Research Associate I/II (Temporary), Ex Vivo & Assays

Gordian Biotechnology • South San Francisco, CA

9d • $66,000 - $85,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Research Associate will execute established laboratory protocols to generate clean, reproducible data. The role focuses on RNA extraction and RT-qPCR, western blotting, ELISA, mammalian cell culture, biomarker assays across plasma, serum, urine, tissue, and culture samples, and ex vivo processing of animal and human donor tissue to establish primary cell cultures for target validation studies. The employee works with ex vivo scientists who design experiments and is responsible for carrying them out as written. There is no live animal work; mouse tissue is supplied by the in vivo team.

This is a bench-focused execution role rather than a study-design or protocol-development position. The successful candidate follows SOPs with minimal guidance, identifies and reports problems, and documents work so it can be reproduced. Over time, the role may expand to training teammates and improving protocols.

During the first month, the employee completes safety and BSL-2 training, learns SOPs for cell culture, RT-qPCR, western blotting, and ELISA, and learns the experiment documentation practices. By two months, the employee is expected to run these assays independently from SOPs, meet quality criteria, handle multiple assays in a day, run biomarker kits across sample types, and begin tissue processing and primary cell isolation with a senior research associate or scientist. By three months, the employee is expected to process animal and human tissue and isolate primary cells independently, and own study sample processing and molecular and biomarker readouts without execution-error repeats. At six months and beyond, the employee supports several programs and biomarker panels in parallel, flags issues early, proposes protocol improvements, and trains teammates on familiar assays.

The position is a temporary role of 12 months or more, with the possibility of conversion to a permanent position. Weekend work is occasional and light, mainly to maintain healthy cultures. The work is based at Gordian’s building in South San Francisco.

Requirements

• BS in biology, biochemistry, or a related life science.
• 1–3 years of hands-on laboratory experience in industry or academia.
• Personally performed RNA extraction and RT-qPCR, western blotting, and ELISAs from start to finish.
• Experience performing biomarker assays on biological samples such as plasma, serum, urine, or tissue lysates.
• Routine mammalian cell culture and aseptic technique experience.
• Experience processing or dissecting tissue and isolating primary cells from mouse or human sources; willingness to learn the other source.
• Accurate, reproducible pipetting across volume ranges, including multichannel pipetting in plates.
• Ability to follow written SOPs with minimal guidance, record deviations, and maintain reproducible notes.
• Ability to work carefully and reliably in a fast-paced early-stage startup environment.

Nice To Haves

• MS in a life science.
• Experience in biotech, pharma, or a CRO.
• Experience handling human donor tissue under BSL-2 and bloodborne pathogen training.
• Rodent tissue dissection and harvest experience.
• Experience with precision-cut tissue slices, organoids, or iPSC culture.
• Experience with multiplex biomarker platforms such as MSD, Luminex, or Simoa.
• Flow cytometry, immunostaining, or histology experience.
• Experience with higher-throughput plate-based workflows or automated liquid handling.
• Experience with heart failure, kidney, metabolic, or musculoskeletal biology or related biomarkers.

Responsibilities

• Execute established SOPs for RNA extraction, RT-qPCR, western blotting, ELISA, and mammalian cell culture.
• Run biomarker assays on plasma, serum, urine, tissue, and culture samples across disease indications.
• Process animal and human donor tissue and establish primary cell cultures for target validation studies.
• Carry out experiments designed by ex vivo scientists as written, with minimal guidance.
• Maintain accurate, reproducible experimental records and document deviations as they occur.
• Identify and promptly communicate problems with experiments or samples.
• Support sample processing and molecular and biomarker readouts for studies and multiple programs in parallel.
• Propose protocol improvements and train new teammates on assays as experience grows.
• Occasionally maintain cultures over the weekend.

Benefits

• Competitive salary.
• Health, dental, vision, and life insurance.
• 401(k) with match.
• Onsite lunch paid for three days a week.
• Onsite gym.
• Flexible vacation described as whatever vacation is needed to be at peak performance.
• Access to mentors and advisors to support professional growth.

What This Job Offers

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