Research Associate, LNP Formulation

Job Description

Job Description

Kelly® Science & Clinical is seeking a Research Associate, LNP Formulation for a 3-month contract opportunity with one of our clients, a biotechnology company in South San Francisco focused on extending human health span. If you’re passionate about bringing the latest scientific discoveries to life and are ready to take the next step in your career, trust The Experts at Hiring Experts.
Position type: 3-month contract
Workplace: Onsite in South San Francisco, CA
Pay Range: $43 - 48.00 per hour
Overview
We are looking for a dynamic, driven Senior/Research Associate to join our pioneering Delivery Sciences team and help shape the future of nucleic acid therapeutics. This is an exciting opportunity to work at the forefront of lipid nanoparticle (LNP) development, where your expertise will directly impact the advancement of transformative gene-editing and reprogramming technologies.
What You’ll Achieve

• Design, formulate, and optimize lipid nanoparticles for delivering nucleic acids across a spectrum of in vitro and preclinical models, translating fundamental science into real-world impact.
• Collaborate closely with multidisciplinary Epigenetic Editing and Product teams (Immunology, Metabolism, Vascular) to innovate reprogramming therapeutics and scale up LNP solutions from proof-of-concept to production.
• Develop and refine LNP compositions, purification protocols, and analytical workflows; establish robust, reproducible methodologies to ensure seamless production for a rapidly growing pipeline.
• Anticipate future needs—proactively plan for formulation innovations, material sourcing, and lab readiness to support ambitious research and development initiatives.
• Bring clarity to complex biological data: interpret, present, and leverage insights to drive strategic decision-making across Delivery Science and Preclinical Development.
• Uphold the highest standards of scientific record-keeping in an Electronic Laboratory Notebook (ELN)—ensuring traceable, reproducible experiments.

Who You Are

• Hold an MS in Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or a related discipline, with 2+ years of relevant industry experience—or possess equivalent hands-on expertise.
• Experienced in designing and assembling LNPs using a range of lipid chemistries and mixing technologies for nucleic acid delivery.
• Skilled in purification processes, including dialysis, tangential flow filtration (TFF), ultracentrifugation, and sterile filtration.
• Expert in LNP characterization, leveraging analytical technologies such as DLS, LC-UV/CAD, CGE, fragment analysis, osmolality, MALS, ELISA, and fluorescence-based plate assays.

Bonus Skills

• Experience advancing drug products through preclinical or clinical development, particularly in nucleic acid delivery.
• Specialized knowledge in liver biology or targeted LNP delivery to hepatocytes.
• Familiarity with bioconjugation, surface modifications, or engineering LNPs with targeting moieties for cell type specificity.
• Proficient in data visualization and statistical analysis tools (R, Python), enabling impactful communication and data-driven innovation.

Once you apply, you’ll proceed to the next steps if your skills and experience look like a good fit. But don’t worry – even if this position doesn’t work out, you’re still in our network. That means our team of expert Science & Clinical recruiters will have access to your profile, making your opportunities limitless.
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As part of our promise to talent, Kelly supports those who work with us through a variety of benefits, perks, and work-related resources. Kelly offers eligible employees voluntary benefit plans including medical, dental, vision, telemedicine, term life, whole life, accident insurance, critical illness, a legal plan, and short-term disability. As a Kelly employee, you will have access to a retirement savings plan, service bonus and holiday pay plans (earn up to eight paid holidays per benefit year), and a transit spending account. In addition, employees are entitled to earn paid sick leave under the applicable state or local plan. Click here for more information on benefits and perks that may be available to you as a member of the Kelly Talent Community.

Why Kelly® Science & Clinical?

Kelly Science & Clinical is your connection to premier scientific and clinical companies looking to hire industry experts just like you. Our team creates expert talent solutions to solve the world’s most critical challenges. Every day, we match science professionals with dream jobs that fit their skills, interests, and career goals-it’s the way we think job searching should be. Nearly 100 percent of our science recruiters have a professional background and education in science, so we know a thing or two about the science market and how to get your expertise noticed.

About Kelly

Work changes everything. And at Kelly, we’re obsessed with where it can take you. To us, it’s about more than simply accepting your next job opportunity. It’s the fuel that powers every next step of your life. It’s the ripple effect that changes and improves everything for your family, your community, and the world. Which is why, here at Kelly, we are dedicated to providing you with limitless opportunities to enrich your life-just ask the 300,000 people we employ each year.

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