Automation Scientist — High-Throughput Cell Screens

PerkinElmer; Massachusetts; On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

PerkinElmer is seeking a Scientific Specialist to support drug discovery at a Cambridge, MA site. The role focuses on executing medium- to high-throughput cell-based screens and assays using integrated automation platforms, high-throughput liquid handlers, and multi-instrument systems, while training automation users.

The candidate will develop, optimize, and program automated workflows, maintain and characterize cell lines, manage lab inventories, handle biohazardous materials, and perform

Qualifications

• B.Sc. with 2+ years of industry or research experience in Genomics, Immunology, Biology, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Biological engineering, Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or related life sciences discipline OR
• M.Sc. with 1+ years of industry or pharma research in Genomics, Immunology, Biology, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Biological engineering, Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or related life sciences discipline
• Hands-on experience with high-throughput cell-based screens and automation platforms

Responsibilities

• Execute and support medium- to high-throughput cell-based screens and assays using integrated automation platforms including high throughput liquid handlers and multi-instrument integration using scheduling software, in close collaboration with therapeutic area and functional area scientists.
• Train automation users on key concepts associated with the platforms to support best-practice and mitigate avoidable run failures, ensuring optimal routine operation.
• Develop, optimize, and program automated workflows for assay development, plate preparation, liquid handling, reagent addition, incubation, and endpoint readouts.
• 'First-responder' for automation troubleshooting and error recovery.
• Maintain, expand, characterize, and prepare cell lines and primary cell cultures to ensure consistent, assay-ready material for screening campaigns.
• Provide hands-on support for screening campaigns, including plate handling, sample processing, assay execution
• Support assay transfer, optimization, validation, and troubleshooting, including evaluation of assay performance, controls, robustness, and reproducibility.
• Flexibility to accommodate to rapidly changing priorities and deadlines.
• Manage laboratory inventories and handle biohazardous materials according to safety protocols.
• Comply with laboratory safety procedures and guidelines

Skills

High-throughput screening

Automation platforms

Cell culture

Data analysis

Education

BSc in life sciences

MSc in life sciences

Tools

MesoScale Discovery

Luminex

ELISA

Job description

PerkinElmer is seeking a Scientific Specialist to support drug discovery at a Cambridge, MA site. The role focuses on executing medium- to high-throughput cell-based screens and assays using integrated automation platforms, high-throughput liquid handlers, and multi-instrument systems, while training automation users.

The candidate will develop, optimize, and program automated workflows, maintain and characterize cell lines, manage lab inventories, handle biohazardous materials, and perform