Hiring: Senior Research Associate, Strain Engineering Company: Flagship Pioneering Location: Somerville, MA Job Posted Time: 2026-09-11 17:58:09 Employment Type: Full-time Target Skills & Keywords: Strain Engineering, Microbial Strain Engineering, Recombinant Protein Production, Genetic Engineering, DNA Assembly, Golden Gate Assembly, HiFi Assembly, Plasmid Construction, NGS, Sequencing Analysis, Competent Cells, Transformation, PCR, Genotyping, Agarose Gel Electrophoresis, Nucleic Acid Quantification, Shake Flask, Microtiter Plates, Biomass Production, Product Formation, Cell Banks, Media Preparation, Laboratory Operations, Molecular Biology Experience: - Hands-on experience in microbial strain engineering and genetic engineering - Practical experience with DNA assembly strategies and microbial culture techniques - Experience with plasmid construction, sequencing analysis, and strain screening/characterization - Comfortable operating independently in a fast-paced startup research environment Required Skills: - Construct plasmids using modern molecular biology techniques (e.g., Golden Gate assembly, HiFi assembly) - Perform sequencing analysis using state-of-the-art NGS technologies and software - Prepare plasmid DNA through mini-preps, maxi-preps, etc. - Prepare competent cells for transformation of microbial strains - Execute PCR for genetic engineering substrates and genotyping of candidate strains - Perform agarose gel electrophoresis, nucleic acid quantification, and sample preparation for routine functional assays - Support screening and characterization of microbial strains in shake flask and microtiter plates - Track strain performance metrics including biomass production, functional assay readouts, and product formation - Generate and maintain microbial cell banks and inventory records - Prepare media for strain-building campaigns - Support routine laboratory maintenance, equipment upkeep, and troubleshooting - Maintain accurate and well-organized experimental records and documentation - Collaborate with discovery and bioprocess development teams Qualifications: - Highly motivated, highly hands-on, and technically rigorous - Strong practical experience with DNA assembly strategies, microbial culture techniques, and laboratory operations - Ability to contribute to safe laboratory operations and maintain a strong culture of safety and operational rigor - Reporting to the Senior Scientist, Microbial Strain Engineering Compensation: Not specified