Research Associate, DNA & Strain Construction (Contractor)

Our mission at Asimov is to advance humanity's ability to design living systems, enabling biotechnologies with outsized benefit to society. We're developing a mammalian synthetic biology platform––from cells to software––to enable the design and manufacture of next-generation therapeutics.

We are looking for a highly motivated Research Associate I to join our DNA & Strain Construction (DNASC) team on a contract basis, with the potential for full-time hire after six months. In this role, you will support our high-throughput molecular biology pipeline, contributing to the efficient cloning, assembly, and sequencing of DNA constructs. You will gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge molecular biology techniques, automation, and process optimization while working in a dynamic synthetic biology environment.

About the Role:

• Perform high-throughput cloning workflows, including PCR, Gibson Assembly, and Golden Gate Assembly to construct plasmids.
• Operate liquid handlers (e.g., Echo, Bravo, Hamilton STAR), run the MiSeq for NGS, and utilize other automation tools for NGS library preparation and molecular cloning.
• Conduct PCR, Golden Gate or Gibson Assembly, plasmid purification, and sequencing prep to validate DNA constructs.
• Maintain accurate sample tracking and documentation in LIMS to ensure data integrity and reproducibility.
• Assist with large-scale plasmid preparations (LSPs) to support internal and external projects.
• Collaborate with scientists and other RAs to troubleshoot workflows and improve efficiency.
• Follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) and contribute to continuous process improvements.
• This role will begin as a full-time, 6 month contract. Dependent on business needs, there is potential for the contract to be extended or converted into a permanent position.

About You:

• B.S. in Biology, Biochemistry, Bioengineering, or a related field (recent graduates encouraged to apply).
• Hands-on experience with molecular cloning techniques (PCR, restriction digestion, ligation, transformation, and plasmid purification).
• Familiarity with DNA assembly methods (Golden Gate, Gibson) and bacterial culturing techniques.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced lab environment, following protocols, and maintaining detailed records.
• Experience with automated liquid handlers (Echo, Bravo, Hamilton STAR) or NGS workflows is a plus.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to work independently or as part of a team.

We're fueled by a vision to transform biological engineering into a fully-fledged engineering discipline. Should you join our team, you will grow with a constantly evolving organization and push the frontiers of synthetic biology. Company culture is key to Asimov, and ours is a culture of recombination; we believe that our mission can only be achieved by bringing together a diverse team with a mixture of backgrounds and perspectives.