Research Associate II, Lead Discovery (On-site, Temporary)

Neomorph; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

Neomorph seeks a Research Associate II, Lead Discovery, for a 6-month contract in San Diego. The role supports routine mammalian cell-based assays, SAR and screening campaigns, hit confirmation, and assay optimization in a fast-paced drug discovery environment.

The candidate will gain exposure to high-throughput screening, data quality, and troubleshooting, with a strong foundation in cell culture and assay readouts.

Qualifications

• BS or MS with 2+ years of lab experience in biology or related field.
• Strong mammalian cell culture and cell-based assay experience.
• Ability to manage multiple cell lines and experiments with attention to detail.
• Experience with luminescence/fluorescence readouts and screening metrics.
• Experience with data analysis in Excel/GraphPad Prism.

Responsibilities

• Perform routine cell-based assays to support SAR, primary screening, hit confirmation, selectivity, and project-specific Lead Discovery activities.
• Culture, maintain, expand, and bank mammalian cell lines while monitoring cell health, passage number, confluency, and readiness for screening.
• Execute cell-based screening assays using luminescence-based readouts such as Bright-Glo, HiBiT and CellTiter-Glo.
• Support assay setup, optimization, miniaturization, and qualification for 384- and 1536-well screening formats.
• Operate laboratory automation and screening instrumentation used for cell dispensing, compound transfer, reagent addition, plate handling, and detection.
• Generate and use assay-ready plates (ARPs) and coordinate with Compound Management to ensure compounds and plates are available for scheduled experiments.
• Perform routine data QC, review plate-level assay performance, identify issues, and troubleshoot as needed.
• Analyze and document experimental results using Excel, GraphPad Prism, CDD, and other data systems.
• Maintain accurate records in electronic lab notebooks and screening trackers.
• Work with cross-functional teams to support priorities and deliver reliable data on schedule.
• Contribute to SOP development, workflow standardization, and implementation of new automation.

Skills

Mammalian cell culture

Cell-based assays

Data analysis

Attention to detail

Team collaboration

Education

BS in Biology or related field

MS in related field

Tools

PreciseDrop II

Echo acoustic dispenser

PHERAstar plate reader

MultiFlo FX

Job description

Role: Research Associate II, Lead Discovery (Temporary)

Length of contract: 6 months with potential for extension or conversion to full-time

Pay: $40-$55 per hour; this is a W-2 position.

We are seeking a highly motivated and results-driven Research Associate II to join our Lead Discovery team. This role will support routine cell-based assay execution, SAR and screening campaigns, hit confirmation, and assay optimization in a fast-paced drug discovery environment. The successful candidate will have a strong foundation in mammalian cell culture and cell-based assays, with an interest in expanding their experience in high-throughput screening (HTS), data quality, and troubleshooting.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform routine cell-based assays to support SAR, primary screening, hit confirmation, selectivity, and project-specific Lead Discovery activities.
• Culture, maintain, expand, and bank mammalian cell lines while monitoring cell health, passage number, confluency, and readiness for screening.
• Execute cell-based screening assays using luminescence-based readouts such as Bright-Glo, HiBiT and CellTiter-Glo, as applicable.
• Support assay setup, optimization, miniaturization, and qualification for 384- and 1536-well screening formats.
• Operate laboratory automation and screening instrumentation used for cell dispensing, compound transfer, reagent addition, plate handling, and detection.
• Generate and use assay-ready plates (ARPs) and coordinate with Compound Management to ensure compounds and plates are available for scheduled experiments.
• Perform routine data QC, review plate-level assay performance, identify potential issues such as high variability, low signal, spatial effects, or dispensing errors, and elevate or troubleshoot as appropriate.
• Analyze and document experimental results using Microsoft Excel, GraphPad Prism, CDD, and other applicable data systems.
• Maintain accurate and timely records in electronic laboratory notebooks and screening trackers, including assay conditions, run metadata, deviations, and troubleshooting notes.
• Work closely with Compound Management, Biology, Data Science, and project teams to support assay priorities and deliver reliable data on schedule.
• Contribute to SOP development, workflow standardization, continuous improvement, and implementation of new automation and screening processes.

Qualifications

• BS in Biology, Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Pharmacology, or a related field with 2+ years of relevant laboratory experience, or MS in a related field.
• Strong hands-on experience with mammalian cell culture and cell-based assays.
• Ability to independently manage multiple cell lines, experiments, and assay timelines with strong attention to detail.
• Experience with quantitative cell-based assay readouts such as luminescence, fluorescence, or related technologies.
• Basic understanding of assay quality and screening metrics, including signal-to-background, coefficient of variation (CV), Z-prime, and concentration-response analysis.
• Ability to recognize unexpected assay results, investigate potential causes, and communicate issues clearly.
• Experience analyzing data using Microsoft Excel, GraphPad Prism, or similar analytical software.
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Self-motivated, flexible, collaborative, and comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with high-throughput screening, SAR assays, primary screening, hit confirmation, or assay miniaturization.
• Experience with instrumentation such as PreciseDrop II, Echo acoustic dispensers, PHERAstar plate readers, MultiFlo FX, or comparable platforms.
• Experience troubleshooting assay performance, liquid-handling issues, automation errors, plate handling, or screening data-quality issues.
• Experience with 384- and/or 1536-well assay formats and low-volume liquid handling.
• Familiarity with assay data-management systems such as Abase or similar platforms.
• Experience with molecular biology techniques, including stable cell-line generation, transient transfection/transduction, or related methods.