RNA Biology Associate in oligonucleotide screening

Roche; Basel; On-site; CHF 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Roche in Basel is seeking an experienced Lab Associate focused on molecular biology and RNA biology to join our Nucleic-acid-based medicines team. You will set up and perform various molecular assays, including qPCR, DRUG-Seq, BRB-Seq, and RNA-Seq, to advance oligonucleotide-based therapies.

The role emphasizes cell culture, RNA handling, and lab automation within an industrial setting and requires strong organization and teamwork.

Qualifications

• B.Sc in molecular biology or related field with a minimum of 10 years experience in drug discovery or an M.Sc with a minimum of 5 years experience.
• Experience with therapeutic oligonucleotides, including screening and in vitro characterization.
• Hands-on wet-lab experience with molecular biology, RNA biology techniques (qPCR) & lab automation, ideally in an industrial setup.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop cell-based screening assays and perform cell culture maintenance.
• Implement lab automation for high throughput screening of oligonucleotides.
• Purification and handling of RNA samples.
• Perform digital PCR, quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays to support portfolio and platform projects.
• Prepare and process tissue samples from animal studies for subsequent molecular analyses.
• Assist in setting up and executing advanced molecular biology assays, including transcriptome profiling (e.g., DRUG-Seq, BRB-Seq, RNA-Seq).

Skills

Therapeutic oligonucleotides

qPCR

RNA biology techniques

Lab automation

Team collaboration

Organizational skills

Education

B.Sc in molecular biology

M.Sc in molecular biology

Tools

qPCR

Digital PCR

RNA-Seq

DRUG-Seq

BRB-Seq

Job description

At Roche you can show up as yourself, embraced for the unique qualities you bring. Our culture encourages personal expression, open dialogue, and genuine connections, where you are valued, accepted and respected for who you are, allowing you to thrive both personally and professionally. This is how we aim to prevent, stop and cure diseases and ensure everyone has access to healthcare today and for generations to come. Join Roche, where every voice matters.

The Position

In Roche’s Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development organization (pRED), we make transformative medicines for patients in order to tackle some of the world’s toughest unmet healthcare needs. At pRED, we are united by our mission to transform science into medicines. Together, we create a culture defined by curiosity, responsibility, and humility, where our talented people are empowered and inspired to bring forward extraordinary life-changing innovation at speed.

Therapeutic Modalities (TMo) organization, accountable for translating disease biology into high-quality drug candidates across small molecules, large molecules, oligonucleotides, and genomic medicines. By integrating deep modality expertise with cross-disciplinary collaboration, TMo drives innovation within and across platforms to enable differentiated, sustainable therapeutic impact.

The opportunity

We are looking for an experienced Lab Associate with a focus on molecular biology and RNA biology tasks to join our Nucleic-acid-based medicines team. You will support screening oligonucleotide-based therapeutics and development of RNA technologies by setting up and executing various molecular biology assays.

• Develop cell-based screening assays and perform cell culture maintenance
• Implement lab automation for high throughput screening of oligonucleotides
• Purification and handling of RNA samples
• Perform digital PCR, quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays to support portfolio and platform projects
• Prepare and process tissue samples from animal studies for subsequent molecular analyses
• Assist in setting up and executing advanced molecular biology assays, including transcriptome profiling (e.g., DRUG-Seq, BRB-Seq, RNA-Seq)

Who you are

• B.Sc in molecular biology or related field with a minimum of 10 years experience in drug discovery or M.Sc with a minimum of 5 years experience
• Experience with therapeutic oligonucleotides, including screening and in vitro characterization
• Hands-on wet-lab experience with molecular biology, RNA biology techniques (qPCR) & lab automation, ideally in an industrial setup
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment

At Roche, we aim high to deliver life-changing healthcare solutions. If you’re ready to make a meaningful impact on patients and healthcare systems worldwide, this is the place for you.

Who we are

A healthier future drives us to innovate. Together, more than 100’000 employees across the globe are dedicated to advance science, ensuring everyone has access to healthcare today and for generations to come. Our efforts result in more than 26 million people treated with our medicines and over 30 billion tests conducted using our Diagnostics products. We empower each other to explore new possibilities, foster creativity, and keep our ambitions high, so we can deliver life-changing healthcare solutions that make a global impact.

Let’s build a healthier future, together.

Roche is an Equal Opportunity Employer.