Senior Research Associate, Biobank

Job Title:
Senior Research Associate, Biobank

Company: SRT Therapeutics

Reports to: Director of Computational Biology, R&D

Pay Range: $72,000-$118,000

SRT Therapeutics is a San Diego-based biotech company established in 2024 by the founders of Prometheus Biosciences, Steph Targan, MD (Cedars Sinai), Janine Bilsborough, Ph.D. (Cedars Sinai), the scientific team that discovered Tulisokibart (MK7240) and the role of TL1A in IBD and Scott Glenn and Lauren Otsuki, the drug development team that took Tulisokibart (MK7240) from academia into the clinic. Building on the demonstrated success of the precision medicine approach in IBD with Tulisokibart, SRT Therapeutics will expand this approach by targeting key pathways that not only modulate inflammatory pathways, but also promote tissue healing in IBD.

This strategy will move SRT Therapeutics beyond the current empirical treatment model to realize the goal of enhancing both outcomes and the quality of care for our patients.

We are seeking a dynamic and highly motivated Senior Research Associate (SRA) to join our biobanking team. This is a hands-on role where you will be responsible for the entire lifecycle of biobank specimens and operations, including receipt, accessioning, assay development, processing, and analysis. The core of this role is multimodal data generation, including next generation sequencing (NGS), cell based assays, and imaging.

We need an individual who excels at the "bench-level" challenge of deriving actionable, high-quality multi-modal data from a broad range of challenging specimens. You will be the point person for optimizing the extraction of nucleic acids and proteins from our most difficult and precious samples, including rare cell types and archival tissues. Your work will serve as the foundation for our precision medicine approach and will require a mix of technical rigor and a scrappy, solution-oriented mindset to extract maximal value from every specimen.

• Sample Management: Receive, accession, and process human and model organism specimens (blood, saliva, fresh, frozen, and archival tissues, among others).
• Sample Processing: Optimize preservation and processing workflows to isolate high-quality nucleic acids and proteins from challenging samples including FFPE, OCT, and rare cell populations. Purify and bank human blood derived specimens.
• Assay Execution & Development: Develop, run, and scale NGS and other molecular assays, including qPCR, bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing, DNA sequencing, and proteomic analysis.
• Quality & Integrity: Maintain the biobank’s integrity through rigorous adherence to SOPs, meticulous process and QC data capture, and strict chain-of-custody management.
• Operational Logistics: Manage LIMS data entry, coordinate biobank operations with internal scientists, external suppliers, and CROs, and assist with off-site backup storage.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with functional biomarker and computational biology teams to translate raw samples into high-fidelity data.

• Experience: 5+ years of hands-on laboratory experience in biobanking, cell biology, or molecular biology, with a focus on NGS assays including single cell and spatial (Master’s degree preferred, or Bachelor’s with significant industry experience).
• NGS Expertise: Broad and deep experience in NGS library preparation, sequencing, and assay development. Familiarity with Illumina platforms and high-throughput formats (96/384-well) is essential.
• Advanced Extractions: Proven track record of successfully extracting high‑quality nucleic acids and cells from difficult samples including archival tissue, low‑input samples, and rare cell types.
• Technical Proficiency: Professional experience with LIMS, sample management software, and automated liquid handling systems.
• Precision & Rigor: A quality‑first mentality with experience developing and working under SOPs and capturing detailed QC data.
• Communication: Ability to clearly communicate complex processes and findings to both internal stakeholders and external partners.

• Experience designing and running multicolor flow cytometry panels.
• Prior experience in a startup or fast‑paced biotech environment.
• Knowledge of biomarker discovery and common bioinformatics tools.