Research Associate, LNP Formulation

Kelly; South San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

Kelly Science & Clinical is seeking a Research Associate, LNP Formulation Development for a 3-month contract-to-hire opportunity with a biotechnology company in South San Francisco focused on extending human health span.

The role centers on lipid nanoparticle (LNP) formulation to advance nucleic-acid therapeutics and gene-editing technologies, with collaboration across Delivery Sciences teams to scale from proof-of-concept to production.

Qualifications

• MS in Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or related discipline, with 2+ years of relevant industry experience.
• Experience designing and assembling LNPs using lipid chemistries and mixing technologies for nucleic acid delivery.
• Proficient in purification processes (dialysis, tangential flow filtration, ultracentrifugation, sterile filtration).
• Proficient in LNP characterization and analytical workflows (DLS, LC-UV/CAD, CGE, osmolality, MALS, ELISA, fluorescence-based assays).

Responsibilities

• Design, formulate, and optimize lipid nanoparticles for nucleic acid delivery across in vitro and preclinical models.
• Collaborate with Epigenetic Editing and Product teams to scale LNP solutions from proof-of-concept to production.
• Develop and refine LNP compositions, purification protocols, and analytical workflows.

Job description

Kelly® Science & Clinical is seeking a Research Associate, LNP Formulation for a 3-month contract-to-hire opportunity with one of our clients, a biotechnology company in South San Francisco focused on extending human health span. If you’re passionate about bringing the latest scientific discoveries to life and are ready to take the next step in your career, trust The Experts at Hiring Experts.

Position Title:

Research Associate, LNP Formulation Development

Position type:

3-month contract-to-hire

Workplace:

Onsite in South San Francisco, CA

Pay Range:

$40 - 55 per hour

Overview

We are looking for a dynamic, driven Senior/Research Associate to join our client's pioneering Delivery Sciences team and help shape the future of nucleic acid therapeutics. This is an exciting opportunity to work at the forefront of lipid nanoparticle (LNP) development, where your expertise will directly impact the advancement of transformative gene-editing and reprogramming technologies.

What You’ll Achieve

• Design, formulate, and optimize lipid nanoparticles for delivering nucleic acids across a spectrum of in vitro and preclinical models, translating fundamental science into real-world impact.
• Collaborate closely with multidisciplinary Epigenetic Editing and Product teams (Immunology, Metabolism, Vascular) to innovate reprogramming therapeutics and scale up LNP solutions from proof-of-concept to production.
• Develop and refine LNP compositions, purification protocols, and analytical workflows; establish robust, reproducible methodologies to ensure seamless production for a rapidly growing pipeline.
• Anticipate future needs, proactively plan for formulation innovations, material sourcing, and lab readiness to support ambitious research and development initiatives.
• Bring clarity to complex biological data: interpret, present, and leverage insights to drive strategic decision-making across Delivery Science and Preclinical Development.
• Uphold the highest standards of scientific record-keeping in an Electronic Laboratory Notebook (ELN), ensuring traceable, reproducible experiments.

Who You Are

• Hold an MS in Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or a related discipline, with 2+ years of relevant industry experience—or possess equivalent hands-on expertise.
• Experienced in designing and assembling LNPs using a range of lipid chemistries and mixing technologies for nucleic acid delivery.
• Skilled in purification processes, including dialysis, tangential flow filtration (TFF), ultracentrifugation, and sterile filtration.
• Expert in LNP characterization, leveraging analytical technologies such as DLS, LC-UV/CAD, CGE, fragment analysis, osmolality, MALS, ELISA, and fluorescence-based plate assays.

Bonus Skills

• Experience advancing drug products through preclinical or clinical development, particularly in nucleic acid delivery.
• Specialized knowledge in liver biology or targeted LNP delivery to hepatocytes.
• Familiarity with bioconjugation, surface modifications, or engineering LNPs with targeting moieties for cell type specificity.
• Proficient in data visualization and statistical analysis tools (R, Python), enabling impactful communication and data-driven innovation.