Research Associate, Bioassay (Contract)

Company Summary:

Arana Biosciences is one of the latest companies founded through Flagship Pioneering’s venture creation engine, where companies such as Moderna Therapeutics and Evelo Therapeutics were conceived and created. Since Flagship’s founding in 2000, the firm has originated and fostered the development of nearly 100 scientific ventures resulting in $19+ billion in aggregate value, 500+ issued patents, and more than 50 clinical trials for novel therapeutic agents. Arana Biosciences is integrating the latest developments in molecular biology and plant biology to create a new platform technology that enables adaptive, targeted and sustainable solutions in agriculture.

Position Summary: 

We are seeking a highly motivated, proactive, and detail-oriented Research Associate to join our fast-paced team. This is an excellent opportunity to enter the biotech industry and contribute to cutting-edge technologies for agriculture and sustainability. You will gain hands-on experience with a wide variety of bioassays for insects, fungi, viruses, microbes, in various plants species. In this role, you will work with scientists and project leads to establish and execute diverse assays to enable robust and effective screening and characterization of our proprietary technologies. You will work within a multidisciplinary team to advance our technological development and solve a diverse set of challenges in agriculture. Excellent communication, record-keeping, troubleshooting and teamwork will be critical. 

This position will be an initial 6-month contract role, with potential for extension or conversion. 

Responsibilities 

• Design and optimize bioassays to generate high-quality data and results to support technology development and product development efforts 
• Develop and execute efficacy studies in in-vitro and in-planta in controlled environmental settings.  
• Troubleshoot and collaboratively improve assay quality and throughput.
• Lead and conduct proper rearing/culturing and maintenance of various pest colonies and plant pathogens.  
• Collaborate with project leads to support and prioritize project needs. 
• Ensure protocols adhere to USDA/EPA guidelines and lab safety standards. 
• Present scientific findings in project team meetings, write protocols and reports, document results in laboratory notebooks. 
• Maintain scientific and technical expertise through familiarity with scientific literature, attending conferences, and developing relationships with thought leaders.
• Contribute to a dynamic, exciting culture that embraces teamwork and innovation. 

Qualifications 

• BS or MS in Entomology, Plant Pathology, Microbiology, or related discipline. 
• 2+ years of lab experience related to plant pathology. 
• Hands-on experience with insect, bacterial, fungus and/or viral pathogens in economically important crops. 
• The successful candidate is highly organized, comfortable working in a fast-paced entrepreneurial environment, and an integral part of a highly collaborative and interdisciplinary team. 
• Strong expertise in handling plant tissues, bioassay development, and optimization. 

Competencies 

• Execution-focused, team-oriented, and highly motivated, with strong work ethic. 
• Ability to work independently and collaborate across disciplines. 
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills. 
• Strong, demonstrated problem-solving skills. 
• Ability to excel in a fast-paced, innovative environment. 
• Enthusiasm for science and willingness to adapt to the changing needs of a fast-paced research and development effort. 
• Adaptive and a quick learner, efficient in multi-tasking and trouble-shooting. 
• A strong self-starter, results oriented with a strong attention to detail. 

Location: Cambridge, MA

More About Flagship Pioneering

Flagship Pioneering conceives, creates, resources, and develops first-in-category life sciences companies to transform human health and sustainability. Since its launch in 2000, the firm has, through its Flagship Labs unit, applied its unique hypothesis-driven innovation process to originate and foster more than 100 scientific ventures, resulting in over $50B in aggregate value. To date, Flagship has deployed over $2.2B in capital toward the founding and growth of its pioneering companies alongside more than $18B of follow-on investments from other institutions. The current Flagship ecosystem comprises transformative companies, including Seres Therapeutics (NASDAQ: MCRB), Indigo Ag, Invaio Sciences, Moderna (NASDAQ: MRNA), Generate Biomedicines, Denali Therapeutics (NASDAQ: DNLI), Senda Biosciences and Foghorn Therapeutics (NASDAQ: FHTX).