Research Associate II/III, Biology
Prolific Machines
Emeryville, United States
November 03, 2025
Apply NowResearch Associate II/III, Biology
Emeryville, California
Research & Development – General Biology /
Full-Time /
On-site
is ushering in a new era of biotechnology with light. Our mission is to make next-generation therapies broadly available to patients. Our first-of-its-kind Photomolecular Platform uses light to precisely guide how cells produce complex biologics, enabling higher titers, improved quality, and faster development timelines. By helping partners overcome today’s manufacturing bottlenecks, we’re accelerating the delivery of life-changing medicines. 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.
We are looking for a highly motivated and detail-oriented RA II or Sr. RA to drive mammalian cell culture-based protein production workflows at Prolific. We are a team of scientists using light to control the expression of biotherapeutic proteins, increasing titer and improving quality attributes. We are rapidly expanding our capabilities in mammalian cell line engineering, stable cell line generation, and driving production runs to produce therapeutic proteins. You will be instrumental in optimizing and executing cell line development and protein production which will support multiple projects. Your responsibilities will include maintenance and engineering of mammalian suspension cell lines (including CHO), handling, seeding, and sampling runs for protein production, and contributing to downstream readouts such as Octet BLI, flow cytometry, and metabolite measurements (such as Nova). Your knowledge of mammalian cell line development techniques, combined with your attention to detail and motivation to learn will make you highly effective in this role. The ideal candidate for this role is energized by hands-on technical work and takes pride in owning and refining routine cell line generation processes for high quality results. You’ll get to work cross collaboratively with team members in optogenetics, synthetic biology, cell line development, hardware engineering, bioprocessing, and data science disciplines to establish cell lines crucial to Prolific’s success. This is a unique position and opportunity to drive cell culture workflows in an exciting startup setting. You’ll be provided with room for technical growth and receive mentorship to help you succeed. This role is based on-site in our headquarters in Emeryville, CA.
Responsibilities
- Owning and driving workflows using mammalian cell culture, primarily working with suspension HEK and suspension CHO
- Serving as the primary technical owner of many genetically distinct cell lines at once
- Handling protein production workflows at different scales - deep well plates and shake flasks, potentially including small scale bioreactors such as the Ambr system
- Executing downstream readouts such as cell counting (Celleca, nucleocounter), metabolite measurements (Nova), Octet BLI, flow cytometry
- Performing single cell isolation using methods such as FACS, cell deposition, or Beacon
- Executing plasmid cloning and molecular biology techniques including PCR and ddPCR
- Conducting experiments independently, collecting and analyzing data in a timely manner, maintaining detailed documentation in electronic lab notebooks, and data visualization and presentation in team meetings
About You
- Hold a Bachelor's degree with 3+ years of relevant industry experience or a Master's degree with 1+ years of relevant experience. Various levels will be considered depending on the candidate's specific experience, knowledge, and skill set.
- Highly proficient in mammalian cell culture, preferably with experience in cell line development, and are well versed in sterile technique, transfection, and clone isolation
- Comfortable with readouts such as cell counting, metabolite measurement, Octet BLI and flow cytometry
- Comfortable with developing and proposing experimental plans, conducting experiments, and troubleshooting analytical techniques and methodologies
- Proficient in precisely following protocols, designing and executing experiments independently, and managing multiple tasks in a fast-paced setting
- Self-starter who’s committed to team science and effective independent work
- Strong organizational skills with an interest in creating and maintaining organizational infrastructure for both lab experiments and with data analysis
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
- Excitement for working in a fast-paced startup environment and comfort with evolving project scopes and shifting priorities
$85,000 - $115,000 a year
Starting salary will be dependent upon specific experience, knowledge, and skillset. The range by level will typically fall between $85k-$100k for RA II and $100k-$115k for Sr. RA (bi-monthly payments).
Benefits: Generous equity package in an early stage company, retirement plan with company contribution, flexible PTO with healthy time off minimums, company-covered medical, dental, and vision insurance, life and disability insurance, career coaching, mental health support, free team lunches everyday, great snacks, and companywide social events!
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.