Senior Research Associate, Discovery Biology

Kelly Services; South San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 62,000 - 90,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

Retirement savings plan

Paid holidays

Job summary

Kelly Science & Clinical in the Bay Area is seeking a Senior Research Associate, Biology, on a 6-month contract. You will be a core member of a collaborative scientific team, designing and executing in vitro, cell-based, and ex vivo assays to illuminate mechanisms of action and therapeutic potential of novel biologics.

The role requires at least 3 years of hands-on biotech lab experience, with strong mammalian cell culture and data analysis skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in immunology, oncology, cell biology, or related field.
• At least 3 years of hands-on laboratory experience in biotech/pharma.
• Extensive mammalian cell culture experience and ability to run assays independently.
• Proficiency with ELISA, flow cytometry, AlphaScreen, TRF/HTRF, FRET, and reporter assays.
• Ability to work independently and in a collaborative team to meet timelines.
• Strong data analysis skills (Excel, Prism, or similar).

Responsibilities

• Develop, optimize, and perform advanced in vitro and ex vivo assays for robust characterization of biologics, supporting lead selection and mechanism-of-action studies across multiple immunology programs.
• Execute high-throughput screening for drug candidate selection, with and without automation, contributing to efficient drug discovery and candidate advancement.
• Analyze complex experimental data and present findings to cross-functional project teams.
• Coordinate activities across multiple concurrent projects and work with automation, analytics, and other internal functions.
• Maintain complete and accurate electronic lab notebook records and support lab operations.

Skills

Immunology

Oncology

Cell biology

Independent contributor

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in immunology, oncology, cell biology, or related field

Tools

ELISA

Flow cytometry

AlphaScreen

TRF/HTRF

FRET

Cytotoxicity assays

Job description

Kelly® Science & Clinical is seeking a Senior Research Associate/Associate Scientist, for future opportunities with biotechnology companies in the Bay Area. 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 the San Francisco Bay Area

Position Title: Senior Research Associate, Biology

Position Type: 6-month contract

Pay rate: $45-65 per hour

About the Role

You will be a core member of their collaborative scientific team, leveraging cutting-edge technologies to design and execute innovative in vitro, cell-based, and ex vivo assays. Your expertise will be instrumental in illuminating mechanisms of action, drug potency, and the therapeutic potential of novel biologics targeting key immunological pathways. This position is ideal for a curious, motivated individual eager to work in a highly dynamic, multidisciplinary environment typical of the Bay Area biotech ecosystem.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, optimize, and perform advanced in vitro and ex vivo assays for robust characterization of biologics, supporting lead selection and mechanism-of-action studies across multiple immunology programs.
• Execute high-throughput screening for drug candidate selection, with and without automation, contributing to efficient drug discovery and candidate advancement.
• Analyze complex experimental data and present your findings to diverse, cross-functional project teams, driving actionable scientific advancement.
• Coordinate activities across multiple concurrent projects and work closely with colleagues from automation, analytics, and other internal functions.
• Maintain complete and accurate electronic lab notebook records, and support daily lab operations including equipment maintenance and sample management.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in immunology, oncology, cell biology, or a closely related field.
• At least 3 years of hands-on laboratory experience in the biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry.
• Extensive mammalian cell culture experience and demonstrated ability to run assays independently.
• Proficiency with a wide array of lab techniques, including (but not limited to): ELISA, flow cytometry, AlphaScreen, TRF/HTRF, FRET, reporter and cytotoxicity assays.
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a collaborative team to meet project timelines.
• Strong experimental troubleshooting and data analysis skills (Excel, Prism, or similar).

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior research experience in the fields of immunology and/or inflammation.
• Experience developing, optimizing, or miniaturizing novel assays.
• Familiarity with automated liquid handling systems and other laboratory automation technologies.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to distill and present complex data effectively.

Culture & Values

Our team culture is grounded in integrity, a continual drive for learning and excellence, innovative thinking, and inclusive collaboration. We take pride in fostering a supportive, high-energy, and intellectually rich work environment—critical to driving success in the competitive Bay Area biotech landscape.

Diversity Drives Discovery

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.

As part of our promise to talent, Kelly supports those who work with us through a variety of benefits, perks, and work-related resources. Please note: The following benefits reflect Kelly's general offerings. Eligibility may vary by assignment, location, and job type.

• Kelly offers eligible employees voluntary benefit plans including medical, dental, vision, telemedicine, term life, whole life, accident insurance, critical illness, a legal plan, and short-term disability.
• As a Kelly employee, you will have access to a retirement savings plan, service bonus and holiday pay plans (earn up to eight paid holidays per benefit year), and a transit spending account.
• In addition, employees are entitled to earn paid sick leave under the applicable state or local plan.

Why Kelly ® Science & Clinical?

Kelly Science & Clinical is your connection to premier scientific and clinical companies looking to hire industry experts just like you. Our team creates expert talent solutions to solve the world’s most critical challenges. Every day, we match science professionals with dream jobs that fit their skills, interests, and career goals—it’s the way we think job searching should be. Nearly 100 percent of our science recruiters have a professional background and education in science, so we know a thing or two about the science market and how to get your expertise noticed.

About Kelly

Work changes everything. And at Kelly, we’re obsessed with where it can take you. To us, it’s about more than simply accepting your next job opportunity. It’s the ripple effect that changes and improves everything for your family, your community, and the world. Which is why, here at Kelly, we are dedicated to providing you with limitless opportunities to enrich your life—just ask the 300,000 people we employ each year.

Kelly is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants regardless of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and we take affirmative action to recruit, employ, and advance qualified individuals with disabilities and protected veterans in the workforce. Requests for accommodation related to our application process can be directed to the Kelly Human Resource Knowledge Center. Kelly complies with the requirements of California’s state and local Fair Chance laws. A conviction does not automatically bar individuals from employment. Kelly participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

Kelly may use AI-powered tools during the recruitment and hiring process. For full details, including how Kelly uses AI, your rights, and how to request a reasonable accommodation, visit the Recruitment Artificial Intelligence Notice https://www.kellyservices.com/hubfs/myKelly/Resources/Employment_Policies/Recruitment-Artificial-Intelligence-Notice.pdf?hsLang=en .

Kelly Services is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affiliated Application programmer. we welcome, value, and embrace diversity at all levels and are committed to building a team that is inclusive of a variety of backgrounds, communities, perspectives, and abilities. At Kelly, we believe that the more inclusive we are, the better services we can provide. Requests for accommodation related to our application process can be directed to Kelly’s Human Resource Knowledge Center. Kelly complies with the requirements of California’s state and local Fair Chance laws. A conviction does not automatically bar individuals from employment.