Research Associate, Applied Cell Line Development & Customer Programs

Prolific Machines•Emeryville, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Prolific Machines is seeking a motivated, detail-oriented Research Associate to advance mammalian cell line development and protein production capabilities. The company uses light to control expression of biotherapeutic proteins, aiming to increase titer and improve quality attributes. This role generates and characterizes cell lines for internal research and customer programs, working with scientists and engineers across disciplines in a fast-paced startup environment. It offers opportunities to expand technical expertise, take on increasing ownership, and contribute directly to the company’s success. The position is based on-site at the company’s headquarters in Emeryville, California. Candidates may be considered at the Research Associate I, Research Associate II, or Senior Research Associate level, depending on experience, technical proficiency, and independence.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Bioengineering, Biotechnology, or a related field, with relevant laboratory experience in mammalian cell culture.
Proficiency in mammalian cell culture; cell line development experience is preferred, with knowledge of sterile technique, transfection, and clone isolation.
Comfort with readouts such as cell counting, metabolite measurement, Octet BLI, and flow cytometry.
Ability to develop and propose experimental plans, conduct experiments, and troubleshoot analytical techniques and methodologies.
Ability to follow protocols precisely, design and execute experiments independently, and manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced setting.
Self-starter committed to team science and effective independent work.
Strong organizational skills and interest in creating and maintaining infrastructure for laboratory experiments and data analysis.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
Enthusiasm for a fast-paced startup environment and comfort with evolving project scopes and shifting priorities.

Nice To Haves

Experience in mammalian cell line development.
Experience with small-scale bioreactors such as the Ambr system.
Experience with single-cell isolation using FACS, cell deposition, or Beacon.

Responsibilities

Own and drive workflows using mammalian cell culture, primarily suspension HEK and suspension CHO.
Generate stable cell lines through transfection, such as electroporation, and selection; serve as the primary technical owner of multiple genetically distinct cell lines.
Run protein production workflows at different scales, including deep-well plates and shake flasks, and potentially small-scale bioreactors such as the Ambr system.
Perform downstream readouts, including cell counting with Celleca or NucleoCounter, metabolite measurements with Nova or CEDEX, Octet BLI, and flow cytometry.
Perform single-cell isolation using methods such as FACS, cell deposition, or Beacon.
Execute plasmid cloning and molecular biology techniques, including PCR and ddPCR.
Conduct experiments independently, collect and analyze data in a timely manner, maintain detailed documentation in electronic lab notebooks, and present data visualizations and findings in team meetings.