is highly preferred.
• Familiarity with data analysis tools (e.g., GraphPad Prism, FlowJo) is required; working knowledge with statistical and bioinformatics tools (python, R, etc.) is a plus.
• Basic understanding of immunology, cancer biology, or cell therapy applications is preferred; Prior experience in genetic medicine, CAR-T cell therapy, or RNA therapeutics is a strong plus.
• Basic knowledge of nucleic acid characterization (e.g., gel electrophoresis, qPCR), familiarity with molecular biology techniques, including cloning (e.g., Gibson assembly, PCR) and mRNA IVT (e.g., capping, purification), is a strong plus.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills with a proven ability to juggle multiple projects.
• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot assays and optimize protocols independently.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills for presenting data and collaborating with cross-functional teams.