R&D Scientist

PREDICTA BIOSCIENCES INC•Cambridge, MA

1d•$120,000 - $180,000•Onsite

About The Position

Predicta is building a molecular insights platform for blood cancer care. From a single blood sample, we generate longitudinal genomic and immune insights that help clinicians and researchers better understand disease biology, guide treatment decisions, and monitor disease evolution over time. We are seeking a highly motivated R&D Scientist who will lead assay development efforts spanning flow cytometry and NGS technologies, including whole genome sequencing and single-cell RNA-seq. The ideal candidate has a strong technical background in immunology, cell biology, and genomics, with experience developing highly robust and reproducible assays deployed in clinical or research settings. This individual will play a key role in developing assays for the characterization of tumor and immune cells, from multi-color flow cytometry immunophenotyping and FACS-based sorting through to downstream NGS library preparation and sequencing, translating early research concepts into clinical assays. This laboratory-based scientist should be passionate about developing cutting-edge cytometry and genomic assays and will work closely with an inter-disciplinary and cross-functional team of other laboratory-based scientists and computational biologists, focused on improving blood-based cancer diagnostic capabilities in areas including cancer detection, measurable residual disease, and other related applications.

Requirements

PhD (or BS/MSc with significant industry experience) in immunology, molecular biology, cell biology, genetics, bioengineering, or a related field
5+ years of hands-on laboratory experience spanning flow cytometry/immunophenotyping and molecular biology assay development, preferably in a cutting-edge research/R&D environment
Deep expertise in multi-parameter and spectral flow cytometry, including panel design, instrument operation and FACS-based cell sorting
Deep expertise in NGS technologies, including library prep, sequencing platforms, and workflow optimization; experience with single-cell RNA-seq or related single-cell technologies (scWGS, scATAC-seq, scMultiomics) is a strong plus
Strong understanding of immune cell subsets and immunophenotyping, particularly in the context of hematologic malignancies
Hands-on experience with compensation, fluorescence-minus-one (FMO) controls, and gating strategy development
Strong experimental design, troubleshooting, and data interpretation skills
Demonstrated success working in cross-functional, fast-moving research or startup environments and collaborating with computational scientists
Outstanding written and verbal communication skills
Ability to handle several fast-paced projects concurrently
Demonstrated curiosity and scientific rigor with excellent problem-solving skills
Ability to engage in crucial conversations – providing and receiving feedback

Nice To Haves

Hands-on experience linking flow cytometry-sorted populations directly into NGS or single-cell library preparation workflows
Experience developing assays intended for clinical or regulated use (e.g., CLIA, CAP, or FDA-regulated environments)
Familiarity with computational methods and software for analysis of flow cytometry and/or NGS data, especially for quality control
Prior experience bringing assays from early research through to product development
Experience with automation of cell and molecular biology assays, especially sample extraction, cell staining/sorting, and NGS library preparation
Background in immunology, immuno-oncology, or immune-mediated diseases

Responsibilities

Design, develop, and optimize molecular assays spanning flow cytometry and NGS for tumor cell and immune characterization
Lead multi-color and spectral flow cytometry panel design (10–30+ colors), fluorophore selection, antibody titration, and FACS-based cell sorting
Contribute to development and optimization of NGS workflows, including library preparation, sample processing, and quality control
Develop and optimize sample processing workflows (whole blood, bone marrow, PBMC isolation) that feed both flow cytometry and NGS/single-cell pipelines
Use FACS to identify rare cell populations for downstream single-cell RNA-seq and other NGS applications
Evaluate and implement new technologies, reagents, and platforms spanning cytometry (e.g., spectral flow) and sequencing to improve assay performance, robustness, and scalability
Establish and maintain QC metrics, instrument standardization, and assay validation practices across both cytometry and sequencing workflows
Plan and execute experiments independently, analyze data (FlowJo for flow; and standard NGS QC pipelines), and clearly communicate results to internal stakeholders
Collaborate closely with the R&D and computational biology teams to ensure seamless integration of wet-lab and analytical workflows across modalities
Develop and document standard operating procedures (SOPs), protocols, and technical reports suitable for regulated environments
Maintain meticulous, reproducible records and contribute to shared protocols
Follow, document, and adapt experimental protocols with care and precision
Mentor junior scientists and contribute to building best practices within the R&D organization
Support technology transfer from R&D into product development and clinical operations as needed