Research Associate II, Horns Lab

Arc Institute; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 68,000 - 83,000; Full time

Job summary

Arc Institute in Palo Alto is seeking a Research Associate II to join the Horns Laboratory. You will help develop platform technologies for monitoring and manipulating mammalian cells, gaining hands-on expertise in molecular biology, cell engineering, and genomics.

You will work with world‑leading scientists in single‑cell genomics and computational biology, and this role offers a clear path toward enrolling in a PhD program, with a minimum two‑year commitment.

Qualifications

• BS/MS or equivalent in cell & molecular biology, biochemistry, bioengineering, or similar field.
• 2+ years of relevant experience in an academic or industry setting (including independent lab work during undergraduate studies).
• Extensive hands-on experience with standard molecular biology techniques, such as cloning, PCR, qPCR, or plasmid preparation.
• Proficiency with mammalian cell culture and transfections.
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Highly motivated, curious, and a team player.
• This position is a stepping stone toward enrolling in a PhD program with a minimum 2-year commitment.

Responsibilities

• Utilize a wide array of molecular biology techniques, such as restriction cloning, Gibson assembly, DNA/RNA isolation, cDNA synthesis, PCR, qPCR, NGS library preparation, and more.
• Conduct tissue culture and transfection-based experiments, including microscopy and flow cytometry readouts.
• Independently carry out cell culture experiments and molecular biology assays.
• Assist with research planning, execution, analysis, troubleshooting, and data interpretation with guidance from the team.
• Analyze and present data at internal subgroup meetings and seminars.
• Maintain an organized and detailed lab notebook.
• Assist with organizing and managing laboratory resources, including ordering supplies, inventory, and equipment.

Skills

Strong critical thinking and problem‑?

Strong oral and written communication

Team player

Education

BS/MS or equivalent in cell & molecular biology, biochemistry, bioengineering, or similar field

Tools

Mammalian cell culture

Transfection techniques

PCR/qPCR

NGS library preparation

Python/R data analysis

Job description

Arc Institute is an independent nonprofit research organization at the interface of artificial intelligence and biology, working to accelerate scientific progress and understand the root causes of complex diseases. Founded in 2021 and based in Palo Alto, Arc partners with Stanford University, UC Berkeley, and UC San Francisco.

Unlike academia, our scientists have long-term funding and industry-like resources. Unlike industry, they're free to pursue high-risk, long-term research without commercial pressures. Arc's Technology Centers and Core Investigator labs work side by side, integrating experimental and computational biology under one roof to tackle problems neither could solve alone.

Our two Institute Initiatives reflect this model in action:

• Virtual Cell Initiative: Building a full-stack virtual cell model to identify disease mechanisms and nominate drug targets, accelerating the path from biological insight to clinical trials.
• Alzheimer's Disease Initiative: Mapping the genes, pathways, and environmental factors behind Alzheimer's disease to develop drug candidates that address root causes.

More than 300 Arconauts work together at our Palo Alto headquarters, backed by substantial long-term philanthropic funding.

About the position

We are seeking a Research Associate II to join the Horns Laboratory at the Arc Institute. In this position, you will contribute to developing the next generation of platform technologies for monitoring and manipulating mammalian cells, and gain expertise in molecular biology, cell engineering, and genomics. You will have the opportunity to work with world-leading scientists in relevant fields, including single-cell genomics, computational biology, and molecular engineering.

This position offers a unique chance for a highly motivated and curious researcher to work on cutting-edge molecular technologies at the intersection of synthetic biology and genomics. Some of the relevant projects extend from our recent work in developing and using cellular RNA exporters to non-destructively monitor cell dynamics and deliver mRNA between cells.

This is a great stepping stone for candidates looking to enroll in a PhD program in the future, as you will be involved in designing projects from the ground up and co-authoring papers. The ideal candidate must have a strong background in molecular biology and mammalian cell culture, and will learn to apply their skills to building novel molecular technologies.

About you

• You love science and learning. Whether it's gaining knowledge in new fields of scientific research or learning a new lab technique, you never stop being curious and routinely enjoy stepping out of your comfort zone to learn new things.
• You can work fast and are detail-oriented. You are careful, meticulous, and diligent about good documentation practices, good lab practices, and keeping things organized while moving at a rapid pace.
• You love to collaborate and help others. Science is a team effort, and you pride yourself in taking the initiative to participate and to offer help.
• You are a problem solver. Building new technologies comes with issues you need to troubleshoot. You pride yourself in your ability to troubleshoot complex problems.
• You explicitly wish to use this experience to gain entry into a PhD program and are able to provide a minimum 2-year commitment to build a portfolio of work to support you in that endeavor.

In this position, you will

• Utilize a wide array of molecular biology techniques, such as restriction cloning, Gibson assembly, DNA/RNA isolation, cDNA synthesis, PCR, qPCR, NGS library preparation, and more.
• Conduct tissue culture and transfection-based experiments, including microscopy and flow cytometry readouts.
• Independently carry out cell culture experiments and molecular biology assays.
• Assist with research planning, execution, analysis, troubleshooting, and data interpretation with a high degree of independence and continued support from the rest of the team. This is an excellent opportunity for candidates before enrolling in a PhD program, as you will be involved in all stages of a project under the guidance of an experienced scientist.
• Analyze and present data at internal subgroup meetings and seminars.
• Maintain an organized and detailed lab notebook.
• Assist with organizing and managing laboratory resources, including ordering supplies, managing inventory, and maintaining equipment.

Requirements

• BS/MS or equivalent professional experience in cell & molecular biology, biochemistry, bioengineering, or similar field.
• 2+ years of relevant experience in an academic or industry setting (including independent lab work during your undergraduate studies).
• Extensive hands-on experience with standard molecular biology techniques, such as cloning, PCR, qPCR, or plasmid preparation.
• Proficiency with mammalian cell culture and transfections.
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Highly motivated, curious, and a team player.

Preferred Qualifications

• NGS library preparation
• Experience with pooled / CRISPR screens
• Mammalian cell engineering (e.g. selection, cell-based assays using flow cytometry, microscopy)
• Ability to analyze large and complex data sets using Python, R, or similar tools.

The base salary for this position is $75,900. This amount does not include benefits or other forms of compensation.