Research Associate

Syenex; Evanston (IL); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Syenex, Inc is seeking a Research Associate to join the Discovery Team in Evanston/Chicago, IL. You will help design, produce, optimize, and screen novel delivery vectors for cell and gene therapy.

The role includes characterizing delivery vehicles and developing in vitro assays, along with maintaining cell cultures and supporting experiments with cutting-edge techniques. You will contribute to an interdisciplinary team, document results, and present findings to the R&D group.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with 1–4 years lab experience or MS with 1–2 years.
• Experience maintaining mammalian cell cultures using standard techniques.
• Understanding of molecular biology and cell biology.
• Experience with viral vectors or nanoparticles, including concentration/purification.
• Experience with mammalian cell transfection/transduction.
• Experience with flow cytometry.
• Experience with protein characterization (ELISA, Western blot).
• Strong data quality mindset and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Design, production, optimization, and screening of novel delivery vectors.
• Characterize gene/protein expression in mammalian cells using flow cytometry, microscopy, qPCR, ELISA.
• Maintain mammalian cell cultures and perform cloning and plasmid prep.
• Collaborate to design experiments and develop new protocols.
• Document findings and present to the R&D team.

Skills

Mammalian cell culture

Molecular biology

Flow cytometry

Transfection/Transduction

Cloning

Protein characterization

Genomic analysis basics

Education

Bachelor's degree in Biology/Biochemistry/Engineering or related field with 1–4 years lab experience

Tools

qPCR

ELISA

Western blot

Job description

About Syenex

Syenex is an open-science biotechnology company building the delivery technologies that unlock the future of genetic medicine. We engineer cell-specific delivery platforms—including enveloped vectors such as extracellular vesicles and viral vectors that give cell and gene therapy developers best-in-class, plug-and-play tools spanning discovery through GMP manufacturing.

About Syenex

Syenex is an open-science biotechnology company building the delivery technologies that unlock the future of genetic medicine. We engineer cell-specific delivery platforms—including enveloped vectors such as extracellular vesicles and viral vectors that give cell and gene therapy developers best-in-class, plug-and-play tools spanning discovery through GMP manufacturing.

Founded in 2022 and based in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, Syenex operates on an Open Science model: we make a continuously improving catalog of cell-engineering and delivery technologies universally accessible to academia and biopharma, freeing our partners to focus on their therapeutic insight. Through a growing network of partnerships and CDMO integrations, we help developers move from idea to clinical impact faster, at lower cost, and with higher delivery efficiency.

We are a small, multidisciplinary team that pairs rigorous synthetic biology with a build-fast, collaborate-openly culture. This role is central to how we scale that science.

About The Role

We are seeking a Research Associate to join the Discovery Team and support the design, production, optimization, and screening of novel delivery vectors for cell and gene therapy. Characterization and evaluation of those delivery vehicles and in-vitro assay development will be key elements of the position, along with primary cell and cell line maintenance and culturing. This individual will join a dynamic, rapidly growing, and highly collaborative team that combines significant biological discovery experience with pioneering discoveries driving multiple delivery platforms.

What You'll Do

• Produce and test novel vector designs for mammalian cell delivery via flow cytometry, imaging, and genomic analysis techniques.
• Characterize gene and protein expression in mammalian cells using flow cytometry, microscopy, qPCR, ELISA, etc.
• Maintain mammalian cell cultures.
• Perform molecular biology-based cloning and plasmid preparation.
• Participate in experimental design, optimization, and method development.
• Support customer LVV production and characterization.
• Follow Standard Operating Procedures and develop new protocols when necessary.
• Work collaboratively to generate and screen novel delivery vehicles.
• Maintain accurate records of experimental samples through database curation and electronic tracking.
• Document and present findings to the R&D team and wider company.

What You'll Bring

• Bachelor's plus 1-4 years laboratory experience in an academic or industry setting or MS in scientific related field (Biology, Biochemistry, Engineering) with 1-2 years experience
• Experience maintaining various mammalian cells in culture using standard techniques
• Understanding of molecular biology and cell biology
• Experience with viral vectors and/or nanoparticles, including concentration and purification methods
• Experience with mammalian cell transfection and transduction
• Experience with flow cytometry
• Experience with protein characterization (e.g., ELISA, western-blots, BLI)
• Highly motivated with a strong desire to learn and contribute to team science
• Strong work ethic with attention to detail and data quality
• Demonstrated ability in working in a fast-paced, collaborative, and technical environment

Why Syenex

You will contribute to the early phase research of a company whose delivery technologies enable more cures to reach more people. You will see your work being adopted by customers and brought to the clinic. You be exposed to a wide range of technologies and will have the opportunity to make significant contributions to an early-stage team already trusted by partners across biopharma and academia. We encourage you to apply even if you do not believe you meet every single qualification. Research shows that strong candidates- particularly those from underrepresented groups- are prone to doubting the strength of their candidacy, so we urge you not to exclude yourself prematuree.