Sr. Clinical Laboratory Associate

Job Description

Job Description

About Karius
Karius is a life science, venture-backed clinical metagenomics company, focused on elevating patient care through microbial insights. We are committed to advancing diagnostic science and technology to optimize the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases. Through the use of genomics and AI, we are driven to improve the diagnostic landscape for infectious diseases. Karius delivers unprecedented diagnostic insight detecting microbial cell-free DNA circulating in the body to assist physicians to make rapid treatment decisions.

Position Summary
The Sr. Clinical Laboratory Associate (Sr. CLA) is an enthusiastic, self-motivated individual with great communication skills. Along with the duties described below, this individual leads and organizes efforts around sample receiving and accessioning, performance of routine preventive equipment and instrument maintenance, and provides assistance in the performance of high complexity laboratory testing on patient specimens under the direct supervision of a CLS. The Sr. CLA must demonstrate an exceptional level of individual accountability and possess the ability to perform the requirements listed below. The Sr. CLA must be comfortable in a rapidly evolving Biotech start-up environment. 

Shift: Monday to Friday, 7:00 am to 3:30 pm

Why Should You Join Us?
Karius aims to conquer infectious diseases through innovations around genomic sequencing and machine learning. The company’s platform is already delivering unprecedented insights into the microbial landscape, providing clinicians with a comprehensive test capable of identifying more than a thousand pathogens directly from blood, and helping industry accelerate the development of therapeutic solutions. The products Karius offers today are some of the most advanced solutions available to physicians who aim to deliver better care to many otherwise ineffectively treated patients. Our tests are the result of some incredible work done by our scientists, statisticians, engineers, and physicians, all driven by the same mission. You, as part of the Karius team, will be able to see how directly your work has a life-changing impact on people, and at scale.

Reports to: Sr. Manager, Clinical Laboratory Operations

Location: Redwood City, CA

Primary Responsibilities

• Under supervision of licensed personnel, perform high complexity testing for commercial samples in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements and laboratory SOPs.
• For non-commercial or clinical study samples, perform routine molecular test procedures including specimen processing, nucleic acid extraction, quantitative analysis, PCR, library construction, sequencing, and data analysis.
• Support operational lab staff with sample receiving and accessioning per relevant standard operating procedures (SOPs); serve as primary point of contact with the customer support team to obtain information necessary to complete the accessioning process.
• Prepare samples for processing in accordance with good laboratory practices and established contamination control procedures.
• Operate high-throughput integrated automation workstations and utilize laboratory information management systems (LIMS) and other infrastructure software in the performance of job duties
• Coordinates directly with the procurement department to ensure reagents and materials are available, qualified, and supplied to the laboratory for optimal performance of daily workflow. 
• Assists in ordering and identification of alternative suppliers as necessary.
• Perform and document routine preventive maintenance for laboratory equipment and instruments.
• Support regulatory compliance through adherence to laboratory policies and procedures, and accurately document work performed.
• Author and revise laboratory SOPs with minimal direction, ensuring applicable regulatory requirements are reflected in controlled documents.
• Identify, escalate, and lead process improvement initiatives; monitor and report on post-implementation performance.
• Supports the coordination of daily CLA activities under the direction of the Supervisor.
• Serve as point trainer for assigned processes and procedures; coordinate with management to support competency assessments as appropriate.
• Perform additional duties as assigned by supervisory or laboratory leadership personnel.

What’s Fun About the Job?
Karius is operating at the edge of what is now known to be possible in diagnostics. With that, comes a wave of new and incredible challenges and opportunities. To deliver on that value, you will be tapping into some of the most advanced technologies, architecting and innovating where the current solutions simply don't suffice. You will get to see how much your work really matters.

Travel : No travel required.

Physical Requirements

• Hours and days may vary depending on operational needs
• Standing or sitting for long periods of time may be necessary.
• May be exposed to hazardous materials, blood specimens and instruments with moving parts, heating or freezing elements, and high speed centrifugation 
• Manual dexterity as repetitive manual pipetting may be necessary
• Some lifting (up to 25 pounds) may be necessary

Position Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Biological science or similar field required. 
• 5+ (five) years of clinical laboratory experience, with 4+ (four) years of pertinent industry experience and increasing levels of responsibility within a molecular biology laboratory
• Demonstrated ability to manage projects independently, or with minimal supervision.
• Prior experience with Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) preferred.
• Knowledge of aseptic techniques used in a microbiology laboratory is highly preferred.

Personal Qualifications

• Demonstrates personal accountability and ownership of assigned work and processes, consistently delivering results with quality, consistency, and attention to detail
• Proactively identifies, communicates, and escalates issues, risks, or deviations in a timely and transparent manner
• Adapts effectively to changing priorities and operational demands in a dynamic laboratory environment
• Demonstrates awareness of how individual responsibilities impact upstream and downstream laboratory operations
• Serves as a knowledgeable resource to peers, providing guidance and support to junior laboratory personnel
• Demonstrates curiosity and learning agility, seeking to understand laboratory processes beyond immediate scope and remaining open to feedback, coaching, and continuous skill development
• Maintains a collaborative, respectful, and team-oriented approach to daily operations 

Disclaimer
The above job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required. Responsibilities and duties may change or be adjusted to meet the needs of the company, and additional duties may be assigned as necessary. The job description is subject to change at any time at the discretion of Karius.

At Karius, we value a diverse and inclusive workplace and provide equal employment opportunities for all applicants and employees and are committed to honor and invest in the full diversity of people, in our hiring, recruiting and development of employees across the Company. All qualified applicants for employment are encouraged to apply and will be considered without regard to an individual’s race, color, sex, gender identity and gender expression (including transgender individuals who are transitioning, have transitioned, or are perceived to be transitioning to the gender with which they identify), religion, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local laws. If you are unable to submit your application due to a disability, please contact us at View email address on us.fitly.work and we will accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.