Research Associate/Sr. Research Associate

ShapeTX® is pioneering the field of programmable RNA medicines to repair the genetic causes of diseases. By merging innovations in AI and RNA technology to generate and analyze hundreds of billions of therapeutic possibilities, ShapeTX is developing breakthroughs in RNA editing, next-generation AAVs, and disruptive gene therapy manufacturing. The ShapeTX platform enables pharma innovators to design treatments across a wide range of diseases, including rare genetic disorders as well as debilitating conditions, such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and many more. You can find us at shapetx.com and on LinkedIn and Twitter.

At ShapeTX, we are a dynamic team of professionals who are dedicated and passionate about making cures a reality. Through diversity of thought, scientific knowledge, professional rigor and focus we are merging cutting-edge science with extensive drug development expertise to unlock cures to many debilitating diseases.

Shape Therapeutics is headquartered in Seattle, Washington with a satellite site in Boston, Massachusetts.

Position Overview

Shape Therapeutics is looking for a highly motivated Research Associate/Senior Research Associate (RA/SRA) with demonstrated molecular biology experience to join our Cell and Vector Engineering team. An ideal candidate will be capable of independently designing and executing cloning strategies including Gibson and Golden Gate. A strong candidate for this role will have experience with PCR, bacterial transformations, DNA preparation, and Sanger sequencing prep. Diligent notebook keeping and ability to communicate accurately and precisely are also desirable attributes for this role. This is an excellent opportunity to join a critical function within the Research department of a rapidly growing biotechnology startup!

What You’ll Do:

• Routinely conduct maxi and giga scale plasmid DNA preparations
• Execute multiple part Golden Gate and Gibson cloning assemblies
• Routinely purify RNA from in-vitro assays for cDNA generation
• Conduct qPCR and ddPCR
• Effectively organize time and resources to meet deadlines
• Prepare samples for Sanger, Nanopore, and Illumina sequencing
• Effectively communicate results to cross-functional teams and team members
• Diligently maintain an electronic lab notebook
• Maintain mammalian cell culture and conduct plasmid transfections 

What You Bring:

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree in Molecular Biology, Cellular Biology or a related discipline
• 0-2 years of experience in a research or biotech setting

Skills and Experience

• Experience with plasmid preparation and relevant quality control
• Apply analytical thinking to solve complex problems
• Strong work ethic and a team player
• Familiarity with the principles of qPCR and ddPCR
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced laboratory environment
• Clear and concise communication skills

Compensation & Benefits

ShapeTX offers a robust benefits package, including but not limited to: Medical, Dental and Vision coverage for employees and their eligible dependents. We provide eligible employees with 12 paid Holidays plus a one week winter break at year end. We are proud to offer a competitive paid parental leave benefit, an annual employee stipend for employees to use however they choose, a Flex Paid Time Off program (allowing flexible PTO for vacation, sick leave, and other purposes) and Company paid Long Term Disability. Employees are eligible to enroll in our Company’s voluntary 401k plan, voluntary Life/AD&D and Voluntary FSA’s.

The salary range for this role is $61,000 – $98,000. The hired applicant's placement within the range is based on qualifications and professional experience. Additional compensation may include annual target bonus and/or sign-on bonus, equity grant and relocation bonus.

We aspire to Shape Life! not only through our science, but also through our commitment to foster an inclusive environment that supports diverse perspectives and experiences.