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Research Associate I, Arce Lab

Palo Alto, CA

About Arc Institute

Arc Institute is an independent nonprofit research organization at the interface of artificial intelligence and biology, working to accelerate scientific progress and understand the root causes of complex diseases. Founded in 2021 and based in Palo Alto, Arc partners with Stanford University, UC Berkeley, and UC San Francisco.

Unlike academia, our scientists have long-term funding and industry-like resources. Unlike industry, they're free to pursue high-risk, long-term research without commercial pressures. Arc's Technology Centers and Core Investigator labs work side by side, integrating experimental and computational biology under one roof to tackle problems neither could solve alone.

Our two Institute Initiatives reflect this model in action:

  • Virtual Cell Initiative: Building a full-stack virtual cell model to identify disease mechanisms and nominate drug targets,  accelerating the path from biological insight to clinical trials.
  • Alzheimer's Disease Initiative: Mapping the genes, pathways, and environmental factors behind Alzheimer's disease to develop drug candidates that address root causes.

More than 300 Arconauts work together at our Palo Alto headquarters, backed by substantial long-term philanthropic funding.

About the position

We are seeking a Research Associate I to join the Arce Lab at the Arc Institute. In this role you will support ongoing research in the lab through experimentation and organizational contributions. You will work closely with the PI to pursue scientific questions about the immune system in an effort to better understand and treat immune mediated diseases. As you progress in the role, you will have the opportunity to independently lead sub-projects under the guidance of other lab members. This position is ideal for someone seeking hands-on experience with biomedical research in a fast paced environment.

About you

  • You are a self-motivated individual with a strong work ethic.
  • You pride yourself on the quality of your work and avoid taking shortcuts that may limit outcomes.
  • You are excited by the opportunity to discover new biology and learn something new each day.
  • Helping out a colleague gives you self-gratification.
  • You take initiative to resolve problems as they arise and are motivated by challenges and opportunities to grow.

In this position you will

  • Support a diverse range of experiments through general reagent maintenance and sample processing
  • Help maintain lab organization and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency and safety
  • Perform mammalian cell culture, including cell isolation from human blood samples
  • Execute CRISPR gene editing experiments in an arrayed and pooled screening format using lentiviral and mRNA delivery
  • Contribute to molecular biology and genomic workflows, including plasmid construction, PCR, western blots, DNA/RNA isolation, and sequencing library preparation
  • Write and update standard operating procedures for lab protocols and processes as you gain expertise

Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in Biology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry or related field
  • 1-2 years of laboratory experience (academic or industry setting)
  • Familiarity with standard molecular biology techniques
  • Competent multitasker with diligent note taking skills
  • Proficiency with basic computer skills, including data entry, spreadsheets, and document preparation.
  • Comfortable with lab relevant mathematics including dilution calculations and conversions
  • Effective communicator and team player

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experienced with mammalian tissue culture
  • Experience with RNA and DNA isolation and downstream assays

The hourly rate for this position is $29.00. This amount does not include benefits or other forms of compensation.



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