Assay Development Scientist

e184•Portland, OR

About The Position

e184 Repro is a biotechnology research company with the mission of advancing in vitro gametogenesis to solve one of biologyâs most profound challenges: returning the fundamental right to procreate. We work at the frontier of cutting-edge technology, integrating cellular reprogramming, machine learning-guided optimization, multi-omics analysis, and automated experimental workflows to enable gamete development for individuals facing reproductive challenges. As our Assay Development Scientist, you will be the primary architect of our internal molecular biology toolkit, transforming cutting-edge academic and commercial protocols into robust, highly standardized workflows. Your mission is to bridge the gap between "published methods" and "internal gold standards". This role focuses on troubleshooting complex sample types, optimizing assays for low-input requirements, and collaborating with our computational team to validate data quality through a rigorous feedback loop. Beyond the bench, you will evaluate emerging technologies, manage relationships with CROs, and spearhead our future transition toward automated liquid handling and miniaturized workflows. This is a role for a meticulous problem-solver who is passionate about technical excellence.

Requirements

5+ years of NGS mastery with deep, hands-on experience in sample prep across RNAseq, DNAseq, single-cell applications (scRNA-seq, scATAC-seq), and DNA methylation sequencing in a fast-paced setting.
A proven track record of developing or heavily modifying assays for challenging contexts (low input, difficult sample types), not just following manual instructions.
Expert at interpreting Bioanalyzer/TapeStation traces and correlating library complexity with bench-side variables.
Ability to translate complex technical trade-offs into clear decisions for both scientists and engineers.
You are proactive, resourceful, obsessed with high-quality data, and thrive in a startup environment of constant troubleshooting.

Nice To Haves

Automation background with experience programming liquid handlers (Hamilton/Opentrons/Tecan).
A history of successfully miniaturizing reactions to slash costs while maintaining data integrity.
Experience setting up and running Illumina or Nanopore/PacBio sequencers in-house.

Responsibilities

Architect the toolkit: Identify, internalize, implement, and optimize cutting-edge assays (RNAseq, scRNAseq, ATACseq, ChIP-seq, etc.) for our specific samples and instruments.
Push technology to the limit: Go beyond standard protocols and refine for ultra-low input samples where standard methods fail.
Establish gold standards: Author company SOPs that ensure absolute reproducibility across the entire R&D team.
Drive technical QC: Partner with our computational experts to analyze sequencing data and help decide which techniques are best for our platform.
Bring the future: Develop new molecular biology technologies, demo high-end equipment, and lead the charge toward miniaturization and automation via liquid handlers.