Scientist, PCR Assay Development & Services

Countable Labs • Palo Alto, CA

1d

About The Position

About Countable Labs At Countable Labs, we’re reimagining the future of genomics—and we’d love for you to be a part of it! As the innovators behind our groundbreaking Countable PCR platform, we’re building tools that make a real impact in precision medicine. We’re a fast-growing startup fueled by innovation, collaboration, and a mission-driven spirit. If you’re ready to roll up your sleeves, build something from the ground up, and help shape the future of genomics, we want you on our team! Role Overview The Scientist, PCR Assay Development, is a high-impact role responsible for contributing to the assay content product development of the Countable PCR platform, from feasibility, optimization to manufacturing transfer. Additionally, the individual will play a key role in our assay services program, in delivering high-quality results to our customers.

Requirements

• Education: PhD or Master’s degree in Molecular Biology, Genomics, Bioengineering, or a related field.
• Industry experience: 2+ years (PhD) or 5+ years (MS) in a commercial life science environment, with a specific focus on PCR assay product development for qPCR, dPCR, or NGS platforms, preferably for applications in oncology and/or infectious disease.
• Technical depth: Deep hands-on experience with assay development for qPCR, dPCR and/or targeted NGS panels. Ability to troubleshoot multiplexed chemistries within a structured validation framework, via disciplined experimental design and incorporation of available in silico tools.
• Process mastery: Demonstrated experience working within a Product Development Process (PDP), and preferably Design Control environment (ISO 13485).
• Meticulous and detail-oriented: Superb attention to detail at the bench and on record keeping and documentation; demonstrated ability to author detailed protocols.
• Collaborative mindset: Proven ability to work across interdisciplinary teams, including research, program management, and quality, to achieve shared commercial goals.
• Analytical proficiency: Ability to independently analyze and interpret data sets and assay performance metrics utilizing available tools.
• Strong communication skills: ability to present technical findings clearly to scientific and non-scientific stakeholders.
• Fast learner with a growth mindset: ability to adapt to new skills, lab techniques, and software tools, with desire to continuously grow at all fronts.
• Ability and desire to work in a fast-paced environment with aggressive deadlines.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with running custom service projects highly preferred.
• Basic programming (e.g. Python, R, MATLAB, or JMP) for conducting custom analyses is highly valued.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to assay product development projects on Countable PCR platform : own certain scopes of the broader development project, for instance, assay optimization, guardbanding, and validation and verification, from experimental design to data analysis and interpretation, with detailed record keeping and documentation
• Conduct custom assay service projects : Design and conduct experiments according to defined scope of work from customers, analyze, document and package results, according to established processes; manage material flow from customers
• Lab management : be responsible for the preventive maintenance of R&D lab equipment and assay material flow and management
• Documentation: Draft SOPs for internal assay development and lab processes; draft assay protocols for customers
• Proactively provide feedback as an internal user to the product and engineering team to continuously improve the Countable instrument platform and workflow

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree