Research Associate II, Delivery

askbio; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

AskBio is seeking a Research Associate II to support AAV delivery research within the Delivery organization in R&D. You will perform hands-on molecular biology and cell-based workflows, generating high-quality, reproducible data and supporting day-to-day lab operations in Morrisville, North Carolina.

The role requires a Bachelor’s degree (or Master’s) in a related field with 2+ years of relevant lab experience, including DNA/RNA isolation, PCR/qPCR/ddPCR, and mammalian cell culture.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, or related field with 2+ years of lab experience or Master’s degree.
• Hands-on experience with DNA/RNA isolation, SDS-PAGE, qPCR, ddPCR, and Western blot.
• Prior experience with mammalian cell culture and aseptic technique.
• Strong ability to independently execute protocols and deliver reliable, reproducible results.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail; capable of documenting procedures accurately.

Responsibilities

• Perform plasmid purification, genomic DNA extraction, RNA extraction, and PCR-based assays (PCR, qPCR, ddPCR).
• Conduct routine mammalian cell culture activities, including maintenance of adherent cell lines and cell-based assays.
• Perform in vitro assays including transfection and AAV transduction.
• Support in vitro and in vivo studies through sample preparation, tissue processing, and downstream molecular analyses.
• Accurately document experimental procedures and results in an electronic laboratory notebook; ensure data integrity.
• Analyze data, summarize results, and communicate findings through internal reports or presentations.
• Maintain laboratory organization, including reagent preparation, inventory management, and inspection readiness.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of laboratory workflows by following SOPs and escalating issues.

Skills

Molecular biology

Analytical skills

Independent work

Cross-functional teamwork

Documentation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, or related field

Master’s degree in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, or related field

Tools

qPCR

ddPCR

Western blot

SDS-PAGE

Mammalian cell culture

Job description

Position Summary

AskBio is seeking a motivated, detail-oriented, and collaborative Research Associate II to support AAV delivery research within the Delivery organization in R&D. This role provides hands‑on experimental support across molecular biology and cell‑based workflows that advance AskBio’s preclinical gene therapy pipeline. The Research Associate II will work closely with scientists within the Delivery team to execute established experimental protocols with increasing independence, generate high‑quality and reproducible data, and support day‑to‑day laboratory operations.

This position is based in Morrisville, North Carolina.

Job Responsibilities

• Perform plasmid purification, genomic DNA extraction, RNA extraction, and PCR‑based assays (PCR, qPCR, ddPCR)
• Conduct routine mammalian cell culture activities, including maintenance of adherent cell lines and execution of cell‑based assays following established SOPs
• Perform in vitro assays including transfection and AAV transduction
• Support in vitro and in vivo studies through sample preparation, tissue processing, and downstream molecular analyses
• Accurately document experimental procedures and results in an electronic laboratory notebook in accordance with data integrity standards
• Analyze data, summarize results, and communicate findings through internal reports or presentations
• Maintain laboratory organization, including reagent preparation, inventory management, and inspection readiness
• Contribute to continuous improvement of laboratory workflows by following SOPs and escalating issues appropriately

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, or a related scientific field with 2+ years of relevant laboratory experience; OR a Master’s degree in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, or a related field
• Hands‑on experience with molecular biology techniques, including DNA/RNA isolation, SDS‑PAGE, qPCR, ddPCR, and Western blot
• Prior experience with mammalian cell culture and aseptic technique
• Strong technical laboratory skills with the ability to independently execute protocols and experiments
• Ability to follow established protocols with minimal supervision and deliver reliable, reproducible results
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and commitment to accurate documentation
• Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously and work effectively within a collaborative, cross‑functional team environment
• Proficiency with basic data analysis and common laboratory software tools (e.g., Excel, GraphPad)

Preferred Education, Experience and Skills

• Experience supporting AAV research or delivery programs, including familiarity with viral vectors or gene therapy concepts
• Exposure to AAV production or purification workflows at a research scale
• Experience preparing samples for downstream analyses such as NGS or other advanced molecular assays
• Comfort working across diverse experimental workflows and learning new techniques as project needs evolve

AskBio Inc. (AskBio) is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or any other protected status prohibited under Federal, State or local laws. All employment decisions are based on valid job‑related requirements. If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our website, you may request a reasonable accommodation to express interest in a specific opening by calling us at [phone] or sending us an email at [e-mail].

Agencies: Please do not contact any employee at AskBio about this requisition. Any resume submitted by a recruitment agency to any employee at AskBio, through any medium, will be deemed the sole property of AskBio unless the agency was engaged by AskBio Talent Acquisition team to recruit for that position. All agencies must have a prior executed service agreement with AskBio prior to any search engagement. If a candidate who was submitted outside of the AskBio agency process is hired by AskBio, no fee or payment of any kind will be paid to the agency.