Assay Development Scientist Jobs

About The Position

Requirements

• You believe that seeing is believing, and that seeing clearly in biology takes the willingness to invent new assays.
• Authorized to work without sponsorship.
• MS or PhD in molecular biology, synthetic biology, or a related field, or equivalent experience and track record.
• Deep hands-on NGS expertise: independently executing Illumina and Oxford Nanopore workflows and nucleic acid manipulation from microbial and/or eukaryotic sources, including low-input/single-cell/metagenomic library prep from recalcitrant or low-biomass samples, custom or modified library chemistries, and Hi-C or other structural readouts.
• Strong molecular biology fundamentals: ligation, PCR, and other enzymatic nucleic acid manipulations; sterile technique; metabolic and/or molecular assay development; and comfort with high-throughput screening and lab automation.
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills, reasoning from first principles, with meticulous record-keeping.
• An excellent communicator and collaborator who reaches experts outside your field and thrives in a fast-paced, shifting environment.

Nice To Haves

• Proficiency with screening methods such as microfluidics, droplet generation, FACS-Seq, pooled barcoded-library screening, and CRISPR screening.
• Experience designing and implementing automated assays (e.g. programming liquid handlers to execute NGS prep workflows).

Responsibilities

• Design and execute assays, including NGS-based workflows, end to end: nucleic acid isolation, library prep, and sequencing on Illumina and Oxford Nanopore, and develop novel methods for genetic analysis of genomes, transcriptomes, epigenomes, and proteomes in non-model organisms (bacteria, yeast, fungi, viruses, and beyond).
• Hold the line on sequencing quality and throughput with rigorous in-house QC, staying current with industry best practices.
• Perform and troubleshoot experiments across organisms: culturing, DNA delivery, and genome engineering in partnering with organismal biologists and molecular biologists to validate assays.
• Write protocols and SOPs, and present data and results to the team, leadership, and at scientific meetings.
• Assess, set up, and maintain the instrumentation and reagents the work depends on.
• Bring high agency and high standards: take ownership, give and receive candid feedback, and push the team to be its best in service of the science.

Benefits

• Paid time off, company holidays, and a year-end closure
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with employer match
• Annual leave, plus bank holidays, and a year-end closure
• Private medical insurance
• Employer pension contribution, with optional salary sacrifice