Lab Research Analyst

Job Title:

Lab Research Analyst IJob Description

The Lab Research Analyst I is a hands-on laboratory scientist who supports the development of new vaccines and therapeutics by studying immune responses. This role focuses on receiving and processing samples from preclinical and clinical studies, performing complex immunology and molecular biology experiments, and generating high-quality data that informs vaccine research. The position requires meticulous bench work, consistent execution of detailed protocols, and close collaboration with scientists and laboratory leadership in a fast-paced, mission-driven research environment.

• Receive and process human, macaque, and mouse samples from vaccine studies and clinical trials, ensuring careful handling and accurate tracking of all specimens.

• Isolate, enrich, culture, and sequence B cells to evaluate antibody responses following immunization.

• Perform cell culture work, including establishing and maintaining primary cell cultures under defined conditions.

• Conduct molecular biology techniques such as nucleic acid extraction, RNA extraction, RT-PCR, PCR, qPCR, and related workflows to support immunology and vaccine research.

• Prepare samples for next-generation sequencing (NGS), following established protocols to preserve sample quality and integrity.

• Execute single-cell B-cell isolation and antibody gene sequencing workflows involving thousands of individual cell samples with a high degree of precision.

• Run immunological assays, including ELISA, bead-based immunoassays, immunofluorescence staining, and microscopy-based analyses to characterize immune responses.

• Utilize flow cytometry for cell sorting and analysis and contribute to data interpretation using tools such as Flow Jo and Graph Pad Prism where applicable.

• Support recombinant antibody production, purification, and quality control activities to generate high-quality reagents for research studies.

• Maintain detailed, accurate experimental documentation and electronic records, ensuring all work complies with standard operating procedures (SOPs) and laboratory quality standards.

• Collaborate closely with scientists, laboratory leadership, and support staff to achieve project milestones and meet regulatory and FDA-related timelines.

• Assist with general laboratory operations, including equipment upkeep, routine maintenance, reagent preparation, inventory control, and supply tracking.

• Follow rigorous contamination-control practices and execute repetitive, highly detailed laboratory workflows consistently to maintain data integrity.

• Work effectively with advanced robotics and sequencing equipment by adhering to established workflows and contributing to continuous process improvements.

• Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Immunology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Zoology, Botany, Psychology, or a closely related scientific discipline.

• Minimum of 2 years of laboratory research experience; a Master’s degree may substitute for this experience.

• Hands-on experience with cell culture and primary cell culture techniques.

• Proficiency in nucleic acid extraction, including RNA extraction.

• Practical experience performing RT-PCR, PCR, qPCR, and related molecular biology techniques.

• Experience running ELISA and/or bead-based immunoassays.

• Demonstrated ability to maintain detailed laboratory documentation and adhere to SOPs and quality standards.

• Strong foundation in immunology, vaccine, molecular biology, or antibody-focused laboratory environments.

• Proficiency in handling fragile biological samples and executing highly detailed, repetitive bench protocols with precision.

• High level of attention to detail, accuracy, and consistency in experimental execution and data recording.

• Comfort working with complex, multi-step workflows and maintaining sample integrity throughout the process.

• Experience with single-cell PCR and antibody sequencing workflows.

• Experience preparing samples for next-generation sequencing (NGS).

• Flow cytometry experience, including cell sorting and data analysis using Flow Jo.

• Experience with antibody repertoire analysis or immune profiling research.

• Exposure to…