Research Associate II - Technical Operations

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 to measure protein-protein interactions at scale with state-of-the-art machine learning to predict how proteins bind. We partner with leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to enable the discovery of antibodies, molecular glues, and other protein interaction-related drugs. In parallel, we use our wet-lab and computational platforms to discover and develop an internal pipeline of biologics and molecular glues to improve human health.

This role is not open to remote applicants and would require relocation to Seattle, WA.

Starting Salary Range: $75,000 - $88,000 annually

Exemption Status: Exempt

Location Expectations: Onsite

Reporting To: Manager II, Technical Operations

 

Role Description

At A-Alpha Bio, we’re on a mission to improve human health by unlocking the potential of protein-protein interactions – and we’re now seeking a Research Associate II to support execution of our yeast-based AlphaSeq platform for drug discovery and optimization.

In this role you will execute yeast transformations, matings, Next-Generation Sequencing, and cell sorting/analysis to support production of yeast libraries and interrogation of protein-protein interactions. As a teammate, you’ll work collaboratively to execute tasks in multiple workflows. The ideal candidate will have strong organizational skills, impeccable attention to detail, and an interest in executing screening assays at scale.  

Key Responsibilities

• Execute DNA library preparation and sequencing workflows for Oxford Nanopore Technologies and Illumina platforms.
• Perform cell sorting and flow cytometry.
• Perform yeast transformation and matings.
• Execute DNA library construction as assigned.
• Support development and optimization of standard operating procedures for existing and new experimental workflows.
• May contribute to project teams or execute project-related tasks.
• As requested, train new Research Associates.
• Develop foundational understanding of and executional expertise in Technical Operations methods.
• Perform other duties as assigned.  

Qualifications & Experience

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field with 2+ years of relevant postbaccalaureate laboratory experience in the biotechnology industry; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Proficiency in standard molecular biology techniques, including DNA extractions, quantitative PCR, Gibson assembly, and fragment analysis.
• Experience with multi-parametric flow cytometry.
• Experience in a high-throughput screening or manufacturing environment.
• Experience working within LIMS/ELN.
• Strong work ethic, good organizational skills, team orientation, and exquisite attention to detail.
• Flexibility in day-to-day schedule and willingness to work outside of standard hours when necessary, including weekends.  

Preferred

• Operator experience in a regulated environment (e.g., CLIA, cGXP).
• Hands-on experience with Illumina, ONT, and/or PacBio next-generation sequencing platforms.
• Experience with cell sorting.
• Experience using yeast as a model organism.
• Experience with Benchling platform.
• Experience using Lab Automation. 

We offer competitive compensation, including benefits, flexible time off, and equity in a fast-growing start-up. Applicants must have le