Location: Mountain View, CA
Salary: $71.00 USD Hourly - $81.00 USD Hourly
Description: Role Summary (Plain-English Overview)The
Research Associate - Strain Build role is a hands-on, lab-focused position centered on
designing, building, and validating engineered microbial strains to support internal research and partner projects. The role emphasizes
high-throughput molecular biology,
precision execution, and
close collaboration with scientists and engineers in a biomanufacturing environment.
This is not a purely academic role-it requires
industrial strain engineering experience, operational rigor, and comfort working within
SOP-driven, fast-paced workflows.
Core Responsibilities (Condensed)1. Strain Design & Planning- Translate high-level design objectives into:
- Construct maps
- Cloning/build strategies
- Plan multi-step strain engineering workflows
2. Strain Engineering & Molecular Biology- Execute and optimize advanced techniques:
- Gibson Assembly
- Golden Gate cloning
- CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing
- Genomic integrations
- Build engineered strains in E. coli and/or S. cerevisiae
3. High-Throughput Lab Execution- Perform:
- High-throughput cloning
- DNA prep
- Microbial transformations
- Maintain speed without sacrificing accuracy
4. Troubleshooting & Optimization- Diagnose failures in cloning or strain build pipelines
- Adjust protocols to meet project timelines
5. Data & Documentation- Maintain exceptional experimental records in:
- Benchling (or similar ELN/LIMS)
- Internal databases
- Ensure traceability and reproducibility
6. Process & SOP Improvement- Collaborate on:
- SOP refinement
- Workflow efficiency
- Reproducibility improvements
Must-Have Candidate Profile (What Hiring Teams Will Screen For)Education & ExperienceB.S. or M.S. in:
- Molecular Biology
- Bioengineering
- Microbiology
- Chemical Engineering
3+ years of industry experience in strain engineering (not purely academic)
Technical Skills (Non-Negotiable)- Microbial culturing (E. coli and/or yeast)
- Molecular cloning & DNA assembly
- Genome integration
- CRISPR-based editing
- High attention to detail and protocol discipline
Behavioral Traits- Strong troubleshooting mindset
- Comfortable with repetitive, high-throughput lab work
- Collaborative and documentation-driven
Preferred / Differentiating SkillsExperience with
lab automation- Liquid handlers (Agilent Bravo, Tecan)
- Automated plate readers
Broader microbial host experience
- Beyond E. coli / S. cerevisiae
Strong digital & bioinformatics fluency
- Benchling (advanced usage)
- Geneious or similar tools
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