We are seeking a highly motivated Research Associate to join our biology team focused on developing and executing cutting-edge organotypic tissue culture experiments. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in mammalian cell culture, fluorescence imaging, and RNA extraction for sequencing. This position involves high-throughput workflows using 96-well Transwell plates.

The Research Associate will be responsible for performing barrier integrity assays, operating an epifluorescence microscope, and maintaining high-quality cell culture. This role requires comfort with primary cells, strict adherence to sterile technique, and the ability to work independently after training.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in biology or a related life sciences field

• At least 1 year of hands-on experience in a wet lab setting (academic or industry)

• Proven ability to maintain sterile technique and handle mammalian cell culture at 96-well scale

• Familiarity with fluorescence microscopy and RNA extraction and preparation techniques

• Excellent documentation and organizational skills
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with air-liquid interface (ALI) or Transwell-based cultures

• Familiarity with organoid cultures, Matrigel, or epithelial monolayers

• RNA-seq prep or downstream analysis experience

• Basic coding or data analysis using Excel, Python, or R

• Experience using Benchling and/or Asana
  

Essential Duties

• Maintain safe and aseptic technique in all workflows

• Culture and maintain primary cells in 2D and ALI systems

• Plate and manage high-throughput 96-well barrier assays

• Perform IF staining and live-cell imaging

• Extract and quantify RNA; perform basic library prep steps

• Maintain detailed lab notebook records and protocol revisions

• Troubleshoot experiments and independently execute assigned workflows after training

• Collaborate with senior scientists and provide input on experimental design
  

Other Responsibilities

• Participate in lab meetings and communicate results clearly

• Assist with reagent preparation and inventory tracking

• Contribute to protocol optimization and scaling efforts

• Engage with safety and compliance training as needed
  

Physical Demands

• Ability to work at a biosafety cabinet for extended periods

• Repetitive pipetting, especially in 96-well plate formats

• Occasionally moving lab supplies (up to 25 lbs)

We encourage you to apply, even if you don't feel like you satisfy every one of the requirements above.

About the Team

We’re a team of 7 (and growing!) on a mission to help people with chronic disease worldwide by changing the way drug discovery is done. We pride ourselves in being “amphibious,” with everyone building and learning at the intersection of wet lab (experiments) and dry lab (computation). We love good science, good food, and good puns. Are you in?

EEO Statement
Tessel Biosciences is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, marital status, or any other category protected by law.

Notice to Recruiters and Staffing Agencies
Tessel Biosciences does not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from candidates. Resumes will only be accepted from recruiters or agencies if a signed agreement for a specific job opening is in place at the beginning of the recruiting effort. Unsolicited resumes sent to Tessel from a recruiter or agency do not constitute any type of relationship between Tessel and the recruiter or agency, and they do not obligate Tessel to pay fees if Tessel hires from those resumes.