Scientist, Molecular Biology

Ansa Biotechnologies; Emeryville (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and equity

Health, dental, and vision benefits

Professional development

Job summary

Ansa Biotechnologies in Emeryville, CA is seeking a Scientist to perform research and process development toward our next generation of products. This hands-on role focuses on replacing cloning with faster, more reliable plasmid synthesis and requires strong molecular biology skills.

The candidate will design experiments, build scalable workflows, and work collaboratively with diverse scientists to drive product development and process optimization.

Qualifications

• PhD in relevant field required.
• At least 5 years experience with nucleic acid biochemistry.
• Strong cloning, manipulation, and analysis skills.
• Experience with enzyme assay development.

Responsibilities

• Design, execute, and analyze molecular biology experiments for new products.
• Perform DNA cloning and manipulation techniques.
• Develop and optimize enzymatic DNA synthesis workflows.
• Maintain thorough lab notebooks and documentation.
• Analyze data and present findings to the team.

Skills

DNA cloning

PCR

Sequencing

Experimental design

Data analysis

Education

PhD in Biochemistry / Biophysics / Chemical Biology / Molecular Biology

Tools

Python

R

Laboratory automation

Job description

Ansa Biotechnologies is redefining how scientists access synthetic DNA. Our proprietary enzymatic DNA synthesis platform enables the production of long, complex, sequence-perfect DNA — up to 50 kb clonal products — that traditional chemical synthesis cannot achieve. Backed by over $54M in Series B funding, we are scaling our technology to serve researchers in synthetic biology, gene therapy, and biopharma. Learn more at ansabio.com.

The Role

We are looking for a Scientist to perform research and process development building towards our next generation of products. This sets us up to replace molecular cloning work with faster, more reliable and affordable plasmid synthesis. The ideal candidate has a strong background in molecular biology that is highly familiar with cloning, DNA amplification, and sequencing processes. You will design and execute experiments working in a collaborative manner, build and fine-tune molecular biology workflows, with the goal of building robust, scalable DNA manufacturing processes. This is a hands‑on role where priorities can shift quickly, and you need to execute efficiently and rapidly on high‑priority items. The role is at the heart of Ansa’s product development, interacting with scientists with diverse technical backgrounds.

What You’ll Do

• Design, execute, and analyze molecular biology experiments, working collaboratively with other scientists to support new product development and process optimization
• Perform DNA cloning and manipulation (PCR, restriction digestion, ligation, rolling‑circle amplification, assembly, transformation, gel electrophoresis, DNA purification and quantification)
• Develop and optimize protocols for enzymatic DNA synthesis workflows
• Maintain thorough, well‑organized lab notebooks and experimental documentation
• Analyze data rigorously and present findings to the team

What We’re Looking For

Required:

• PhD in Biochemistry, Biophysics, Chemical Biology, Molecular Biology, or equivalent.
• 5+ years experience with nucleic acid biochemistry/chemical biology
• Strong foundational skills in DNA cloning, manipulation, and analysis
• Deep knowledge of enzyme assay development and nucleic acid biochemistry
• Great analytical skills and a logical approach to problem solving
• Ability to learn new technical areas quickly and thrive in a multidisciplinary environment
• Strong interpersonal, verbal communication, and presentation skills
• Meticulous attention to detail in experimental execution and documentation
• A proactive, can‑do attitude. You’re ready to jump in and execute wherever the work takes you, adapting quickly as priorities shift
• Ability to learn new techniques and concepts quickly

Preferred:

• Experience in a fast‑paced startup or early‑stage R&D environment
• Familiarity with process development, method optimization, or scale‑up
• Experience with data analysis tools (Python, R, or similar)

What We Offer

• Competitive salary and equity.
• Generous benefits package including health, dental, and vision.
• Ongoing professional development and training opportunities.
• A collaborative and innovative work environment.
• The opportunity to be part of a company at the forefront of synthetic biology and innovation.

Ansa Biotechnologies is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

At Ansa, we are building a high‑performing team focused on changing how scientists access
DNA. We look for people who are curious, rigorous, accountable, and excited to work on hard
problems. Our hiring decisions are based on merit, qualifications, experience, and the needs of
the business.