Research Associate, Protein Science, Cell- Expression

Position: Research Associate, Protein Science, Cell-Free Expression
Your Impact at LILA

Lila is seeking a dedicated and skilled Research Associate, Protein Sciences to join our high through-put Cell-Free Expression platform. As a Research Associate, you will play a vital role in our interdisciplinary research efforts focused on building and automating artificial intelligence-driven processes across a variety of valuable applications.

What You'll Be Building

• Development and refinement of cell-free expression systems for efficient protein synthesis.
• Optimize conditions for high-yield and high-quality protein production
• Prepare media and solutions for cell culture and processing
• Perform molecular cloning, mutagenesis, and other genetic manipulation for strain development.
• Demonstrate proficiency in operating and utilizing liquid handlers and robotic systems for automated laboratory processes.
• Collaborate with biologists, machine learning scientists, software developers, and other engineers to develop and optimize AI-driven processes.
• Track and maintain excellent data records in formats amenable to computational workflows.
• Analyze and interpret experimental data, prepare technical reports, and present findings to internal teams and stakeholders.

What You'll Need to Succeed

• A bachelor's or master's degree in biochemistry, molecular biology, biotechnology, biological engineering, chemical engineering, or a related field.
• 1-3 years of laboratory experience
• Experience with cell culture techniques, including growth, maintenance, and transformation, across a variety of cell lines
• Familiarity with plate-based assays
• Excellent attention to detail, organization, and communication

Bonus Points For

• Skilled in cloning, expression and optimization of protein
• Data analysis using relevant software (Python, R, or similar)
• Scripting for automation platforms

Compensation

We offer competitive base compensation with bonus potential and generous early-stage equity. Your final offer will reflect your background, expertise, and expected impact.

U.S. Benefits. Full-time U.S. employees receive a comprehensive benefits program including medical, dental, and vision coverage; employer-paid life and disability insurance; flexible time off with generous company wide holidays; paid parental leave; an educational assistance program; commuter benefits, including bike share memberships for office based employees; and a company subsidized lunch program.

International Benefits. Full-time employees outside the U.S. receive a comprehensive benefits program tailored to their region. USD salary ranges apply only to U.S.

-based positions; international salaries are set to local market.

Expected Base Salary Range

$72,000-$96,000 USD

About LILA

Lila Sciences is building Scientific Superintelligence™ to solve humankind's greatest challenges. We believe science is the most inspiring frontier for AI. Rather than hard-coding expert knowledge into tools, LILA builds systems that can learn for themselves.

LILA combines advanced AI models with proprietary AI Science Factory™ instruments into an operating system for science that executes the entire scientific method autonomously, accelerating discovery at unprecedented speed, scale, and impact across medicine, materials, and energy. Learn more a.ai.

Guided by our core values of truth, trust, curiosity, grit, and velocity, we move with startup speed while tackling problems of historic importance. If this sounds like an environment you'd love to work in, even if you don't meet every qualification listed above, we encourage you to apply.

We're All In

Lila Sciences is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status.

Information you provide during your application process will be handled in accordance with our Candidate Privacy Policy.

A Note to Agencies

Lila Sciences does not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than candidates. The submission of unsolicited resumes by recruitment or staffing agencies to Lila Sciences or its employees is strictly prohibited unless contacted directly by Lila Science's internal Talent Acquisition team. Any resume submitted by an agency in the absence of a signed agreement will automatically become the property of Lila Sciences, and Lila Sciences will not owe any referral or other fees with respect thereto.