Senior/Staff Research Associate

Pendulum™; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 111,000 - 124,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

401(k) match

Equity

Flexible Time Off (FTO)

Commuter benefits

Job summary

Pendulum is seeking a Senior Research Associate to advance anaerobic probiotic strain production and quality control within our Product Development team. This role emphasizes aseptic technique, DASGIP bioreactors, and flow cytometry to drive product improvements and new developments.

You will work in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment, collaborating with diverse teams to design experiments, analyze data, and deliver robust results that advance our microbiome-focused therapeutics.

Qualifications

• BS or MS in microbiology or related field.
• 4+ years of post-graduate experience.
• Expert in aseptic techniques and anaerobic growth.
• Experience operating bioreactor systems (DASGIP) for fermentation.
• Expert in flow cytometry techniques for live/dead bacterial classification.
• Proficient in SOP development, documentation and tracking of lots.
• Comfort handling human and animal samples (stool, skin, blood).
• Strong data analysis, reporting and cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Independently operate DASGIP bioreactor systems for anaerobic probiotic fermentation.
• Lead and manage design of experiments for anaerobic fermentation.
• Run and analyze flow cytometry assays for strain quality control and process development.
• Become a subject matter expert in flow cytometry.
• Maintain rigorous aseptic and anaerobic techniques across lab work.
• Draft protocols and manage assay workflows across projects.
• Collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams on experimental design and data analysis.
• Stay current with literature on microbiology and probiotics.

Skills

Aseptic techniques

Anaerobic growth

DASGIP bioreactor

Flow cytometry

SOPs & documentation

Data analysis

Lab collaboration

Sampling handling

Education

BS in Microbiology or related field

MS in a relevant field

Tools

DASGIP Bioreactor

Flow cytometer

Job description

About Pendulum

Pendulum® is leading a revolution that is occurring around the world to improve physical and mental health by first understanding, then restoring and enhancing the human microbiome.

Studies have shown that our microbiome (the bacterial communities in and on our bodies) is linked to everything from metabolism and diabetes, to longevity, weight loss, healthy immune systems, cancer prevention, feelings of well-being, inflammatory bowel disease, and even healthy skin. We have just scratched the surface on understanding the impact that our microbiome has on our lives. During early life we develop a diverse and balanced microbiome that plays a critical role in shaping our long-term health.Over our lives, a combination of diet, lifestyle, antibiotics, and aging can decrease the effectiveness of our microbiome.

Pendulum recognized the enormous impact they could have on people’s lives if they were able to address the imbalances in the microbiome. To accomplish this, Pendulum created proprietary probiotic pipelines and a unique discovery platform to identify key, novel bacterial strains and the prebiotics that feed them. The company has also built and developed the world’s first manufacturing technology to produce bacteria in an anaerobic (oxygen-free) environment at scale.

The medical probiotics that Pendulum has formulated have transformed the consumer probiotics market into a new category of therapeutic offerings that deliver the power and efficacy of a pharmaceutical with the safety and accessibility of a natural probiotic. Due to Pendulum’s explosive revenue and customer growth over the last two years, the company earned a spot on Forbes Magazine’s exclusive “The Next Billion Dollar Startups” list.

If you’re interested in improving the lives of people globally and you love working in a cross-functional, collaborative, inspiring environment, please continue reading.

Position Summary

Pendulum is currently seeking a Senior Research Associate (or Staff Research Associate, depending on experience) to join our Product Development team. This role will carry significant responsibility across fermentation operations and flow cytometry workflows, supporting anaerobic probiotic strain production and strain quality control, along with other exploratory lab work. Strong aseptic and anaerobic techniques are core requirements. This role's work will directly support improvements to current products as well as the development of new products.

We’re looking for someone who’s energized by the pace and possibility of a fast-growing, mission-driven company. You thrive in a collaborative, nimble environment where ideas are shaped through iteration, feedback, and shared vision. You’re not just a big thinker—you’re also a creative problem-solver who knows how to make things happen with limited resources. If you're excited by the opportunity to help shape a young brand from the ground up, and passionate about building something with purpose, you'll feel right at home here.

What You'll Do

• Independently operate DASGIP bioreactor systems for anaerobic probiotic strain fermentation, including sterile setup, inoculation, and process monitoring
• Lead and manage design of experiments for anaerobic fermentation
• Run and analyze flow cytometry assays supporting strain quality control and process development, managing this work across multiple concurrent projects
• Become a subject matter expert in flow cytometry
• Execute rigorous aseptic and anaerobic technique across fermentation and general microbiology work
• Manage and organize assay workflows, draft protocols, and support day-to-day lab operations
• Work with cross-disciplinary teams on experimental design, execution, and data analysis
• Keep up-to-date on current scientific literature related to microbiology

Knowledge Requirements

• B.S. with 4+ years experience post graduation or MS graduate
• Expert in aseptic techniques used in microbiology and anaerobic growth of bacteria; expert in independently operating bioreactor systems (e.g., DASGIP) for fermentation
• Expert in in flow cytometry techniques used for live/dead bacterial cell classification
• Proficiency in basic anaerobic microbiology and sterile technique
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and be a fully contributing member of a multi-functional fast-paced team environment
• Experience developing/writing SOPs, documenting and tracking lot numbers, and using lab management systems
• Comfort (and preferably experience) in handling human and animal samples, including stool, skin and blood
• Detail oriented and organized, with good oral and written presentation skills
• Familiar with Microsoft office, Google apps, basic data analysis, and basic AI tools
• Experience with shelf-life and stability testing of live biotherapeutic or probiotic products (a plus)
• Familiarity with real-time and accelerated stability study design and execution (a plus)

Salary & Benefits

• $110,500 - $123,500
• Medical, Dental, and Vision
• Commuter Benefits
• Life & STD Insurance
• Company match on 401(k)
• Flexible Time Off (FTO)
• Equity