Research Associate II, Media Development/RMQ

UPSIDE Foods • Emeryville, CA

9d • $75,000 - $85,000

About The Position

We are seeking a Research Associate II to support our Cell Culture Media (CCM) team. This role will directly support the media development (MD) and Raw Material Qualification (RMQ) workflows. You will be responsible for running experiments to assess the functionality of cell culture media components and formulations to ensure robust manufacturability and functionality. This role will be required to work cross-functionally to support cell culture testing as well as media manufacturing. Our ideal RA II is someone who can work independently to execute experiments in the lab and bring creative suggestions to improve the team’s workflows. We hope to find a researcher with a background in cell culture who constantly seeks out new skills and methods to enhance their knowledge.

Requirements

• BS in cell biology, molecular biology, biochemistry, bioengineering or closely related science with 2+ years of research laboratory experience
• Working knowledge or hands-on experience of cell culture processes
• Competent with Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word.
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, evolving, and cross-functional environment
• Comfortable developing scientific knowledge base by learning new methods from peers, seminars and scientific literature.
• Fosters a team environment collaborating scientifically with team members
• Maintains laboratory notebooks with detailed experimental designs and results, which can be presented at team meetings

Nice To Haves

• MS with 1+ years of post-graduate research and development experience in the biopharmaceutical or similar industry
• Mammalian cell culture, adherent and suspension
• Cell culture media preparation and media formulation
• Understanding of Design of Experiment (DoE) and familiarity with statistical software like JMP, Minitab, R.

Responsibilities

• Mammalian cell culture, including thawing, subculturing, freezing, and aseptic execution
• Set up, execute, record, and analyze experiments -- done independently or with minimal guidance from team/project lead
• Perform troubleshooting experiments and assess the scalability of cell culture media components and formulations
• Proficient data collection, management, and interpretation
• Provides input for further experiments based on data and objectives
• Works across traditional and high-throughput cell culture platforms at multiple scales
• Media preparation including liquid hydration and manufacturing of Dry Powder Media (DPM) through milling processes
• Benchtop studies involving the setup and execution of experiments to characterize and qualify raw materials used in cell culture media

Benefits

• Stock options for all full-time incoming team members!
• 83-100% employer-paid healthcare premiums for team members (medical [including HSA and FSA], dental, and vision)
• Pet insurance for your furry family members!
• Unlimited PTO
• Company-sponsored learning & development opportunities

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level