Senior Research Associate

Natera•Austin, TX

About The Position

The Product Development Sr. Research Associate will contribute to the design, execution and participation in experiments/tasks to support oncology product development and verification and validation (V&V) studies under design control, for next generation sequencing (NGS) assays. We are looking for a meticulous and dedicated candidate with direct laboratory experience in assay development who can work effectively in a fast-paced environment to ensure the highest quality clinical assays are developed and launched for our patients. The ideal candidate will be an enthusiastic and driven professional who is eager to learn, flexible, enjoys multi-tasking and possesses strong wet lab skills.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry or related field with a minimum of 4 years of laboratory and/or relevant industry experience or MS with 0-2 years of relevant experience.
Must have hands-on experience with DNA extraction from biological samples, e.g. blood, plasma, tissue and BLS1, BLS2 experience
Must have hands-on experience with nucleic acid techniques (purification, quantification, amplification using PCR, qPCR, Quant-IT/Qubit, BioAnalyzer or TapeStation)
Excellent with Microsoft Office programs and Google Drive including Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Forms
Ability to think creatively and analytically with strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills
Team player with strong interpersonal skills with an ability to build effective working relationships within functional areas

Nice To Haves

Hands-on experience with NGS library preparation and Illumina sequencing platforms is highly preferred
Experience in a regulatory environment under IVD, CLIA/CAP is highly desired
Experience in implementing, optimizing, and troubleshooting high-throughput automated assays using liquid handling techniques
Knowledge of statistical methods and techniques to contribute to analytical studies is desired
Ability to operate independently in a fast-paced lab under minimal supervision, managing multiple tasks and priorities with minimal errors is highly desired
Effective communication skills, including gathering information from different teams, communicating with suppliers, writing protocols, and summarizing results in reports or presentations

Responsibilities

With some supervision, design and execute low to moderate complexity experimental workflows, including cfDNA extraction, library preparation for next-generation sequencing (NGS) using both manual and automated platforms, employing various molecular biology and standard laboratory methods in accordance with standard operating procedures (SOPs) and work instructions
Assist with the design, plan and execution of experiments to support the development and V&V of oncology assays
Maintain a detailed and organized electronic laboratory notebooks and accurate records of lab work using a variety of software including Google Sheets, Microsoft Excel, and internal databases
Analyze and interpret experimental data using appropriate statistical and analytical tools
Assist in drafting documentation including study protocols, reports, SOPs and work instructions
Coordinate across multiple internal teams to ensure the timely execution of the studies.
Adapt to handle multiple tasks and priorities, and perform other duties as assigned
Learn the science behind ongoing research projects while actively completing increasingly complex tasks