Senior Research Associate, Strain Engineering

flagshippioneeringinc; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 78,000 - 107,000; Full time

Job summary

Flagship Pioneering in Cambridge, MA, is seeking a Senior Research Associate to support genetic engineering of microbial strains for recombinant protein production. Reporting to the Senior Scientist, you will work hands-on in a fast-paced startup environment, designing and assembling DNA and evaluating strain performance.

The role demands practical experience with DNA assembly strategies, microbial culture, and robust laboratory operations, with collaboration across discovery, bioprocess

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's in Bioengineering, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Biotechnology or related field.
• Hands-on molecular biology design, isolation and DNA assembly.
• Strong aseptic technique and microbial culture handling.
• Excellent communication, organization and documentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Construct plasmids using Golden Gate or HiFi assembly.
• Prepare competent cells and perform PCR for genetic engineering.
• Conduct gel electrophoresis, nucleic acid quantification, and sample prep.
• Track strain performance and coordinate with discovery and analytical teams.
• Maintain plasmid banks, media, and experimental records.

Skills

DNA assembly

PCR techniques

Aseptic technique

Microbial culture handling

Communication & documentation

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Master's degree in related field

Tools

Benchling

Geneious

NGS analysis

Job description

COMPANY DESCRIPTION

Flagship Pioneering is a platform innovation company that invents and builds companies that change the world. We bring together the greatest scientific minds with entrepreneurial company builders and assemble the capital to allow them to take courageous leaps. Those big leaps in human health, sustainability and beyond exponentially accelerate scientific progress in areas ranging from disease detection and treatment and nature-positive agriculture to novel applications of AI that are driving the creation of new technologies.

What sets Flagship apart is our ability to advance science and technology by uniting innovation, company creation, and capital investment under one roof in a way that is largely without precedent. Our scientific founders, entrepreneurial leaders, and professional capital managers are each aligned around an institutionalized process that enables us to innovate and transform for the benefit of people and planet.

Many of the companies Flagship has founded have addressed humanity's most urgent challenges: vaccinating billions of people against COVID-19, curing intractable diseases, improving human health, preempting illness, and feeding the world by improving the resiliency and sustainability of agriculture.

Flagship has been recognized twice on FORTUNE's "Change the World" list, an annual ranking of companies that have made a positive social and environmental impact through activities that are part of their core business strategies and has been twice named to Fast Company's annual list of the World's Most Innovative Companies.

THE ROLE

We are seeking a highly motivated Senior Research Associate to support the development and optimization of microbial strain engineering for recombinant protein production. Reporting to the Senior Scientist, Microbial Strain Engineering, this individual will play a key role in genetic engineering of microbial strains in a fast-paced startup environment.

The ideal candidate is highly hands-on, technically rigorous, and comfortable operating independently in a dynamic research setting. This role requires strong practical experience with DNA assembly strategies, microbial culture techniques, and laboratory operations.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

DNA Design and Assembly

• Construct plasmids using modern molecular biology techniques (e.g: Golden Gate assembly, HiFi assembly, etc.)
• Perform sequencing analysis using state-of-the-art NGS technologies and software
• Prepare plasmid DNA through mini-preps, maxi-preps, etc.

Strain Engineering and Evaluation

• Prepare competent cells for transformation of microbial strains
• Execute PCR to both prepare substrates for genetic engineering and genotyping of candidate strains
• Perform agarose gel electrophoresis, nucleic acid quantification, and sample preparation for routine functional assays
• Support screening and characterization of microbial strains in shake flask and microtiter plates
• Track strain performance metrics including biomass production, functional assay readouts, and product formation

Laboratory Operations

• Generate and maintain microbial cell banks and inventory records
• Prepare media for strain-building campaigns
• Support routine laboratory maintenance, equipment upkeep, and troubleshooting
• Contribute to safe laboratory operations and maintain a strong culture of safety and operational rigor
• Maintain accurate and well-organized experimental records and documentation

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate with discovery, bioprocess development, downstream, and analytical teams to support integrated process development activities
• Closely partner with bioprocess development to align on best practices for strain development and evaluation

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree (with 5-7 years of relevant research experience) or Master's degree (with 3-5 years of relevant research experience) in Bioengineering, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Biotechnology, or related discipline.
• Hands-on experience in molecular biology, including design, isolation, and assembly of DNA
• Strong understanding of aseptic technique and microbial culture handling
• Strong communication, organizational and documentation skills
• Ability to independently execute experiments and troubleshoot routine process issues

Preferred Experience

• Experience engineering industrial microbial hosts such as E. coli, Bacillus, yeast, or filamentous fungal systems
• Experience with flow cytometry, protein purification, assay design and implementation
• Familiarity with Benchling and Geneious

LOCATION: Cambridge, MA

ABOUT FLAGSHIP PIONEERING:

Flagship Pioneering invents and builds platform companies, each with the potential for multiple products that transform human health, sustainability and beyond. Since its launch in 2000, Flagship has originated more than 100 companies. Many of these companies have addressed humanity's most urgent challenges: vaccinating billions of people against COVID-19, curing intra