Senior Research Associate

An exciting opportunity is available for a highly capable and motivated Research Associate 2 or Senior Research Associate to join Discovery Science at Altos Labs. We are seeking an outstanding experimentalist with strong technical depth in molecular biology, cell biology, and functional genomics who can operate with a high degree of independence and scientific rigor from day one.

In this role, you will be a key contributor to the development and execution of discovery platforms that support target identification, mechanistic studies, and therapeutic validation. You will work at the interface of cell engineering, perturbation screens, and translational model systems, generating high-quality data in a fast-paced and deeply collaborative environment.

This is an ideal opportunity for someone who thrives at the bench, takes ownership of complex workflows, solves technical problems proactively, and wants to help build next-generation approaches to reverse age-related disease.

Key Responsibilities

• Independently maintain, expand, characterize, and troubleshoot a broad range of mammalian cell culture systems, including immortalized and primary cell models.
• Design and execute molecular biology workflows including cloning, plasmid construction, nucleic acid preparation, and mRNA design/synthesis.
• Produce, optimize, and deploy viral delivery systems (including lentiviral and AAV platforms) and non viral systems (LNPs) for gene perturbation, expression, and cellular engineering studies.
• Perform CRISPR-based genome editing, pooled or arrayed perturbation workflows, and follow-up validation experiments.
• Develop, optimize, and execute robust cell-based assays, reporter systems, and phenotypic readouts.
• Maintain exemplary documentation practices in ELN systems and help establish scalable SOPs and laboratory best practices.
• Demonstrated high productivity and ability to complete work in a timely manner.

• BS or MS in Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Bioengineering, or a related discipline.
• 2+ years of relevant hands-on experience in biotech, pharma, or leading academic laboratories
• Proven strength in mammalian cell culture and execution of complex bench workflows with high reproducibility.
• Strong molecular biology experience, including cloning and nucleic acid-based assays.
• Demonstrated experience with viral transduction, gene delivery, and/or genome editing platforms.
• Ability to independently troubleshoot experiments, manage multiple priorities, and deliver high-quality work with speed and precision.
• Excellent organizational skills, clear communication, and strong ownership mentality.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with primary human cells, stem cell systems, organoids, ex vivo platforms or other advanced cellular models.
• Experience with functional genomics approaches such as CRISPR screens, Perturb-seq, or high-throughput perturbation platforms.
• Experience with single-cell and spatial omics platforms, including single-cell RNA-seq, single-nucleus RNA-seq, spatial transcriptomics, or related workflows.
• Experience synthesizing mRNA and corresponding delivery platforms. 
• Experience with flow cytometry, imaging, high-content screening, or automated cell analysis.
• Strong interest in aging biology, regenerative medicine, or mechanisms of cellular rejuvenation.
• Hands-on experience with ex vivo culture systems.

The salary range for Redwood City:

• Senior Research Associate: $109,200 - $140,000

Exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and location.

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