Sr. Research Associate

Sr. Research Associate: R&D
Location : Chicago, IL (in-person)
Compensation : $75K – $95K salary + 0.1% - 0.2%+ equity + benefits

BiomeSense is a start-up revolutionizing human gut microbiome sampling and analysis, driving discovery, and enabling the development of microbiome-based precision medicine. Our innovative approach integrates two core advancements: hardware that facilitates daily microbiome sampling, and AI-driven analytics to unlock biomarker discovery.
We are seeking a Senior Research Associate to join our Research and Development team. This is a unique opportunity to apply your technical skills and collaborative spirit in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. As part of our scientific team, you will help advance our automated sample processing workflows, supporting the foundation of our sample-to-answer multiomic platform technology.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, execute and optimize microbiology protocols supporting nucleic acid extraction, PCR, next-generation sequencing (NGS), in a high-throughput laboratory environment with a high degree of quality & reproducibility
• Collaborate closely with engineers, scientists, and product teams to validate and integrate novel systems for microbial DNA stabilization, extraction, and purification
• Manage end-to-end intake, processing and sequencing workflow for large quantities of partner samples, maintaining a strong focus on accuracy and efficiency, and process improvement
• Design and conduct experiments in a variety of technical fields, including but not limited to retiring technical risks for optimize laboratory protocols, contributing to ongoing process / tech improvement and research to support product innovation

• Maintain rigorous documentation practices without direct guidance; implement quality management systems (e.g., GLP, design controls) and regularly assess and recommend areas for improvement
• Effectively communicate experimental design, results and deviations / observations to cross-functional project teams, supporting the rapid advancement of platform technologies

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree + 3 years’ in biological sciences, bioengineering, or a related field
• Hands-on experience with core microbiology techniques, nucleic acid extraction, PCR, and NGS sample preparation
• Highly organized, proactive, and able to thrive in a collaborative, fast-paced setting
• Strong ownership and communication skills for clear reporting and knowledge-sharing with scientific and technical stakeholders