Research Associate, DNA Assembly and Production

Lila Sciences • Cambridge, MA

7d • $72,000 - $96,000

About The Position

We are seeking a Research Associate to join our Nucleic Acids team. This role will focus on supporting advanced DNA production and sequencing workflows, executing and continuously improving workflows and implementing process enhancements. The ideal candidate will have hands-on expertise in molecular biology techniques, a production-oriented mindset, and experience with automation technologies. This position will work closely with the others within the Life Sciences group to ensure seamless collaboration between DNA production and a variety of experimental workflows.

Requirements

• MSc in Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, or a related field with 1 years, or BSc with 3+ years, of high-throughput DNA production or related experience. Industry experience strongly preferred.
• Hands-on expertise in molecular biology techniques, including DNA cloning and sequencing.
• Experience with DNA library preparation for various downstream applications including ONT and Illumina sequencing and library construction.
• Experience working in high-throughput production environments with a focus on scalability and efficiency.
• Familiarity with integrated laboratory automation technologies and their application in DNA production workflows.
• Proven ability to identify and resolve process inefficiencies and implement phased improvements.
• Strong data analysis skills and ability to interpret workflow performance metrics.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with a proven ability to work effectively across interdisciplinary teams.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in designing and optimizing DNA assembly workflows for synthetic biology applications.
• Experience with assembling high diversity DNA libraries.
• Familiarity with digital systems and data pipelines used in high-throughput environments.
• Demonstrated ability to use electronic lab notebooks and write technical documentation, such as SOPs and validation reports.
• Knowledge of best practices for lab operations

Responsibilities

• Execute low, medium and high-throughput DNA production workflows, identify and address sources of variation to enhance efficiency, reliability, and scalability.
• Integrate and optimize custom automation technologies to streamline production processes.
• Collaborate with the members of the Nucleic Acids team and our Data Sciences and Machine Learning groups to onboard new workflows, resolve bottlenecks, and improve data systems.
• Write, implement, and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for both existing and new lab processes.
• Conduct data analysis and interpretation to monitor lab processes and drive process improvements.
• Provide operational leadership within the lab, coordinating activities and ensuring smooth execution of production workflows.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees