Discovery Associate Scientist

Maine Molecular Quality Controls, INC.; Saco (ME); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) retirement savings plan

Profit sharing program

Paid time off

Paid Parental Leave Program

Job summary

Maine Molecular Quality Controls, Inc. (MMQCI) is seeking a Discovery Associate Scientist to support early-stage molecular biology and diagnostics projects.

You will work side-by-side with Discovery Scientists, running experiments, testing new ideas, and helping translate concepts into technologies. This hands-on role emphasizes initiative, learning new methods, and contributing ideas within a respectful, innovative culture.

Qualifications

• B.S. in Biology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, or a related field with 2 years of Molecular Biology laboratory experience.
• Hands-on experience with core molecular biology techniques (plasmid preps, gels, nucleic acid extraction, and qPCR) from coursework, lab, internships, or prior work.
• Innate curiosity with energy, drive and initiative to explore and learn.
• Team-oriented attitude, strong communication skills, and enthusiasm for collaborative learning.
• Strong organization, documentation, and ability to follow and improve protocols.
• Comfortable using basic software tools (e.g., Excel) for data handling and simple calculations.

Responsibilities

• Perform a wide range of molecular biology techniques to support feasibility and exploratory projects.
• Run experiments under the direction of Discovery Scientists, record work, and help organize, interpret, and present data for quick decisions.
• Learn and adopt new technologies and protocols as the team evaluates innovative methods.
• Contribute to daily lab operations including reagent prep, cleaning, inventory management, and equipment checks.

Skills

Molecular biology

qPCR

Plasmid prep

DNA/RNA extraction

Excel/data handling

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Biology or related field

Tools

Excel

Job description

Join Our Discovery Team as a Discovery Associate Scientist

Are you the kind of scientist who can’t stop asking “why” and “what if”? Do you get excited about trying new techniques, optimizing protocols, and uncovering data that can push a project in a fresh direction? Do you learn from failures in the lab? If so, this Discovery Associate Scientist role may be the perfect next step in your career. We seek a team member driven to impact patient lives through precision quality controls and who thrives in a culture of respect, open communication, and innovation where every voice matters.

About the Role

As a Discovery Associate Scientist, you will be at the bench every day, supporting early-stage molecular biology and molecular diagnostics projects. You will work side-by-side with Discovery Scientists, running experiments, testing new ideas, and helping turn early concepts into real technologies. This is a hands‑on role for someone who loves the lab and wants to grow by learning new methods, taking initiative, and contributing ideas.

What We’re Looking For

• B.S. in Biology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, or a related field with 2 years of Molecular Biology laboratory experience.
• Hands‑on experience with core molecular biology techniques (plasmid preps, gels, nucleic acid extraction, and qPCR) from coursework and research lab experience, internships, or prior work.
• Innate curiosity, coupled with the energy, drive and initiative needed to satisfy it.
• A team-oriented attitude, strong communication skills, and enthusiasm for learning from and collaborating with experienced scientists.
• Strong organization skills, clear documentation and the ability to follow protocols while also helping to improve them.
• Comfortable using basic software tools (e.g., Excel or equivalent) for data handling and simple calculations.

What You’ll Do

• Perform a wide range of molecular biology techniques (e.g., buffer and reagent prep, nucleic acid extraction, plasmid prep, in vitro transcription, PCR/qPCR/dPCR, and related techniques) to support feasibility and exploratory projects
• Run carefully designed experiments under the direction of Discovery Scientists, record your work in detail, and help organize, interpret, and present data so the team can quickly decide on next steps
• Learn and adopt new technologies and protocols as the Discovery group evaluates innovative tools and methods
• Contribute to daily lab operations, including reagent prep, routine laboratory cleaning, dishes, and chores, inventory management, and basic equipment checks, keeping the Discovery lab running smoothly

Why You’ll Love Working Here

• You will learn rapidly by working closely with senior Discovery Scientists on cutting‑edge molecular projects
• You will be encouraged to ask questions, propose new ideas, and develop new capabilities
• You will see how early‑stage discovery work evolves into the development of useful products and technologies that impact molecular diagnostics and patient care
• You will join a collaborative, energetic team that values curiosity, initiative, and scientific rigor

Benefits We Offer

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) retirement savings plan
• Company profit sharing program
• Paid time off: including vacation, holidays, and sick leave
• Paid Parental Leave Program

The pay range for this position is $65,000 to $90,000 annually

Get to know the MMQCI team!

https://www.mmqci.com/about/employeespotlight/employee-spotlight.html

Maine Molecular Quality Controls, Inc. (MMQCI) designs, develops, manufactures, and markets unique quality control products used by hospital laboratories to monitor the accuracy of tests for inherited disease, pharmacogenetics, oncology, and infectious diseases. MMQCI has developed technologies to stabilize DNA and RNA for use as quality controls and continues to pursue the discovery of novel techniques useful for the development of new quality control products.

MMQCI is conveniently located in beautiful southern coastal Maine, minutes from the Maine Turnpike, Portland International Jetport, and less than 2 hours from Boston. Close by are fabulous Portland restaurants, sandy beaches, and a plentiful supply of Maine lobsters! Many terrific outdoor activities are easily accessible including hiking, biking, kayaking, fishing, skiing and snowshoeing. We’re in a state‑of‑the‑art facility, located in Saco, right next to the Eastern Trail. Come join us!