Associate Scientist

Actalent; Madison (WI); On-site; USD 30,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision benefits

401(k) plan

Life Insurance

Job summary

Actalent is hiring entry-level laboratory professionals for multiple opportunities in the greater Madison area, supporting quality control and analytical chemistry in food, pharma, biotech environments. Training provided with exposure to instruments like HPLC, GC, FTIR, and microbiology techniques.

Ideal candidates have a Bachelor's in Chemistry, Biology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Food Science, or related field, with lab coursework or internships and strong documentation skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Biology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Food Science, or related science field
• Laboratory experience through coursework, internships, research, or industry experience preferred
• Strong attention to detail and ability to accurately document results
• Interest in analytical chemistry, microbiology, or quality control
• Ability to work independently and in a team-oriented environment

Responsibilities

• Sample preparation and laboratory testing
• Data collection and documentation of results
• Quality inspections and support for production teams
• Support for quality and laboratory operations
• Hands-on training from experienced scientists and lab professionals

Skills

Lab experience

Attention to detail

Team collaboration

Independent work

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry/Biology/related

Tools

HPLC

GC

FTIR

Dissolution

Wet chemistry

Pathogen testing

Microbial plating

Flow cytometry

Particle size analysis

Job description

Madison, WI Area

We're hiring entry-level laboratory professionals for multiple opportunities with companies throughout the greater Madison area. These positions support quality control, analytical chemistry, microbiology, and laboratory operations in food, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and consumer product environments. Responsibilities may include sample preparation, laboratory testing, data collection, documentation, quality inspections, and supporting production and quality teams while receiving hands‑on training from experienced scientists and laboratory professionals. Opportunities may include exposure to industry‑leading laboratory instrumentation and techniques, including HPLC, GC, FTIR, dissolution, wet chemistry, pathogen testing, microbial plating, flow cytometry, particle size analysis, and other analytical testing methods. This is an excellent opportunity for recent graduates in Chemistry, Biology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Food Science, or related scientific fields looking to launch a career in the laboratory sciences.

Madison, WI Area

We're hiring entry-level laboratory professionals for multiple opportunities with companies throughout the greater Madison area. These positions support quality control, analytical chemistry, microbiology, and laboratory operations in food, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and consumer product environments. Responsibilities may include sample preparation, laboratory testing, data collection, documentation, quality inspections, and supporting production and quality teams while receiving hands‑on training from experienced scientists and laboratory professionals. Opportunities may include exposure to industry‑leading laboratory instrumentation and techniques, including HPLC, GC, FTIR, dissolution, wet chemistry, pathogen testing, microbial plating, flow cytometry, particle size analysis, and other analytical testing methods. This is an excellent opportunity for recent graduates in Chemistry, Biology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Food Science, or related scientific fields looking to launch a career in the laboratory sciences.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Biology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Food Science, or related science field
• Laboratory experience through coursework, internships, research, or industry experience preferred
• Strong attention to detail and ability to accurately document results
• Interest in analytical chemistry, microbiology, or quality control
• Ability to work independently and in a team-oriented environment

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Madison, WI.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $22.00 - $28.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job‑related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post‑tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Madison, WI.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Nov 6, 2026.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Madison,WI.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):

We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.