Senior Research Associate

Job Description

Job Description

Exthymic is an early-stage deep-tech startup on a mission to prevent millions of cancer deaths by making curative cell therapies widely accessible. Our platform enables the manufacturing of patient-specific treatments at the point of care. Led by experienced industry pioneers, we blend hardware, software, and biochemical engineering to disrupt the status quo and democratize life-saving therapies. Join us to solve complex challenges and drive global healthcare innovation.

About You

You are a motivated, detail-oriented Senior Research Associate with a passion for building tools that accelerate life-saving cancer treatments.

The Senior Research Associate thrives in a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment and is eager to contribute to a mission-driven team and embody a balance of scientific rigor, organizational skills, time management, and an eagerness to support the development of chemical and biochemical tools for cell therapy production and selection.

Have hands-on laboratory experience across multiple disciplines and a proven track record of contributing to R&D teams, coordinating with the facilities & lab operations manager to maintain lab functions, and translating experimental needs into well-documented processes.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct hands-on lab work and support chemical/biochemical tool development—work at the bench to develop, test, and refine chemical and biochemical tools used in the manufacturing and selection of cell therapies. This includes reviewing and testing designed protocols and reagent preparations, optimizing workflows and consumables for sample preparation, and ensuring that every experimental process is documented, reproducible, and ready for integration into broader manufacturing or selection pipelines.
• Maintain lab operations and research records—Lab management at Exthymic depends on rigorous documentation and organization. Assist in the maintenance of R&D records, including database management, batch records, notebooks, and all other technical documentation. You will also help manage lab reagents, biosamples, specialized equipment, and lab spaces in direct support of R&D goals.
• Partner with scientists to enable experimental designs and drive solutions—Be embedded with the Bioware team and cross-functional research groups to co-design experiments, execute feasibility, optimization, validation, and verification studies, and propose scientific and technical solutions when project obstacles arise. You understand that good science requires collaboration, and you know how to facilitate that effectively.
• Collaborate across teams to enable R&D—Work closely with scientists within Bioware, cross-functional research teams, and operations and manufacturing teams. You are a connector — someone who keeps projects moving by making sure the right people, reagents, and protocols are in place when needed.

Requirements

Qualifications

• Scientific degree (BSc or MSc) in a relevant field such as biology, biochemistry, or chemistry, or possesses directly relevant industry experience.
• Hands-on laboratory skills across at least 3 of the following: Synthetic Chemistry, Surface Chemistry, Biochemistry / Protein Engineering, Cell Culture and Cell-Based Assays, Microscopy, or Protein Expression, Purification, and Functional Validation.
• Demonstrated experience in biological sample preparation and handling, including surface preparation and working with human samples and biofluids/tissues.
• Proven ability to collect, analyze, interpret, and present data in a rigorous environment, including developing and documenting research protocols to optimize assays or workflows.
• Strong data acquisition, analysis, and experimental tracking skills with reliable attention to detail.
• Lab management experience, including reagent inventory, biosample handling, and equipment maintenance.
• Team player; collaborative, transparent, and mission-driven.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with imaging techniques, cell sorting, antibody-based assays, or cell-based assay development.
• Background in cancer biology, cell therapeutics, GMP, neurobiology, microbiology, virology, immunotherapies, or autoimmune research.
• Industry laboratory R&D experience.
• Experience executing and summarizing verification, validation, and guard banding studies.
• Proficiency using AI tools to accelerate lab workflows or data analysis is a plus.

Benefits

Competitive salary and benefits package, including Medical, Dental, Vision, and 401k match.

Salary Range: $70,000 - $95,000, commensurate with experience

Benefits: We offer our employees comprehensive benefits, including medical, vision, and dental coverage, as well as retirement savings plans. Optional benefits include accident and term life offerings.

Equal Employment Opportunity: Exthymic Corporation is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age (40 and over), disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, military or veteran status, reproductive health decision-making, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. We comply with all applicable equal employment opportunity laws and will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities throughout the application and employment process.

Agencies: We work directly with candidates and do not accept unsolicited resumes or referrals from recruitment agencies, search firms, or staffing companies. Any resumes submitted by an agency without a signed agreement in place will be considered the property of Exthymic and no fee will be owed. If you are interested in partnering with us on a future search, please contact our HR team directly.