Research Associate II (Genomic Mechanisms)

Location: On-site at the hirify.global in Cambridge, MA, United States.

Salary: $58,000–$80,667 per year, depending on experience.

Company

Research position in the Neal Laboratory at the hirify.global's Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Genomic Mechanisms of Disease, working on Project Encore, an NIH-funded rare disease research project.

What you will do

• Culture, expand, and maintain mammalian cell lines; monitor cell health, perform lentiviral transduction, and help generate cells carrying barcoded variant libraries.
• Execute optical pooled screening workflows, including compound treatment, multiplexed immunostaining, in situ barcode sequencing, and automated fluorescence imaging.
• Assess cell preparation, staining, and image quality; document plate layouts, samples, reagents, experimental conditions, and protocol changes.
• Perform molecular cloning, DNA preparation, sequencing-based library quality control, secondary dose-response assays, and other cell-based follow-up experiments.
• Troubleshoot experimental variability, test protocol improvements, summarize findings, and contribute data and methods to scientific publications.
• Prepare reagents, maintain cell and sample inventories, track supplies, and support a safe, organized, collaborative laboratory.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in biology, molecular or cell biology, biochemistry, biotechnology, bioengineering, or a related field.
• Hands-on laboratory research experience, including mammalian cell culture and basic molecular biology; experience may come from undergraduate research, internships, or academic or industry laboratory employment.
• Careful experimental technique, strong attention to detail, and the ability to follow multistep protocols, maintain accurate records, and organize multiple experiments.
• Clear written and verbal communication, a collaborative approach, willingness to learn and troubleshoot new methods, and the ability to work independently after training while seeking guidance when needed.

Nice to have

• Experience with fluorescence microscopy, immunostaining, or automated imaging.
• Experience with compound screening, plate-based assays, or liquid-handling equipment.
• Experience with lentiviral transduction, cell line engineering, molecular cloning, or barcoded genetic libraries.
• Experience with in situ sequencing, multiplexed labeling, or other imaging-based molecular assays.
• Basic quantitative image analysis or data analysis using Fiji, CellProfiler, Python, or R; programming experience is not required.
• Prior optical pooled screening experience is not required.

Culture & Benefits

• Collaborative research environment with mentorship and career development support.
• Training in project-specific screening, staining, imaging, in situ sequencing, and BSL-2+ biosafety procedures for lentiviral work.
• Opportunities to develop skills in experimental design, troubleshooting, data interpretation, scientific communication, assay development, and follow-up studies.
• Potential authorship on resulting publications and mentorship for graduate or medical school applications.
• Two-year commitment preferred; start date is flexible and can be as early as possible.
• Benefits include medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, 401(k), FSA and HSA, paid holidays, winter closure, paid time off, parental and family care leave, and an employee assistance program.

Hiring process

• Submit a résumé or CV, contact information for two or three references including at least one research mentor, and a brief cover letter.
• Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.