Research Associate II/Senior Research Associate Cell Line Development (Contract with benefits)

Prolific Machines is ushering in a new era of biotechnology with light. Our first-of-its-kind photomolecular platform delivers unprecedented control, precisely guiding cellular behavior when and where it matters most. Unlike existing tools used to control biology, our technology unlocks dynamic control over virtually any cellular function in any cell type. We're enabling partners to unlock robust efficiency, quality, reproducibility, and sustainability advantages across pharmaceuticals  and therapeutic proteins. Prolific is supported by leading investors, including Bill Gates’s Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Mayfield and SOSV.
Help us create a brighter tomorrow with biology. We're looking for mission-driven, talented, and kind people to join our team.

About this Job
We are seeking an experienced Research Associate II/Senior Research Associate to engineer and characterize recombinant CHO cell lines for production of therapeutic biologics. This role will directly support an exciting collaboration with the Gates Foundation leveraging optogenetics to reduce the cost of monoclonal antibodies and make them accessible to vulnerable populations in low- and middle-income countries. The position is a full-time, approximately 6-month contract expected to end around July 31st, 2025 with the possibility of extension or conversion to full-time employment.

Responsibilities

• Generate mammalian expression vectors for protein expression.
• Engineer stable CHO cell lines by site-specific or random integration for protein production.
• Culture suspension cell lines across multiple scales from multiwell plates to shake flasks.
• Characterize stable cell line growth, production, and stability.
• Perform optogenetic studies to identify perturbations that enhance cell line performance and productivity.
• Actively contribute to research including design and analysis of experiments.

About You

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in molecular biology, cell biology, or a related field.
• 3+ years of mammalian cell culture experience, with CHO cell line development desirable.
• Proficiency with basic molecular biology (cloning, plasmid preparation, qPCR) and cell culture techniques.
• Familiarity with FACS analysis and flow cytometry is a plus.
• Prior experience in optogenetics is not required. 
• Excited to work with a small multi-disciplinary team utilizing cutting-edge technology to innovate CHO cell biomanufacturing.

Diversity: We value diverse people, perspectives, and knowledge. To this end, we aim to foster a sense of belonging that enables everyone to bring their whole, authentic self to work everyday. We are committed to growing a diverse and inclusive team that encompasses all types of people. We believe this can only be achieved by acknowledging the ancestral, historic, and current systemic and communal inequities.
Location: The San Francisco Bay Area (Emeryville, CA)
Benefits: Paid company holidays, sick leave accruals, and 5 paid vacation days for the 6 month term. Stipend for health insurance coverage for self in enrolling through contracting agency. Free lunch and snacks every day!