Senior Research Associate - R&D

A-Alpha Bio is an early-stage and rapidly-growing drug discovery company headquartered in Seattle, WA. We are enabling the next generation of high-impact therapeutics by combining high-throughput synthetic biology with state-of-the-art machine learning. We partner with leading pharma and biotech companies to enable the discovery of antibodies, molecular glues, and other protein interaction-related drugs. In parallel, we use our AlphaSeq technology internally to build a Biologics Pipeline for clinical development and/or asset licensing opportunities.
This role is not open to remote applicants and would require relocation to Seattle, WA.
Starting Salary Range: $86,000 - $101,000
Exemption Status: Exempt
Location Expectations: Onsite
Role Description
We are seeking a cellular biologist to join our Discovery Research team and establish our in vitro drug candidate functional characterization capabilities. The role will encompass working with various primary and transformed cell lines, including human PBMC, mouse splenocytes, and reporter cell lines. Assay development responsibilities will utilize common techniques such as flow cytometry, RNAseq, and and ELISAs. Similar techniques will be applied to ex vivo analyte analysis. This position reflects a highly dynamic biotech startup environment with a central role in establishing our pharmacology capabilities and enabling our therapeutic aspirations. Expertise in primary cell culturing and flow cytometry strategies will be required. The ideal candidate will be capable of operating independently, possess strong organizational skills, and enjoy the startup setting.
Responsibilities

• Perform general tissue culture good practice.
• Execute program-dependent assay identification via literature or commercial sources.
• Participate in cellular assay development.
• CRO interactions and sample management.
• Contribute to data archiving in electronic notebook systems.
• Present experimental work at cross-functional program team meetings.

Qualifications
Required

• Bachelor's degree in a life science with 4+ years of industry in vitro assay development experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Extensive flow cytometry background using primary human and mouse immune cells.
• Experience with 96 well plating schemes enabling large hit panel screens.
• Experience with transient mammalian target transfections.
• Experience with ELISA and other fluorescent-based analyte quantification assays.
• Demonstrated assay troubleshooting skills.
• Experience with protein and cell handling.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to interact with groups in dynamic startup team settings.

Preferred

• Proficiency in biolayer interferometry assays utilizing Octet/Gator BLI systems.
• Solid immunology background.
• Experience with assay miniaturization or high-throughput optimization.

We offer competitive compensation, including benefits and equity in a fast-growing start-up. Applicants must have legal authorization to work in the United States.
About A-Alpha Bio
A-Alpha Bio is an early-stage biotechnology company combining synthetic biology and machine learning to dramatically improve the discovery of high-impact therapeutics. We believe that abundant high-quality data is critical for understanding biology and curing disease - and synthetic biology is our catalyst. Our proprietary AlphaSeq platform uses genetically engineered cells to quantitatively measure millions of protein interactions - from which we generate high-resolution models of biology.
In 2018, we spun out of the University of Washington's Institute for Protein Design and Center for Synthetic Biology - both fantastic communities of brilliant and highly entrepreneurial scientists. Since the company's inception, we have focused on partnering with pharmaceutical companies to discover and optimize drugs for therapeutic areas ranging from infectious disease to cancer. We are growing rapidly, and new members of the team should expect a fast-paced and highly dynamic work environment. We are building a diverse, meritocratic, and supportive team that shares our values of speaking the truth, shooting for the moon, taking the reins, playing for the team, and improving the world.
A-Alpha Bio is headquartered in a brand-new combined office/lab space in downtown Seattle's Belltown neighborhood. While the startup lifestyle occasionally requires grueling hours, we strongly value the need for a work-life balance and time out of the lab/office. We are fortunate to be situated in a region that is renowned for its premier outdoor activities, including hiking, biking, climbing, skiing, kayaking, and sailing. At A-Alpha, you'll find many who love the outdoors, but also gamers, amateur chefs, explorers, sports fans, bakers, crafters, photographers, brewers, jetsetters, animal lovers, and artists. Whatever your passions, you belong at A-Alpha Bio.