{"id":3911970,"url":"https://alion.io/job/prolific-machines-research-associate-applied-cell-line-development-customer-programs","title":"Research Associate, Applied Cell Line Development & Customer Programs","company":{"id":685503,"name":"Prolific Machines","domain":"prolific-machines.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/prolific-machines","size_band":"51-200","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Lever","truth_index":null},"role":"Biotech","role_family":"Biotech","seniority":null,"employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Emeryville, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":72500,"max":117500,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":117500},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"Bioreactors","optional":false},{"name":"Cell Culture","optional":false},{"name":"Flow Cytometry","optional":false},{"name":"PCR","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-11-07T05:19:41Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-11-07","last_verified_at":"2026-11-09T09:48:25Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":2,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":2},"description":"We are looking for a motivated and detail-oriented Research Associate to help advance our mammalian cell line development and protein production capabilities. At Prolific, we use light to control the expression of biotherapeutic proteins, with the goal of increasing titer and improving quality attributes. In this role, you will play a key part in generating and characterizing cell lines that support both internal research and customer programs. The ideal candidate enjoys hands-on laboratory work, takes pride in delivering consistent, high-quality results, and is eager to learn and grow in a fast-paced startup environment. You’ll collaborate with scientists and engineers across multiple disciplines, with opportunities to expand your technical expertise, take on increasing ownership, and contribute directly to Prolific’s success. This role is based on-site in our headquarters in Emeryville, CA.\nResponsibilities:\nOwn and drive workflows using mammalian cell culture, primarily working with suspension HEK and suspension CHO\nGenerate stable cell lines via transfection (ie electroporation) and selection as well as serving as the primary technical owner of many genetically distinct cell lines at once\nHandle protein production workflows at different scales - deep well plates and shake flasks, potentially including small scale bioreactors such as the Ambr system\nExecute downstream readouts such as cell counting (Celleca, nucleocounter), metabolite measurements (Nova / CEDEX), Octet BLI, flow cytometry \nPerform single cell isolation using methods such as FACS, cell deposition, or Beacon\nExecute plasmid cloning and molecular biology techniques including PCR and ddPCR \nConduct experiments independently, collect and analyze data in a timely manner, maintain detailed documentation in electronic lab notebooks, and data visualization and presentation in team meetings\nRequirements:\nBachelor's degree in Biology, Bioengineering, Biotechnology, or a related field, with relevant laboratory experience in mammalian cell culture. Candidates will be considered at the Research Associate I, Research Associate II, and Senior Research Associate levels based on their experience, technical proficiency, and demonstrated independence.\nProficient in mammalian cell culture, preferably with experience in cell line development, and are well versed in sterile technique, transfection, and clone isolation\nComfortable with readouts such as cell counting, metabolite measurement, Octet BLI and flow cytometry\nComfortable with developing and proposing experimental plans, conducting experiments, and troubleshooting analytical techniques and methodologies\nProficient in precisely following protocols, designing and executing experiments independently, and managing multiple tasks in a fast-paced setting\nSelf-starter who’s committed to team science and effective independent work\nStrong organizational skills with an interest in creating and maintaining organizational infrastructure for both lab experiments and with data analysis \nExcellent interpersonal and communication skills\nExcitement for working in a fast-paced startup environment and comfort with evolving project scopes and shifting priorities\nWe recognize that strong candidates may not meet every preferred qualification. If you have a solid foundation in mammalian cell culture, a commitment to high-quality laboratory work, and enthusiasm for learning, we encourage you to apply.","description_format":"text","description_chars":3445,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":null,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":[],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Synthetic Biology","Drug Discovery"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-11-07T08:17:17Z"}],"visa":[{"country":"US","licensed_sponsor":true,"adverts_offering_sponsorship_24m":0,"sanctioned_now":false,"evidence":"H-1B filings in 12 months: 1","filings_12m":1,"filings_prev_12m":1,"green_card_filings_12m":0,"median_offered_wage_usd":112500,"route":null,"cap_exempt":false,"checked_at":"2026-11-09T07:32:21+00:00","sources":["US Department of Labor: LCA disclosure data (H-1B, H-1B1, E-3)"],"filings_for_role_12m":0}],"liveness":{"score":86,"band":"hot","label":"Hiring now","p_open":1,"p_active":0.86,"p_room":1,"age_days":2,"expected_fill_days":30,"reasons":["conf:1","win:early"],"computed_at":"2026-11-09T06:03:00Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":117500,"is_top_pay":false},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/prolific-machines-research-associate-applied-cell-line-development-customer-programs","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/prolific-machines-research-associate-applied-cell-line-development-customer-programs.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-11-09T10:01:14Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":10215,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-11-10T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.1,"usd":0.01,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":685503},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=685503"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fprolific-machines-research-associate-applied-cell-line-development-customer-programs"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":2,"usd":0.2},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fprolific-machines-research-associate-applied-cell-line-development-customer-programs"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.1,"usd":0.01},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fprolific-machines-research-associate-applied-cell-line-development-customer-programs"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/prolific-machines-research-associate-applied-cell-line-development-customer-programs\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fprolific-machines-research-associate-applied-cell-line-development-customer-programs"}],"agent":{"mcp":"https://alion.io/mcp/jobs","mcp_open":"https://alion.io/mcp/open","next":[{"tool":"get_job","arguments":{"id":3911970}},{"tool":"search_jobs","arguments":{"company":"prolific-machines.com","detail":"compact"}},{"tool":"match_people","arguments":{"job_id":3911970},"note":"people open to offers who fit this vacancy"}],"note":"The same data through MCP tools: https://alion.io/mcp/open needs no sign-in (compact searches, postings, people); https://alion.io/mcp with an Alion account has everything. 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