Senior Research Associate, Antibody Discovery

Kelly; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Annual performance bonus

Paid time off

Two company-wide shutdowns

Job summary

Kelly Science & Clinical in Mountain View, CA is hiring for a Research Associate/Senior Research Associate in Antibody Discovery. You will support discovery campaigns from immunized mice through screening, with hybridoma and single B-cell approaches.

A hands-on role in a collaborative startup environment offers growth and impact in antibody medicine. Base salaries are 90k–110k for RA and 110k–135k for SRA, with competitive benefits and a strong emphasis on team-driven science.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience with antibody discovery using hybridoma technology and/or single B-cell approaches.
• Practical experience with mammalian cell culture, cell-line maintenance, transfection, and functional cell-based assays.
• Experience evaluating protein–protein interactions using ELISA and flow cytometry.

Responsibilities

• Execute antibody discovery campaigns using hybridoma and/or single B-cell technologies.
• Evaluate serum antibody titers and process tissues from immunized mice.
• Screen and characterize antibodies for binding and functional activity using ELISA, flow cytometry, and biochemical assays.
• Maintain mammalian cell lines and support high-throughput discovery workflows.
• Analyze and communicate results, reporting progress to the team.

Skills

Antibody discovery

Hybridoma tech

Single B-cell

Mammalian cell culture

Flow cytometry

ELISA

Transfection

Experimental design

Education

Bachelor's in molecular biology/biochemistry/immunology

Master's in a related field

Tools

Flow cytometer

ELISA platforms

Mammalian cell culture systems

Transfection methods

Job description

Kelly® Science & Clinical is seeking a Research Associate/Senior Research Associate, Antibody Discovery for a direct hire opportunity with a leading therapeutic antibody discovery and development company in Mountain View, CA. If you are driven by the prospect of translating cutting‑edge scientific discoveries into tangible advancements and are poised to advance your career, join us as we pioneer progress in the biotechnology and medical device industries.

Workplace: Onsite in Mountain View, CA

Position Type: Direct hire

Base salary range:

• Research Associate (MS + 2 years / BS + 3–5 years): $90,000 – $110,000 per year.
• Senior Research Associate (BS + 5+ years / MS + 4+ years): $110,000 – $135,000 per year.

Our client is a Series A–funded biotechnology company developing advanced antibody discovery and development technologies to enable new medicines for challenging therapeutic targets. Based in Mountain View, California, the company combines a proprietary transgenic mouse platform with an experienced scientific team to accelerate the identification of diverse, high-quality, and developable antibody candidates.

We are seeking a highly motivated Research Associate or Senior Research Associate to join the Antibody Discovery team. In this hands‑on role, you will support antibody discovery campaigns from immunized mice through antibody screening and characterization. You will work across hybridoma and single B-cell technologies, contribute to programs spanning a range of targets, and help advance promising candidates toward therapeutic development.

This is an excellent opportunity for a thoughtful, technically skilled scientist who enjoys working in a collaborative startup environment and wants to make a direct contribution to the development of novel antibody medicines.

Key Responsibilities

• Execute antibody discovery campaigns using hybridoma and/or single B-cell technologies.
• Evaluate serum antibody titers and process lymphoid tissues from immunized mice.
• Perform electrofusion, hybridoma generation, subcloning, and related antibody discovery workflows.
• Screen and characterize antibodies for binding and functional activity using:
• ELISA and quantitative binding assays
• Flow cytometry
• Biochemical assays
• Cell‑based functional assays
• Maintain, expand, cryopreserve, and clone mammalian cell lines.
• Support the development and implementation of efficient, scalable, and high‑throughput discovery workflows.
• Evaluate new technologies, automation opportunities, and process improvements to increase the speed, quality, and reproducibility of antibody discovery.
• Maintain accurate experimental records, sample tracking, and data documentation.
• Analyze and communicate results, provide regular project updates, and collaborate effectively with colleagues across the organization.
• Contribute to a culture of scientific rigor, accountability, curiosity, and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Research Associate: Bachelor’s degree in molecular biology, biochemistry, immunology, cell biology, or a related discipline, with approximately 5+ years of relevant industry experience.
• Senior Research Associate: Master’s degree in a relevant scientific discipline with approximately 2+ years of relevant industry experience, or equivalent experience and demonstrated accomplishments.
• Hands‑on experience with antibody discovery using hybridoma technology and/or single B-cell approaches is required.
• Practical experience with mammalian cell culture, cell‑line maintenance, transfection, and functional cell‑based assays.
• Experience evaluating protein–protein interactions using techniques such as quantitative ELISA and flow cytometry.
• Experience with antibody screening, characterization, or developability‑relevant assays is highly desirable.
• Experience developing or implementing automated and/or high‑throughput assays is strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with molecular biology techniques is beneficial.
• Experience with small‑animal handling and mouse tissue processing is helpful but not required.
• Ability to work independently, prioritize effectively, and deliver high‑quality results with limited supervision.
• Strong organizational, analytical, communication, and time‑management skills.
• High attention to detail and a proactive, collaborative approach.
• Comfort working in a dynamic, fast‑paced biotechnology startup where priorities may evolve.

Why Join?

You will join a growing biotechnology company where your work can directly influence the discovery of new therapeutic antibodies. The company offers the opportunity to:

• Work with cutting‑edge antibody discovery technologies and challenging therapeutic targets.
• Gain broad exposure to discovery research, assay development, technology advancement, and drug development.
• Collaborate closely with experienced scientists and cross‑functional colleagues.
• Make meaningful contributions in a highly interactive, entrepreneurial environment.
• Help shape the company’s scientific capabilities, workflows, and culture as the organization grows.

The company offers a competitive total compensation package, including:

• Stock options
• Annual performance bonus opportunity
• Paid time off
• Two company-wide shutdowns each year, during the summer and winter