Scientist - mRNA Scale Up

🚀 About Lila

Lila Sciences is the world’s first scientific superintelligence platform and autonomous lab for life, chemistry, and materials science.  We are pioneering a new age of boundless discovery by building the capabilities to apply AI to every aspect of the scientific method.  We are introducing scientific superintelligence to solve humankind's greatest challenges, enabling scientists to bring forth solutions in human health, climate, and sustainability at a pace and scale never experienced before. Learn more about this mission at  www.lila.ai

If this sounds like an environment you’d love to work in, even if you only have some of the experience listed below, we encourage you to apply.

🌟 Your Impact at Lila

As a Scientist on our RNA Platform team, you will play a critical role in scaling Lila’s mRNA production capabilities to support high-throughput experimentation and therapeutic discovery. You will develop and optimize workflows for DNA template generation, mRNA synthesis, and downstream purification, enabling reproducible and high-quality mRNA production at scale. You’ll also lead efforts to characterize and validate RNA products using state-of-the-art analytical tools. Your contributions will directly impact Lila’s ability to integrate synthetic biology with AI-driven experimentation at an unprecedented scale.

🛠️ What You'll Be Building

• Develop and scale DNA template production using linear and circular formats to support high-yield mRNA synthesis.
• Optimize in vitro transcription (IVT) reactions and implement capping/tailing strategies to improve mRNA stability and translation.
• Design and execute purification workflows (e.g., ion exchange, reverse-phase chromatography) to reduce impurities and improve product quality.
• Characterize mRNA samples using techniques such as capillary electrophoresis, HPLC/UPLC, UV/fluorescence spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry.
• Document protocols and results rigorously, support method qualification, and contribute to regulatory-readiness efforts.

🧰 What You’ll Need to Succeed

• PhD in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Bioengineering, or a related field with 0–2 years of experience, or MS with 3–5 years in industry.
• Hands-on experience with DNA production and purification at lab or pilot scale (plasmid or linear templates).
• Proficiency in RNA synthesis, IVT optimization, and RNA purification workflows.
• Strong background in analytical techniques for nucleic acid characterization, including CE, HPLC/UPLC, and spectrophotometry.
• Excellent documentation practices and ability to work in a fast-paced, interdisciplinary team environment.

✨ Bonus Points For

• Strong working knowledge of automation/HTS and experimental design/statistics including design-of-experiments and Bayesian optimization. ****
• Proficiency in Python or other scripting languages for data analysis

🌈 We’re All In

Lila Sciences is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status.

🤝 A Note to Agencies

Lila Sciences does not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than candidates. The submission of unsolicited resumes by recruitment or staffing agencies to Lila Sciences or its employees is strictly prohibited unless contacted directly by Lila Science’s internal Talent Acquisition team. Any resume submitted by an agency in the absence of a signed agreement will automatically become the property of Lila Sciences, and Lila Sciences will not owe any referral or other fees with respect thereto.