Senior/Research Associate, mRNA Engineering

NewLimit; South San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) match

Parental leave

PTO 20 days

Job summary

NewLimit is seeking a Senior/Research Associate to generate research-grade mRNA and support the mRNA Engineering team in a fast-paced lab environment. The role involves executing IVT workflows, purification, and detailed record-keeping, with collaboration across research and Delivery Sciences teams.

Early-career scientists gain hands-on training and contribute to impactful projects within aging biology. You will perform DNA template prep, IVT, purification, and analytical checks, while

Qualifications

• B.S. in Life Sciences, Chemistry, Engineering, or a related field with 1–2 years of relevant full-time industry or academic research experience, or M.S. in Life Sciences
• Hands-on experience with molecular biology techniques such as cloning, nucleic acid purification, PCR, and gel electrophoresis
• Strong attention to detail and good documentation practices
• Ability to execute protocols accurately and manage multiple tasks efficiently
• Excellent communication and organizational skills
• Interest in mRNA process science and eagerness to learn new techniques

Responsibilities

• Generate research-grade mRNA via DNA template preparation, in vitro transcription, and downstream purification
• Run routine analytical assays to assess mRNA integrity and purity
• Troubleshoot production issues and contribute to experiments that optimize yield, purity, and recovery
• Maintain detailed records in Electronic Lab Notebooks and follow SOPs
• Manage raw material and mRNA inventory, including sample tracking and reagent ordering
• Coordinate material needs and hand off mRNA for downstream studies
• Present experiment results at team meetings

Skills

Molecular biology techniques

Documentation & records

Multitasking & organization

Communication skills

Education

BS in Life Sciences / related field

MS in Life Sciences

Tools

PCR

Gel electrophoresis

HPLC

UV-Vis

TapeStation

Job description

Senior/Research Associate, mRNA Engineering

About NewLimit

NewLimit is a biotechnology company working to radically extend human healthspan. We're developing medicines to treat age-related diseases by reprogramming the epigenome, a new therapeutic mechanism to restore regenerative potential in aged and diseased cells. We leverage functional genomics, pooled perturbation screening, and machine learning models to unravel the biology of epigenetic aging and disease using experiments of unprecedented scale.

Position

We are seeking a Research Associate to join our mRNA Engineering team. In this role, you will generate the mRNAs that power NewLimit's research programs, executing the workflow from DNA template through in vitro transcription (IVT) and downstream purification. You will produce research grade mRNA materials, keep rigorous records of how each batch was made, and work closely with scientists across our research and Delivery Sciences teams. This is a lab-based role ideal for an early-career scientist who wants to build deep expertise in mRNA process development in a fast-paced research environment. You will receive hands-on training from expert scientists and see the direct impact of your work on our programs.

What you’ll do

As a member of our team, you will:

mRNA production

• Execute established protocols for DNA template preparation, in vitro transcription, and downstream purification to generate research-grade mRNA
• Run routine analytical assays to assess mRNA integrity and purity
• Under the guidance of senior scientists, help troubleshoot production issues and contribute to experiments that optimize yield, purity, and recovery

Documentation and lab operations

• Maintain detailed, accurate records of all experiments in Electronic Lab Notebooks
• Follow and help maintain SOPs; contribute to drafting and updating protocols as workflows evolve
• Manage raw material and mRNA inventory, including sample tracking, storage, and reagent ordering
• Maintain lab equipment and follow lab safety practices
• Work closely with Delivery Sciences and research teams to coordinate material needs and hand off mRNA for downstream studies
• Present experiment results at team meetings

Requirements

• B.S. in Life Sciences, Chemistry, Engineering, or a related field with 1-2 years of relevant full-time industry or academic research experience, or M.S. in Life Sciences
• Hands-on experience with molecular biology techniques such as cloning, nucleic acid purification, PCR, and gel electrophoresis
• Strong attention to detail and good documentation practices
• Ability to execute protocols accurately and manage multiple tasks efficiently
• Excellent communication and organizational skills
• Interest in mRNA process science and eagerness to learn new techniques

Nice to have

• Experience producing mRNA through IVT and downstream purification
• Familiarity with plasmid and mRNA analytics such as HPLC, UV-Vis, and TapeStation/CGE
• Experience with plasmid DNA preparation and linearization
• Exposure to column-based purification and tangential flow filtration (TFF)
• Familiarity with automation liquid handling-based methods for mRNA purification, including experience operating such as Hamiltons and Tecans

NewLimit offers generous benefits to ensure our team can focus on our mission:

• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid parental leave
• Industry-leading paid time off (PTO) - 20 days/year for all employees + holidays
• Meals and snacks on-site

Salary Range: $75,000 - $100,000*. Compensation for the role will depend on a number of factors, including a candidate's qualifications, skills, competencies, and experience. NewLimit offers a competitive benefits package, which includes a 401k, healthcare coverage, and 20 days of PTO. Learn more at: https://www.newlimit.com/careers

*This compensation and benefits information is based on Company's good faith estimate as of the date of publication and may be modified in the future.