Research Scientist
Spectraforce
South San Francisco, California
3 days ago
Job Description
Position Title: Research Scientist – Molecular Biology & AI-Driven Therapeutics
Location: South San Francisco, CA, 94080
Duration: 1 Year (Possible Extension)
Overview:
We are looking for a highly motivated Research Scientist to join our cutting-edge team focused on developing the next generation of mRNA-based therapeutics. This role blends molecular biology with AI-driven drug design, offering a unique opportunity to work at the forefront of biotechnology innovation. You’ll contribute to projects that optimize peptide and antibody designs using artificial intelligence combined with high-throughput experimental techniques.
Roles and Responsibilities:
Basic Qualifications:
Candidates must have one of the following:
Required Skills and Experience:
Preferred Qualifications:
Top 3 Must-Have Skills:
About Us: SPECTRAFORCE is one of the fastest-growing workforce solutions firms in the United States. As a diversity-owned business, we place human connection at the heart of everything we do, building strong relationships with both clients and candidates to fill roles successfully. Our teams in North and Central America and India serve more than 150 Fortune clients globally, leveraging custom AI technology to provide direct hire, executive search, nearshoring, offshoring, and project staffing solutions.
Benefits: SPECTRAFORCE offers ACA compliant health benefits as well as dental, vision, accident, critical illness, voluntary life, and hospital indemnity insurances to eligible employees. Additional benefits offered to eligible employees include commuter benefits, 401K plan with matching, and a referral bonus program. SPECTRAFORCE provides unpaid leave as well as paid sick leave when required by law.
Equal Opportunity Employer: SPECTRAFORCE is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, disability or veteran status, or any other category protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. Please contact Human Resources at LOA@spectraforce.com if you require reasonable accommodation.
California Applicant Notice: SPECTRAFORCE is committed to complying with the California Privacy Rights Act (“CPRA”) effective January 1, 2023; and all data privacy laws in the jurisdictions in which it recruits and hires employees. A Notice to California Job Applicants Regarding the Collection of Personal Information can be located on our website. Applicants with disabilities may access this notice in an alternative format by contacting NAHR@spectraforce.com.
LA County, CA Applicant Notice: If you are selected for this position with SPECTRAFORCE, your offer is contingent upon the satisfactory completion of several requirements, including but not limited to, a criminal background check. We consider qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records for employment in accordance with all local ordinances and state laws, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers (FCO) and the California Fair Chance Act (FCA). The background check assessment will consider whether a criminal history could reasonably have a direct, adverse impact on the job-related safety, security, trust, regulatory compliance, or suitability for this role. Such findings may result in withdrawal of a conditional job offer.
At SPECTRAFORCE, we are committed to maintaining a workplace that ensures fair compensation and wage transparency in adherence with all applicable state and local laws. This position’s starting pay is: $30.00/hr.
Location: South San Francisco, CA, 94080
Duration: 1 Year (Possible Extension)
Overview:
We are looking for a highly motivated Research Scientist to join our cutting-edge team focused on developing the next generation of mRNA-based therapeutics. This role blends molecular biology with AI-driven drug design, offering a unique opportunity to work at the forefront of biotechnology innovation. You’ll contribute to projects that optimize peptide and antibody designs using artificial intelligence combined with high-throughput experimental techniques.
Roles and Responsibilities:
- Plan and carry out molecular biology experiments to test and validate AI-generated therapeutic candidates
- Produce and purify DNA, RNA, and proteins to support the development of new therapies
- Perform mammalian cell culture experiments, analyze the data, and use findings to inform computational models
- Work closely with computational biologists, sharing wet lab data to improve and train AI models
- Conduct viral vector production and purification to support high-throughput assays
- Carry out next-generation sequencing (NGS) workflows
- Perform immunology assays to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of experimental therapies
- Keep detailed documentation of your work and present findings to cross-functional teams
- Stay informed about new research, scientific advancements, and emerging technologies in molecular biology and therapeutic development
Basic Qualifications:
Candidates must have one of the following:
- Master’s degree
- Bachelor’s degree with at least 2 years of relevant experience
- Associate’s degree with at least 4 years of relevant experience
- High school diploma or GED with at least 6 years of relevant experience
Required Skills and Experience:
- Strong hands-on lab experience in molecular biology techniques
- Proficient in DNA, RNA, and protein production/purification methods
- Demonstrated experience with mammalian cell culture
- Familiarity with viral vector systems and their use in biological assays
- Experience running immunology assays and interpreting the results
- Analytical mindset with the ability to link experimental findings to computational work
- Strong teamwork and communication abilities
- A publication record showcasing expertise in molecular biology
Preferred Qualifications:
- Ph.D. or equivalent advanced research experience
- Experience working with organoid models
- Background or familiarity with computational biology, AI, or machine learning in a research or drug discovery context
- Hands-on experience with high-throughput screening and analysis
- Knowledge of the mRNA therapeutic pipeline
- Familiarity with peptide or antibody design and optimization techniques
- Experience using bioinformatics tools for sequence or molecular data analysis
Top 3 Must-Have Skills:
- Strong background in molecular biology
- Hands-on data analysis from lab experiments
- Practical experience with mammalian cell culture (preferably from post-graduate research or professional roles)
About Us: SPECTRAFORCE is one of the fastest-growing workforce solutions firms in the United States. As a diversity-owned business, we place human connection at the heart of everything we do, building strong relationships with both clients and candidates to fill roles successfully. Our teams in North and Central America and India serve more than 150 Fortune clients globally, leveraging custom AI technology to provide direct hire, executive search, nearshoring, offshoring, and project staffing solutions.
Benefits: SPECTRAFORCE offers ACA compliant health benefits as well as dental, vision, accident, critical illness, voluntary life, and hospital indemnity insurances to eligible employees. Additional benefits offered to eligible employees include commuter benefits, 401K plan with matching, and a referral bonus program. SPECTRAFORCE provides unpaid leave as well as paid sick leave when required by law.
Equal Opportunity Employer: SPECTRAFORCE is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, disability or veteran status, or any other category protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. Please contact Human Resources at LOA@spectraforce.com if you require reasonable accommodation.
California Applicant Notice: SPECTRAFORCE is committed to complying with the California Privacy Rights Act (“CPRA”) effective January 1, 2023; and all data privacy laws in the jurisdictions in which it recruits and hires employees. A Notice to California Job Applicants Regarding the Collection of Personal Information can be located on our website. Applicants with disabilities may access this notice in an alternative format by contacting NAHR@spectraforce.com.
LA County, CA Applicant Notice: If you are selected for this position with SPECTRAFORCE, your offer is contingent upon the satisfactory completion of several requirements, including but not limited to, a criminal background check. We consider qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records for employment in accordance with all local ordinances and state laws, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers (FCO) and the California Fair Chance Act (FCA). The background check assessment will consider whether a criminal history could reasonably have a direct, adverse impact on the job-related safety, security, trust, regulatory compliance, or suitability for this role. Such findings may result in withdrawal of a conditional job offer.
At SPECTRAFORCE, we are committed to maintaining a workplace that ensures fair compensation and wage transparency in adherence with all applicable state and local laws. This position’s starting pay is: $30.00/hr.