Discovery Associate Scientist — Hands-On Molecular Discovery

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

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.