Research Associate – Cell Biology & Assay Specialist

Position: Research Associate I – Cell Biology & Assay Specialist| Full time |
About the Role   We are seeking a highly disciplined   Research Associate I (RA)   to lead the mammalian cell culture operations of our boutique CRO. This role is at the heart of our mission: providing high-fidelity, reproducible data to elite international biotech startups.
You will be responsible for the health, maintenance, and experimental manipulation of the cell lines that drive our clients' discovery programs. You will work directly with our Scientist to execute potency assays, transfections, and mechanism-of-action studies that define the next generation of mRNA and LNP therapeutics.

Key Responsibilities   1. Aseptic Cell Culture & Banking (50%)
Maintenance:
Primary responsibility for the daily health, passaging, and expansion of various mammalian cell lines (e.g., HEK
293, CHO, HeLa, and primary cells).
Cell Banking:
Establish and maintain Master and Working Cell Banks (MCB/WCB), ensuring long-term viability and sterility in liquid nitrogen storage.
Contamination Control:
Strictly enforce BSL-2 aseptic protocols to ensure a 0% contamination rate; conduct routine Mycoplasma and sterility screening.
2. Cell-Based Assay Execution (30%)
Potency & Efficacy:
Execute high-precision dose-response assays (IC50/EC50) to evaluate the biological activity of client-provided molecules.
Engineering:
Perform transient transfections (plasmid, mRNA, or RNP) and antibiotic-based selection for stable cell line generation.
Reporter Assays:
Run pathway-specific luciferase and fluorescence reporter assays to provide "Proof of Mechanism" data.
3. Documentation & Data Acquisition (15%)
Data Collection:
Operate the   LUNA II automated cell counter  ,   Inverted Fluorescence Microscope  , and   Multi-mode Plate Reader   to capture primary experimental results.
Record Keeping:
Maintain a meticulous electronic lab notebook (ELN) with detailed logs of cell passage numbers, media batches, and experimental observations.
4. Lab Stewardship (5%)
Inventory:
Monitor and restock all cell culture-related consumables (FBS, specialized media, serological pipettes).
Equipment Care:
Perform routine maintenance and calibration checks for CO2 incubators and Biological Safety Cabinets.

Required Qualifications

Education:

MSc or

B.Tech/M.Tech in Biotechnology, Cell Biology, or Biochemistry.
Hands-on

Experience:

1–3 years of intensive mammalian cell culture experience in a CRO or industrial R&D setting.
Technical Proficiency:
Demonstrated mastery of aseptic technique.

Experience with transfection methods (Lipofectamine, Electroporation, etc.).
Proficiency in multi-well plate-based assays (96-well and 384-well formats).
Language:
Strong professional English (written and verbal) for internal protocol review and documentation.