Phage & Bacteria R&D Lab Assistant

Tabula Bio; Madison (WI); On-site; USD 34,000 - 51,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

401(k) matching

Dental insurance

Health insurance

Life insurance

Paid time off

Vision insurance

Job summary

Tabula Bioscience is seeking a hands-on Research Assistant for a fast-moving microbiology and molecular biology R&D program focused on bacteriophages and gram-negative bacteria. This temp-to-hire role requires 1–3 years of biotech lab experience and a detail-oriented mindset.

On-site work in Madison, WI, with duties spanning PCR, cloning, phage assays, growth curves, and NGS prep. You’ll execute SOPs at the bench and progressively take on independent experiment tasks, contributing to a dynamic

Qualifications

• 1–3 years of relevant lab experience in biotech/industry setting or highly hands-on academic experience.
• Competent in each core responsibility listed above.
• Strong attention to detail and contamination control habits.
• Able to work on-site in a BSL-2 lab and complete safety training.
• Comfortable with physical lab work (lifting up to 35 lbs).

Responsibilities

• Perform routine molecular biology workflows, including PCR, agarose gels, basic molecular cloning, and DNA/RNA handling.
• Conduct bacterial culture work with BSL-2 gram-negative organisms (e.g., E. coli, Pseudomonas).
• Execute phage assays such as plaque/spot assays and related readouts.
• Run growth curves and plate-based assays, including 96-well formats and plate reader usage.
• Prepare media, agar plates, and stock solutions; maintain lab readiness and proper labeling.
• Support NGS-related sample preparation tasks (nucleic acid extraction, QC, sequencing prep).
• Maintain accurate lab notebooks and documentation (Benchling experience is a plus).

Skills

Molecular biology

PCR

DNA/RNA handling

BSL-2 lab

Contamination control

Documentation

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's degree in biology

Tools

Benchling

Plate reader

Molecular cloning

Job description

Tabula Bioscience is seeking a hands-on Research Assistant for a fast-moving microbiology and molecular biology R&D program focused on bacteriophages and gram-negative bacteria. This temp-to-hire role requires 1–3 years of biotech lab experience and a detail-oriented mindset.

On-site work in Madison, WI, with duties spanning PCR, cloning, phage assays, growth curves, and NGS prep. You’ll execute SOPs at the bench and progressively take on independent experiment tasks, contributing to a dynamic