Sr. Research Associate/Associate Scientist– mRNA Sciences (in SF, CA)

The team at ParcelBio is searching for a highly motivated, intellectually curious scientist to help us develop next-generation mRNA medicines. In this role, you will work closely with our founding team to design, produce, and characterize an entirely new class of mRNA therapeutics. Your responsibilities will include generating mRNA for large-scale applications and screening campaigns, assay/method development, and collaborating with an interdisciplinary team to advance programs to the clinic. The ideal candidate brings a strong foundation in nucleic acid molecular biology and is energized by innovation and scientific excellence.

Lead RNA research and development projects involving mRNA production and characterization, including:

• Sequence design: Work closely with the team to optimize mRNA sequence architecture
• Plasmid linearization: Generate linearized IVT plasmid templates for both large- scale and screening-scale mRNA production. Optimize purification of large-scale plasmid linearization
• Large-scale mRNA production: Optimize IVT reaction conditions and purification processes to generate high-quality mRNA for downstream applications
• Production of mRNA screening libraries: Generate mRNA libraries for in cellulo assays. Develop and optimize high-throughput approaches for arrayed and pooled screening
• Quality Control of mRNA: Perform mRNA characterization assays including dsRNA ELISA and RNA TapeStation. Onboard new analytical assays as needed
• Work collaboratively and proactively with team members of diverse disciplines
• Solicit feedback and come up with new and creative ideas
• Manage time efficiently to simultaneously move multiple projects forward
• Stay up-to-date on relevant literature and company developments
• Work dynamically in a fast-paced startup environment