Research Associate

Job Description

Research Associate I/II – Bioreactors

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Location: San Diego, CA

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Employment Type: Full-Time Contract

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Contract Duration: 6–12 months

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Work Arrangement: Fully onsite, five days per week

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BioPhase is seeking a Research Associate I/II with hands-on benchtop bioreactor experience to support an innovative company developing scalable bioprocesses for industrial applications.

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In this laboratory-based role, you will design, execute, analyze, and document fermentation experiments, primarily using bioreactors, with occasional work in shake flasks and 96-well plates. You will collaborate with scientists and engineers to optimize cultivation conditions, troubleshoot experiments, and turn early-stage methods into robust, reproducible workflows.

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The ideal candidate brings at least two years of relevant experience, strong experimental ownership, and the flexibility to contribute in a fast-moving startup environment.

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Key Responsibilities:

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• Design, execute, analyze, and document fermentation experiments in bioreactors, with occasional experiments using flasks and 96-well plates.
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• Conduct optimization studies, including media development, growth and productivity studies, and cultivation-condition screening.
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• Troubleshoot unexpected experimental results and communicate findings and proposed next steps.
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• Develop and refine standard operating procedures for new and existing laboratory workflows.
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• Prepare, sterilize, and optimize growth media, buffers, and reagents.
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• Perform routine cultivation analytics, including optical density measurements, growth monitoring, sampling, sample preparation, and sample submission.
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• Maintain accurate experimental records that allow others to reproduce methods and results.
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• Analyze and present experimental data clearly to colleagues and project teams.
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• Collaborate with scientists, engineers, and research associates to improve reproducibility, scalability, and process robustness.
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• Maintain laboratory organization, equipment readiness, and consumable inventory.
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• Follow laboratory safety, chemical hygiene, and responsible research practices.
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Required Qualifications:

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• Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry, Bioengineering, Microbiology, Chemical Engineering, or a related field.
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• At least two years of relevant laboratory experience.
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• Strong hands-on experience operating benchtop bioreactors for cell culture or fermentation.
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• Experience independently designing, executing, and troubleshooting optimization experiments, such as media development or growth studies.
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• Proficiency with aseptic technique, media and buffer preparation, and routine laboratory analytics.
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• Strong attention to detail, organization, and experimental documentation.
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• Ability to clearly communicate experimental results and scientific insights.
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• Ability to work collaboratively and adapt to evolving priorities in a startup environment.
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• Availability to work fully onsite in San Diego, five days per week, for the contract duration.
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• Authorization to work for any employer in the United States.
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Preferred Qualifications:

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• Experience with high-throughput cultivation, microtiter-plate workflows, and associated data handling.
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• Experience scripting or automating bioreactor operations, including feed schemes, cascades, setpoint profiles, event triggers, and design-of-experiments (DoE) campaigns.
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• Experience using Python, R, or JMP for data analysis.
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• Familiarity with electronic laboratory notebooks, laboratory information management systems (LIMS), or inventory systems.
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