Co-Op, Cell Based Sequencing

Lila Sciences, Inc.; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 28,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

Lila Sciences is seeking a winter co-op to join the LS Experiment team at our Alewife lab in Cambridge, MA. You will support cell-based sequencing assay development and contribute to our RNA biology studies while gaining hands-on bench experience.

Expect to run mammalian cell culture, RNA extraction, PCR, and bead-based purifications, with supervision from a scientist who will help you build reproducible protocols and interpret results.

Qualifications

• Pursuing a bachelor’s degree in molecular biology, biochemistry, biotechnology, bioengineering, or a related field.
• Hands‑on experience with mammalian cell culture and aseptic technique.
• Experience with RNA extraction and PCR.
• Strong attention to detail in sample handling and labeling.
• Clear, consistent record keeping and comfort following detailed protocols.
• Available full time on site in Cambridge, MA from January 11 to May 14.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and passage mammalian cell lines for assay experiments.
• Transfect mammalian cell lines using chemical or electroporation methods.
• Extract RNA from cultured cells and assess sample quality.
• Run PCR and prepare samples for sequencing.
• Perform bead-based purifications and sample cleanup.
• Record protocols and results in formats ready for computational analysis.
• Present experimental findings to the team in regular reviews.

Skills

Mammalian cell culture

RNA extraction

PCR

Transfection (chemical/electroporation

Bead-based purification

Data documentation

Record keeping

Education

Pursuing a bachelor's degree in molecular biology, biochemistry, biotechnology, bioengineering, or related field

Job description

Lila Sciences is hiring a winter co-op to join the LS Experiment team at our Alewife lab in Cambridge, MA. You will support cell-based sequencing assay development to investigate RNA biology and advance our mRNA platform.

Day to day, you will run mammalian cell culture and transfections (chemical or electroporation), extract RNA, prepare samples for sequencing, and carry out bead-based purifications. You will work under the supervision of a scientist who will help you build reproducible protocols and interpret results.

The co-op runs January 11 through May 14, on site and full time. Expect hands-on bench work, careful data capture, and regular reviews where you present findings to the team.

What You'll Be Building

• Maintain and passage mammalian cell lines for assay experiments
• Transfect mammalian cell lines using chemical or electroporation methods
• Extract RNA from cultured cells and assess sample quality
• Run PCR and prepare samples for sequencing
• Perform bead-based purifications and sample cleanup
• Record protocols and results in formats ready for computational analysis
• Present experimental findings to the team in regular reviews

What You'll Need to Succeed

• Pursuing a bachelor's degree in molecular biology, biochemistry, biotechnology, bioengineering, or a related field
• Hands‑on experience with mammalian cell culture and aseptic technique
• Experience with RNA extraction and PCR
• Strong attention to detail in sample handling and labeling
• Clear, consistent record keeping and comfort following detailed protocols
• Available full time on site in Cambridge, MA from January 11 to May 14

Bonus Points For

• Familiarity with next-generation sequencing library prep
• Exposure to Python or R for sequencing data analysis
• Experience with magnetic bead purification workflows
• Interest in applying AI tools in a laboratory setting

About LILA

Lila Sciences is building Scientific Superintelligence™ to solve humankind's greatest challenges. We believe science is the most inspiring frontier for AI. Rather than hard‑coding expert knowledge into tools, LILA builds systems that can learn for themselves.

LILA combines advanced AI models with proprietary AI Science Factory™ instruments into an operating system for science that executes the entire scientific method autonomously, accelerating discovery at unprecedented speed, scale, and impact across medicine, materials, and energy. Learn more at www.lila.ai.

Guided by our core values of truth, trust, curiosity, grit, and velocity, we move with startup speed while tackling problems of historic importance. If this sounds like an environment you'd love to work in, even if you don't meet every qualification listed above, we encourage you to apply.

Lila Sciences iscommitted to equal employment opportunityregardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status.