Research Analyst I

Charles River Laboratories; Mattawan (MI); On-site; USD 32,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

Charles River Laboratories in Michigan is seeking a entry‑level laboratory support professional to assist with ligand-binding assay workflows, documentation, and instrument operation. The role requires a BA/BS, strong communication, and willingness to work extended hours.

You will support PK, ADA, and NAb assay areas, maintain study inventories, and contribute to process improvements in a regulated environment. Apply to join a global CRO with safety and quality at its core.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (BA/BS) required.
• Ability to communicate verbally and in writing at all levels.
• Basic familiarity with Microsoft Office Suite.
• Computer skills, including learning a validated system.
• Ability to work extended hours, including evenings and weekends.
• Ability to work under specific time constraints.

Responsibilities

• Efficiently perform and document procedures in compliance with regulatory standards.
• Demonstrate effective communication with peers, supervisor, and team.
• Assist with laboratory maintenance functions.
• Independently perform labeling and solution preparations; assist with inventory oversight.
• Write study and non-study deviations with minimal oversight.
• Participate in process improvement initiatives with oversight.
• Develop troubleshooting and time management skills.
• Assist in routine sample analysis and method validation projects.
• Operate laboratory instruments with oversight.
• Assist with data analysis in software for at least one analytical platform.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Skills

Bachelor’s degree

Communication skills

Microsoft Office Suite

Technical aptitude

Time management

Adaptability to shifts

Education

BA/BS

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

For 75 years, Charles River employees have worked together to assist in the discovery, development and safe manufacture of new drug therapies. When you join our family, you will have a significant impact on the health and well-being of people across the globe. Whether your background is in life sciences, finance, IT, sales or another area, your skills will play an important role in the work we perform. In return, we’ll help you build a career that you can feel passionate about.

Job Overview

The Immunology and Immunochemistry disciplines support large molecule drug development using ligand binding assays (LBA), such as enzyme‑linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), to measure large molecules and their immune responses. The main types of assays include Pharmacokinetic (PK) assays to measure drug and Immunogenicity assay to measure anti-drug antibodies (ADA) and neutralizing antibodies (NAb). Other assay types also performed are branched DNA (bDNA) and cell‑based assays. An array of platforms are used to support these assays that include spectrophotometer, Meso Scale Discovery (MSD), Luminex and Gyrolab. Utilizing these platforms/assays, the teams are responsible for the method development, validation and routine sample analysis in both the regulated and non‑regulated space of non‑clinical and clinical studies.

Responsibilities

• Efficiently perform and document all procedures, materials and results in compliance with applicable regulatory standards as applicable (protocols, methods, SOPs, etc.)
• Demonstrate effective communication skills through informal discussions with peers, supervisor, and team
• Assist with laboratory maintenance functions
• Independently perform laboratory support functions such as labeling and solution preparationsAssist with maintaining study specific inventory of consumables with oversight
• Write both study and non-study deviations with minimal oversight
• Actively participate in process improvement initiatives with oversight
• Develop critical thinking, troubleshooting and time management skills aligned with needs of the operational area
• Assist in execution of routine sample analysis studies with oversight
• Assist in execution of method validation projects with oversight as needed
• Operate laboratory instruments with complete oversight
• Assist with data analysis in appropriate software for at least one analytical platform
• Performs all other related duties as assigned

Job Requirements

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree (BA/BS)
• No previous experience required
• Ability to communicate verbally and in writing at all levels inside and outside the organization
• Basic familiarity with Microsoft Office Suite
• Computer skills, commensurate with Essential Functions, including the ability to learn a validated system
• Ability to work extended hours beyond normal work schedule to include, but not limited to evenings, weekends, extended shifts, and/or extra shifts, sometimes on short notice
• Ability to work under specific time constraints

Workplace Requirements

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee must be able to perform general office and/or laboratory procedures, which require, talking, hearing, standing, or sitting for long periods of time, typing/entering data into a computer, using appropriate instruments, reaching with hands and arms, and wearing safety equipment (PPE) according to OSHA regulations and company standards.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• General office working conditions, the noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.
• While performing the duties of this job the employee may occasionally be required to wear protective clothing (goggles, face shield, surgical mask, cap, gloves, scrubs, boots), work near toxic or caustic chemicals, work with biohazards, and/or work with live animals with risk of exposure to allergens and/or zoonotic diseases.
• The employee may occasionally be exposed to fumes or airborne particles, unpleasant odors, and/or wet, humid and/or extreme temperature conditions.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States without a sponsor visa, now or in the future.

The pay rate for this role is $23.50/hour.

About Safety Assessment

Charles River is committed to helping our partners expedite their preclinical drug development with exceptional safety assessment services, state‑of‑the‑art facilities and expert regulatory guidance. From individual specialty toxicology and IND enabling studies to tailored packages and total laboratory support, our deeply experienced team can design and execute programs that anticipate challenges and avoid roadblocks for a smooth, efficient journey to market. Each year approximately 300 investigational new drug (IND) programs are conducted in our Safety Assessment facilities.

About Charles River

Charles River is an early‑stage contract research organization (CRO). We have built upon our foundation of laboratory animal medicine and science to develop a diverse portfolio of discovery and safety assessment services, both Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and non‑GLP, to support clients from target identification through preclinical development. Charles River also provides a suite of products and services to support our clients’ clinical laboratory testing needs and manufacturing activities. Utilizing this broad portfolio of products and services enables our clients to create a more flexible drug development model, which reduces their costs, enhances their productivity and effectiveness to increase speed to market.

With over 20,000 employees within 110 facilities in over 20 countries around the globe, we are strategically positioned to coordinate worldwide resources and apply multidisciplinary perspectives in resolving our client’s unique challenges. Our client base includes global pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, government agencies and hospitals and academic institutions around the world.

At Charles River, we are passionate about our role in improving the quality of people’s life. Our mission, our excellent science and our strong sense of purpose guide us in all that we do, and we approach each day with the knowledge that our work helps to improve the health and well‑being of many across the globe. We have proudly worked on 80% of the drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the past five years.

We’re committed to providing benefits that elevate your quality of life. Based on your position these may include: bonus/incentives based on performance, 401K, paid time off, stock purchase program, Health and wellness coverage, employee and family wellbeing support programs, and work life balance flexibility.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Charles River is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, mental or physical disability, family status, pregnancy, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

It is unlawful in some states (including Massachusetts) to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

If you are interested in applying to Charles River Laboratories and need special assistance or an accommodation due to a disability to complete any forms or to otherwise participate in the resume submission process, please contact a member of our Human Resources team by sending an e‑mail message to [e-mail]. This contact is for accommodation requests for individuals with disabilities only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.

For more information, please visit www.criver.com.

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