Research Associate II - PHCS

Actalent; Tucson (AZ); On-site; USD 31,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) Retirement Plan

Life Insurance

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Research Associate II for the Personalized Healthcare Solutions group in Oro Valley, AZ. The role focuses on advancing in‑vitro diagnostic technologies, including assay development and data analysis to support diagnostic testing and healthcare decision tools.

You will conduct and interpret experiments, maintain rigorous documentation, and contribute to cross‑functional teams within a GMP/GLP environment, driving collaboration and ongoing professional development.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences or closely related field.
• 2–4 years of relevant post‑college lab experience.
• Experience with assay development or support in a diagnostic environment.

Responsibilities

• Conduct R&D and manufacturing lab experiments to support diagnostic projects.
• Design, execute, and interpret experiments with scientific rigor.
• Develop and optimize assays and lab methods for accurate diagnostic testing.
• Prepare technical reports, study summaries, and protocols.
• Maintain compliant laboratory documentation and electronic records.

Skills

Laboratory skills

Assay development

Data analysis

Technical reporting

Independent judgment

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences

Job description

Job Title: Research Associate II - Personalized Healthcare Solutions

This Research Associate II role supports Personalized Healthcare Solutions by advancing innovative in‑vitro diagnostic technologies that improve patient care throughout the health journey. You will contribute to the research, development, and manufacturing of diagnostic assays and integrated solutions that provide precise clinical information, enhance laboratory efficiency, and support data‑driven healthcare decisions. This position offers the opportunity to work on impactful projects, collaborate with cross‑functional teams, and help bring cutting‑edge diagnostic solutions to market.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research, development, and manufacturing laboratory experiments to support diagnostic projects within Personalized Healthcare Solutions.
• Exercise technical expertise and independent judgment in designing, executing, and interpreting experiments that contribute directly to project strategies.
• Develop, optimize, and support assays and related laboratory methods to enable precise and reliable diagnostic testing.
• Prepare clear and detailed technical reports, study summaries, experimental protocols, and quantitative data analyses.
• Present and discuss experimental results, conclusions, and recommendations within the department and project teams, contributing to scientific and technical decision‑making.
• Maintain a high level of professional and technical expertise by staying current with relevant scientific literature and developments in the field.
• Participate, as appropriate, in scientific conferences and professional societies to support continued learning and knowledge sharing.
• Follow established company policies and procedures, including Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), Good Laboratory Practice (GLP), Design Control, and other applicable quality and regulatory standards.
• Maintain complete, accurate, and well‑organized laboratory documentation and electronic records in accordance with internal and regulatory requirements.
• Act as principal investigator on assigned experiments when appropriate, taking ownership of experimental design, execution, and documentation.
• Support integrated solutions initiatives, including diagnostic testing tools, laboratory efficiency improvements, healthcare digitalization, and decision support software as needed.
• Contribute to projects involving companion diagnostics by supporting assay development that helps identify patients most likely to respond to specific therapies.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences or a closely related field.
• 2–4 years of relevant post‑college experience in a laboratory setting.
• Hands‑on laboratory experience in research and development, including planning and executing experiments.
• Experience with assay development or support in a research or diagnostic environment.
• Demonstrated ability to design, execute, and interpret experiments with a high degree of technical competence and scientific rigor.
• Proficiency in preparing technical reports, experimental summaries, protocols, and quantitative data analyses.
• Ability to present and discuss experimental results clearly and effectively within project teams and departmental meetings.
• Strong understanding of and adherence to GMP, GLP, Design Control, and related quality and regulatory practices.
• Proven ability to maintain complete, accurate, and compliant laboratory documentation and electronic records.
• Capacity to work independently on assigned experiments, including acting as principal investigator when required.
• Commitment to staying current with scientific literature and developments relevant to diagnostic research and assay development.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Life Sciences major or concentration is preferred for the Bachelor’s degree.
• Experience in in‑vitro diagnostics, personalized healthcare, or companion diagnostics is beneficial.
• Familiarity with integrated diagnostic solutions, laboratory efficiency tools, healthcare digitalization, or decision support software is an advantage.
• Experience working in a regulated environment with established quality systems is preferred.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to troubleshoot experiments and optimize assay performance.
• Effective communication and collaboration skills to work productively within cross‑functional project teams.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple experiments and tasks while maintaining high‑quality standards and documentation.

Work Environment

This is an onsite Research Associate II position within a Personalized Healthcare Solutions organization focused on in‑vitro diagnostics and companion diagnostics. You will work primarily in a laboratory environment that supports research, development, and manufacturing activities for diagnostic assays and integrated solutions. The role involves routine use of laboratory equipment, adherence to GMP and GLP standards, and compliance with Design Control and other quality procedures. You can expect a structured, process‑driven setting with a strong emphasis on documentation accuracy, data integrity, and regulatory compliance. The work environment encourages collaboration with project teams and departments, as well as ongoing professional development through engagement with scientific literature and professional communities. Standard laboratory safety practices and appropriate lab attire and personal protective equipment are required while performing onsite duties.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Oro Valley, AZ.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $27.00 - $27.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job‑related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment.

Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre‑tax and Roth post‑tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long‑term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type This is a fully onsite position in Oro Valley,AZ.

Application Deadline This position is anticipated to close on Sep 25, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in 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.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.