Associate Scientist, Cell Biology

e184•Portland, OR

2d•Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking a highly skilled, hands-on Associate Scientist to execute critical experimental workflows supporting our high-throughput screening and cell engineering programs. Reporting to the Team Lead and Chief Scientific Officer, you will be instrumental in establishing robust cellular assay platforms, generating engineered cell lines, and conducting screening campaigns that drive our stem cell differentiation research forward. This role offers the opportunity to work with cutting-edge technologies in a small, collaborative team environment where your technical excellence directly enables key discoveries, with significant ownership over day-to-day experimental operations and the chance to build processes from the ground up in a well-funded startup.

Requirements

BS in Biology, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Biochemistry, or related field with 4+ years of relevant experience, OR
MS in related field with 3+ years of relevant experience
Hands-on mammalian cell culture experience with sterile technique
Demonstrated proficiency with molecular biology techniques (PCR, gel electrophoresis, plasmid preparation)
Experience maintaining cell lines (passaging, cryopreservation, quality control)
Basic flow cytometry experience (sample preparation and data collection)
Ability to follow protocols accurately and troubleshoot basic issues
Proficient with laboratory equipment and instrumentation
Strong record-keeping and documentation practices
Reliable and responsible for time-sensitive culture maintenance
Willingness to learn new techniques and adapt protocols
Flexibility for occasional weekend cell culture maintenance

Nice To Haves

Direct experience with pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs, ESCs)
Hands-on experience with CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing
Involvement in genetic screening projects (pooled or arrayed)
Experience with reporter cell line generation and validation
Clone screening and characterization experience
Advanced flow cytometry (panel design, multi-color analysis, cell sorting)
Transposon-based genome engineering (PiggyBac, Sleeping Beauty, etc.)
Immunofluorescence microscopy and imaging
Sample preparation for next-generation sequencing (RNA-seq, single-cell sequencing)
Experience with FlowJo, Prism, or similar analysis software
Familiarity with automated liquid handling or high-throughput platforms

Responsibilities

Maintain and characterize pluripotent stem cell lines and primary cells, including routine culture, differentiation, quality control testing, cryopreservation, and cell banking according to established protocols.
Design and implement genome engineering strategies using CRISPR/Cas systems to generate reporter lines and other genetic modifications supporting screening and validation experiments.
Generate and validate engineered cell lines, including screening clones for correct genomic integration, characterizing expression patterns, and establishing stable reporter systems for phenotypic assays.
Execute genetic screening experiments in both pooled and arrayed formats, managing experimental workflows from library transduction through sample collection and quality control.
Optimize culture conditions and cellular assay parameters to ensure robust experimental performance, troubleshoot technical challenges, and provide rotational weekend maintenance when required.
Perform molecular biology workflows including plasmid preparation and library construction to support screening and validation campaigns.
Prepare samples for genomic analyses including single-cell RNA sequencing and other next-generation sequencing applications, ensuring sample quality and proper experimental controls.
Conduct flow cytometry and immunofluorescence analyses to characterize cellular phenotypes, validate reporter systems, and support data collection for screening campaigns.