Senior Research Associate Nucleic Acid Analytics

Initial Therapeutics, Inc.; South San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A biotechnology company in gene therapy is looking for a Senior Research Associate to contribute to drug development by characterizing gene therapy vectors and developing analytical protocols. The ideal candidate should have a strong background in molecular biology with proven skills in RNA and DNA analyses, and must thrive in fast-paced environments.

Qualifications

• 2-5 years of relevant postgraduate research experience in an industry setting.
• Creativity with team collaboration for achieving milestones.
• Strong verbal/written communication and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Characterizing gene therapy vectors delivery efficiency.
• Developing and optimizing protocols for ddPCR/qPCR and NGS-based analytics.
• Preparing and analyzing samples for RNA and DNA.

Skills

CN/DG analysis

RNA expression analysis

ddPCR

qPCR

High-throughput methods

Data analysis

Slide preparation and presentation

Record-keeping

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor's or Master’s degree in biological sciences

Tools

Agilent Bravo

QIAGEN 96 kits

Illumina platforms

GraphPad Prism

Job description

The Gene Therapy group at SonoThera is seeking to hire a Senior Research Associate to become an integral part of the gene therapy drug development effort. We seek candidates who think critically and have the desire and ability to learn new techniques. This position requires adaptability and an ability to perform at a high level in a fast-paced environment. A qualified candidate will have broad technical experience in preparation of samples for RNA and DNA analyses. In this position, you will play an integral role in characterizing gene therapy vectors delivery efficiency in diverse preclinical models. You will develop and optimize protocols for ddPCR/qPCR and NGS-based DNA and RNA analytics including single cell analysis.

Technical Requirements and Skills:

• Proven track record of running CN/DG analysis (DNA extraction from animal tissues, ddPCR) and RNA expression analysis (RNA extraction from animal tissues, RT-qPCR, RT-ddPCR).
• Extensive experience developing and optimizing new ddPCR and qPCR assays, including primer/probe design and testing.
• Previous experience using high-throughput methods for DNA/RNA extraction and ddPCR setup including robotic liquid handlers (i.e. Agilent Bravo) and plate-based extractions (i.e. QIAGEN 96 kits).
• Experience in sample and library preparation for bulk-tissue RNA-seq, scRNA-seq, snRNA-seq.
• Experience in library sequencing using Illumina platforms (i.e. NextSeq2000).
• Experience in data analysis (i.e. GraphPad Prism), as well as slide preparation and presentation.
• Ideal candidate will have familiarity with ELNs (i.e. Benchling), qPCR, flow cytometry and cell sorting, Olink-based proteomics, MSD, protein isolation, Western blot, histology analysis.
• Strong record-keeping and organizational skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master’s degree in the biological sciences (e.g. Genetics, Biochemistry, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Physiology, or related field) with 2-5 years of relevant postgraduate research experience in an industry setting.
• Creativity and the ability to work within an interdisciplinary team to achieve technical and corporate milestones.
• Strong verbal and written communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.

Compensation: The salary range for this position is $95,000 to $120,000 USD annually. This salary range is an estimate, and the actual salary may vary based on various factors, including, without limitation, individual education, experience, tenure, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data, including potential adjustments for geographic location.