Undergraduate Research Fellow

Research Associate I

Cambridge, MA (On-Site)

About the Team

The Laboratory Science team is where the work of biosurveillance begins. Samples arrive from partner sites across the country and go through concentration, extraction, molecular processing, and library prep before being sequenced and handed off to the computational team. Right now the lab is a small group of four Research Associates and Senior Research Associates, working closely together and increasingly cross‑trained so people can move fluidly between roles. It’s the kind of team where you learn quickly, get real ownership early, and see the impact of your work.

About the Role

We’re hiring a Research Associate I to help keep our sequencing pipeline running as we scale. Reporting to the Lab Operations Manager, you’ll spend most of your time on sample processing: receiving wastewater and nasal swabs, taking them through concentration and extraction, and helping move samples through the pipeline efficiently. You’ll also spend some time on the molecular side, supporting library prep and stepping in where the team needs extra capacity.

The lab is in the middle of an effort to bring sample turnaround time down from around fourteen days to as few as three, which means more volume, more coverage across the week, and more efficient movement between stages. This role adds capacity to that effort and builds redundancy into a small team. We’re also bringing lab automation online over the next few months, and this role will be part of that transition.

How You’ll Spend Your Time

Roughly three quarters of your time on sample processing: receiving wastewater and nasal swab samples, then taking them through concentration, extraction, and quantification.

The remainder supporting molecular processing and library prep, particularly on weekend days where a single shift can cut up to 24 hours out of end‑to‑end turnaround.

Document your work rigorously in our electronic laboratory notebook, follow SOPs carefully, and flag issues or suggest improvements.

Help keep the lab running day to day: clean, ready spaces and equipment, upkeep, calibration, service requests, and safety and compliance.

Manage reagent and consumable inventory alongside controlled sample handling: stock monitoring, reorders, deliveries, vendor coordination.

Maintain accurate metadata and sample tracking, and support clean, standardised handoffs to the next stage.

Troubleshoot workflow issues as they come up, escalating to senior staff where appropriate.

About the Schedule

This role is on‑site five days per week, with one of those days being either a Saturday or a Sunday, and a corresponding weekday off. Weekend coverage matters here: it lets us receive and begin processing samples on days the lab would otherwise be quiet, cutting significant time out of turnaround.

What We’re Looking For

Required

A Bachelor’s degree in a life sciences field, with 2+ years of hands‑on wet‑lab experience (academic experience counts).

Hands‑on experience with sample processing, PCR, and nucleic acid extraction and quantification.

Experience with data entry in an electronic laboratory notebook.

Demonstrated ability to follow laboratory protocols carefully and capture rigorous, organised notes.

Strong organisational skills, attention to detail, and a willingness to take on operational and lab upkeep tasks alongside the scientific work.

A proactive mindset: comfort speaking up, flagging issues, and suggesting improvements to workflows.

Ability to work collaboratively, take direction well, and communicate clearly across a small team.

Preferred

Some experience or familiarity working with RNA.

Exposure to short‑and/or long‑read sequencing workflows, including NGS sample processing and library preparation.

Experience working with viruses.

Familiarity with inventory, ordering, or sample tracking systems.

Experience with environmental or complex samples such as wastewater or nasal swabs.

Exposure to liquid handling automation or high‑throughput lab environments.

General awareness of metagenomic or pathogen surveillance applications.

Logistics and Benefits

Location: on‑site in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Schedule: five days per week on‑site, with one weekend day.

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