Sr. Research Associate: R&D
Location: Chicago, IL (in-person)
Compensation: $75K – $95K salary + 0.1% - 0.25%+ equity + benefits
BiomeSense is a start-up revolutionizing human gut microbiome sampling and analysis, driving discovery, and enabling the development of microbiome-based precision medicine. Our innovative approach integrates two core advancements: hardware that facilitates daily microbiome sampling, and AI-driven analytics to unlock biomarker discovery.
We are seeking a Senior Research Associate to join our Research and Development team. This is a unique opportunity to apply your technical skills and collaborative spirit in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. As part of our scientific team, you will help advance our automated sample processing workflows, supporting the foundation of our sample-to-answer multiomic platform technology.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead, execute and optimize microbiology protocols supporting nucleic acid extraction, PCR, next-generation sequencing (NGS), in a high-throughput laboratory environment with a high degree of quality & reproducibility
- Collaborate closely with engineers, scientists, and product teams to validate and integrate novel systems for microbial DNA stabilization, extraction, and purification
- Manage end-to-end intake, processing and sequencing workflow for large quantities of partner samples, maintaining a strong focus on accuracy and efficiency, and process improvement
- Design and conduct experiments in a variety of technical fields, including but not limited to retiring technical risks for optimize laboratory protocols, contributing to ongoing process / tech improvement and research to support product innovation
- Maintain rigorous documentation practices without direct guidance; implement quality management systems (e.g., GLP, design controls) and regularly assess and recommend areas for improvement
- Effectively communicate experimental design, results and deviations / observations to cross-functional project teams, supporting the rapid advancement of platform technologies
- Bachelor’s degree + 3 years’ in biological sciences, bioengineering, or a related field
- Hands-on experience with core microbiology techniques, nucleic acid extraction, PCR, and NGS sample preparation
- Highly organized, proactive, and able to thrive in a collaborative, fast-paced setting
- Strong ownership and communication skills for clear reporting and knowledge-sharing with scientific and technical stakeholders
Hiring Process Note: We are a small team and we review all resumes, screening questions and assessment scores manually. However this focus on manual review limits our ability to respond to direct messages through LinkedIn and other channels. We appreciate your effort in applying and we thank you for your understanding.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in biological sciences, bioengineering, or a related field
- At least 3 years of experience in biological sciences, bioengineering, or a related field
- Hands-on experience with core microbiology techniques
- Experience with nucleic acid extraction
- Experience with PCR
- Experience with next-generation sequencing sample preparation
- Strong organization and ability to work in a collaborative, fast-paced environment
- Strong ownership and communication skills for reporting and knowledge-sharing
What We Do
BiomeSense is a biotechnology company developing an integrated biosensor and AI-powered platform to massively scale the collection and analysis of gut microbiome data. By leveraging big data and artificial intelligence, the company provides continuous, longitudinal insights into the human microbiome to unlock the full potential of precision medicine and personalized healthcare solutions.
