Company Summary
Lila Sciences is a privately held, early-stage technology company pioneering the application of artificial intelligence to transform every aspect of the scientific method. Lila is backed by Flagship Pioneering, which brings the courage, long-term vision, and resources needed to realize unreasonable results. Join our mission-driven team and contribute to the future of science.
Our Life Sciences effort is leveraging AI and high-throughput automation for valuable therapeutic discovery and development across biological modalities.
At Lila, we are uniquely cross-functional and collaborative. We are actively reimagining the way teams work together and communicate. Therefore, we seek individuals with an inclusive mindset and a diversity of thought. Our teams thrive in unstructured and creative environments. All voices are heard because we know that experience comes in many forms, skills are transferable, and passion goes a long way.
If this sounds like an environment you’d love to work in, even if you only have some of the experience listed below, please apply.
Position Summary:
We are seeking a (Senior) Research Associate to join our Nucleic Acids team. This role will focus on running and continuously improving workflows, implementing process enhancements, and supporting advanced DNA production development efforts. The ideal candidate will have hands-on expertise in molecular biology techniques, a production-oriented mindset, and experience with automation technologies. This position will work closely with the others within the Life Sciences group to ensure seamless collaboration between DNA production and a variety of experimental workflows.
Key Responsibilities:
- Identify and address sources of variation in high-throughput DNA production workflows to enhance efficiency, reliability, and scalability.
- Integrate and optimize custom automation technologies to streamline production processes.
- Collaborate with Computational Sciences, Protein Sciences, and Informatics teams to onboard new workflows, resolve bottlenecks, and improve data systems.
- Write, implement, and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for both existing and new lab processes.
- Conduct data analysis and interpretation to monitor lab processes and drive process improvements.
- Provide operational leadership within the lab, coordinating activities and ensuring smooth execution of production workflows.
Required Qualifications:
- MSc in Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, or a related field with 3+ years of high-throughput DNA production experience, or BSc with 5+ years of relevant experience. Industry experience strongly preferred.
- Hands-on expertise in molecular biology techniques, including cloning, DNA synthesis, and sequencing.
- Experience working in high-throughput production environments with a focus on scalability and efficiency.
- Familiarity with integrated laboratory automation technologies and their application in DNA production workflows.
- Proven ability to identify and resolve process inefficiencies and implement phased improvements.
- Strong data analysis skills and ability to interpret workflow performance metrics.
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with a proven ability to work effectively across interdisciplinary teams.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience in designing and optimizing DNA assembly workflows for synthetic biology applications.
- Familiarity with digital systems and data pipelines used in high-throughput environments.
- Demonstrated ability to write technical documentation, such as SOPs and validation reports.
- Knowledge of best practices for lab operations and experience mentoring team members.
Working at Lila Sciences, you would have access to advanced technology in the areas of:
- AI experimental design and simulation
- Automated instrumentation
- Generative molecular design
About Flagship
Flagship Pioneering is a platform innovation company that invents and builds platform companies, each with the potential for multiple products that transform human health or sustainability. Since its launch in 2000, Flagship has originated and fostered more than 100 scientific ventures, resulting in more than $90 billion in aggregate value. Many of the companies Flagship has founded have addressed humanity’s most urgent challenges: vaccinating billions of people against COVID-19, curing intractable diseases, improving human health, preempting illness, and feeding the world by improving the resiliency and sustainability of agriculture. Flagship has been recognized twice on FORTUNE’s “Change the World” list, an annual ranking of companies that have made a positive social and environmental impact through activities that are part of their core business strategies, and has been twice named to Fast Company’s annual list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies. Learn more about Flagship at www.flagshippioneering.com.
Flagship Pioneering and our ecosystem companies are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status.
Recruitment & Staffing Agencies: Flagship Pioneering and its affiliated Flagship Lab companies (collectively, “FSP”) do not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than candidates. The submission of unsolicited resumes by recruitment or staffing agencies to FSP or its employees is strictly prohibited unless contacted directly by Flagship Pioneering’s internal Talent Acquisition team. Any resume submitted by an agency in the absence of a signed agreement will automatically become the property of FSP, and FSP will not owe any referral or other fees with respect thereto.