Merge Labs
Research Associate - Vector Core
$95K–$120K
San Francisco Bay Area · On-site · Full-time · Posted Jun 19, 2026
- Education
- BS, BA, or MS in a scientific, engineering, or related field.
About the job
Produces and quality-checks AAV vectors for preclinical testing while establishing and improving the lab’s vector core workflows.
What you'll do
- Run AAV production from mammalian cell culture and transfection through purification, concentration, aliquoting, and handoff.
- Perform vector QC assays and maintain accurate lot records, sample metadata, and process data.
- Coordinate production requests, manage inventories, follow and improve SOPs, and troubleshoot workflow issues.
What they ask for
- Hands-on experience with mammalian tissue culture and aseptic technique.
- Experience with AAV, lentivirus, biologics production, or another reproducible biological workflow requiring sample tracking.
- Practical molecular biology experience, such as plasmid preparation, cloning, PCR, and sequence verification.
- Experience running analytical or QC assays and maintaining structured sample, lot, and process records.
Nice to have
- Hands-on experience developing or engaging with automation workflows.
Pay
$95K – $120K USD base salary
Tools
AAV, ELN, LIMS, qPCR, SDS-PAGE, ddPCR
Model-written summary · the original posting is authoritative