Research Associate - Target Discovery

Reference: 631855Posted: 2026-10-20Location: South San Francisco, CaliforniaCompany: Planet Pharma GroupContact: ApplicationsEmail: View email address on click.appcast.io Associate – Target DiscoveryAs a Research Associate, you will support experimental efforts to characterize novel cancer targets, with a strong foundation in mammalian cell culture. You will execute and help optimize experiments, generate high-quality data, and contribute to analysis and interpretation alongside a cross-functional team of scientists, computational biologists, and immunologists. The level of the role (RA vs. SRA) will be determined by experience.Responsibilities:

• Maintain, expand, and bank mammalian cell lines and primary cells using steriletechnique, including thawing, passaging, cryopreservation, and routine quality checks(e.g., mycoplasma testing).
• Execute target validation experiments using cell lines and primary human samples tosupport the identification of novel immunotherapy targets.
• Perform cell-based and protein assays (e.g., flow cytometry, ELISA, Western blot,protein quantification) and help optimize protocols and workflows.
• Analyze and visualize experimental data, and summarize results for review with thebroader team.
• Maintain detailed, organized records of experiments, reagents, and outcomes in anelectronic lab notebook.
• Contribute to general lab operations, including reagent preparation, inventory, andequipment upkeep.
• Present data at internal team meetings and contribute to the presentation of findings(slide deck, white paper, publication) as needed.Qualifications, Skills, Knowledge & Abilities:B.S. in immunology, molecular/cell biology, biochemistry, bioengineering, or a relatedfield, with hands-on laboratory experience in the areas below.Required:

Demonstrated hands-on experience with mammalian cell culture, includingaseptic technique and maintenance of multiple cell lines. Strong attention to detail, organization, and record-keeping. Excellent communication and collaboration skills with a demonstrated ability to workas part of a team. Eagerness to learn new techniques and take on increasing responsibility in a fast-paced startup environment.Preferred experience: ELISA and other immunoassays Western blotting Protein quantification assays (e.g., BCA, Bradford) Flow cytometry (e.g., antibody staining, panel setup, data analysis in FlowJo) Data analysis and visualization tools (e.g., Prism, Excel; R or Python a plus) Experience using electronic notebooks (e.g., Benchling)