Research Associate II, High-Throughput Cell Biology

Biohub•Chicago, IL

2d•$70,000 - $87,000•Onsite

About The Position

Biohub is the first large-scale initiative bringing frontier AI models, massive compute, and frontier experimental capabilities under one roof. We're building a general-purpose system to accelerate scientific discovery, integrating frontier AI models, biological foundation models, and lab capabilities, with the ultimate goal of curing disease. Our technology powers scientists around the world, translating AI capabilities into tools that accelerate research everywhere. The decoding inflammation team builds tools to enable precise molecular-level measurements of inflammation within human tissues in real time, and develop proactive, early interventions that can be deployed when inflammation — which underlies the most significant causes of death worldwide — first flares in the body. Our team collaborates with three powerhouse universities - Northwestern University, the University of Chicago, and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign - to develop first-in-class technologies and make breakthroughs. Our Vision: Pursue large scientific challenges that cannot be pursued in conventional environments Enable individual investigators to pursue their riskiest and most innovative ideas Facilitate research by scientists and clinicians at our home institutions and beyond We are a team of passionate individuals powered by technology, guided by scientific research, and driven by collaboration, working toward a mission to cure or prevent all disease. To support our AI models and applications in inflammation and immunology, Biohub Chicago is building a lab that runs biology experiments at a scale and consistency that manual work can't reach. We are seeking a Research Associate experienced in hands-on cell biology to work closely with automation engineers and scientists, performing consistent cell maintenance, executing experiments on and off automated systems, and developing the QC metrics which will form the basis for a reliable experimentation platform. We are looking for a strong experimentalist who is comfortable learning new instrumentation.

Requirements

Master's or Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences or a related field
2-4 years of hands-on research experience
Experience culturing primary cells, non-adherent cells as well as immortalized cell lines
Flexibility and willingness to learn new technologies
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail across multi-step, multi-day experimental workflows — including documentation, reagent management, and coordination
Ability to work independently on assigned projects

Nice To Haves

Experience with flow cytometry, including sample preparation and instrument operation
Experience with next-generation sequencing library preparation or single-cell genomics platforms (particularly 10x Genomics)
Familiar with lentiviral vector productions and transduction
Experience culturing iPSCs
Experience with lab automation and liquid handling

Responsibilities

Support execution of high throughput experiments, including loading labware, reagents, performing startup and shutdown operations, and monitoring execution to flag for deviations to planned protocol.
Perform routine cell culture and molecular biology, including daily bulk cell culture maintenance, media preparations, and routine equipment maintenance tasks.
Assist in model development and maintenance, including culture and differentiation of iPSCs or other relevant cell systems that recapitulate disease-related phenotypes.
Design, optimize, and troubleshoot experimental protocols and SOPs, proactively identifying bottlenecks and opportunities to improve throughput, reliability, or efficiency.
Maintain detailed lab notebooks, document experimental outcomes, and Communicate findings to the larger team.
Independently plan, prioritize and execute work.
Collaborate with scientists in experimental design and analysis.
Adhere to laboratory safety standards, guidelines, and protocols.