Description
We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Senior Research Associate to join the Molecular Engineering team within the Genome Engineering Technology Center at Arc to support the routine execution of arrayed and pooled genetic perturbation screens in disease-relevant, human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived microglia.
In this position, you will facilitate core workflows across the team's genetic perturbation screening pipelines, including stem cell culture, HPC/microglia differentiation, and viral transduction. You will support a range of downstream screening and validation efforts, gaining broad exposure to the end-to-end pipelines that power the Institute's Alzheimer's Disease Initiative.
The ideal candidate will have experience and proficient skills in stem cell culture and functional characterization of perturbed cells, with expertise in implementing, running, and troubleshooting workflows with outstanding attention to detail.
Responsibilities:
- Execute routine stem cell culture and differentiation protocols.
- Conduct and optimize medium- to high-throughput lentiviral transduction-based experiments to introduce arrayed genetic perturbations into engineered cell lines.
- Leverage in vitro cell-based assays and molecular biology techniques to characterize the functional activity of genetically perturbed cells.
- Support the cross-functional execution of arrayed and pooled genetic perturbation screens for the Alzheimer’s Disease Initiative at Arc.
- Maintain careful records and organize materials and reagents with detailed tracking in our LIMS system.
- Troubleshoot and identify opportunities to improve existing protocols and platform capabilities.
- Analyze and present data at internal meetings and seminars.
Requirements:
- BS degree in relevant field with 4+ years of relevant experience, or MS degree in relevant field with 2+ years of relevant postgraduate experience.
- Relevant lab experience including demonstrated and proficient skills for stem cell and progenitor cell culturing and routine characterization.
- Experience running and analyzing flow cytometry experiments.
- Experience with LIMS systems, ideally Benchling.
- Detail-oriented with excellent organizational and time management skills.
- Strong oral and written communication skills.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience differentiating hPSCs into neural or immune lineages.
- Experience with plate-based or automation-compatible screening workflows.
- Familiarity with CRISPR-Cas9 or other genome editing or genetic perturbation techniques.
- Proficiency and experience with molecular cloning, virus production, and cell line engineering.
The base salary range for this position is $84,250 to $106,000.