Research Scientist I/II - Biology
Cambridge, MA /
Research & Development /
Full Time
/ On-site
The Molecular Biology R&D group at Biobot Analytics is looking for an innovative and risk-taking Research Scientist to develop new technologies in the field of wastewater epidemiology. This research scientist will tackle the development of new targeted pathogen assays in wastewater. In addition, they will evaluate non-sequencing approaches for a broad panel pathogen monitoring system and tackle projects to broaden Biobot capabilities in wastewater epidemiology. This research scientist will also participate in R&D group meetings to discuss and provide input on other ongoing research projects within the company. A successful candidate will be someone who has driven the execution and completion of a complex research project, is excited about tackling difficult/ unexplored research questions, and is looking to take on leadership roles and in building culture for a growing R&D team.
What you will be doing:
- Design and execute hypothesis-driven research and experiments to develop sensitive and scalable methods for multi-pathogen quantification in wastewater.
- Execute and thoroughly document complex molecular biology and genomics protocols on wastewater samples in a consistent, efficient manner.
- Engage in process development and hypothesis-driven troubleshooting, improving and documenting our protocols for transfer to a production laboratory environment.
- Mentor junior laboratory staff, providing both scientific and technical development.
- Communicate your scientific and technical results in verbal and written form to a variety of audiences both internal and external.
What you need to succeed:
- PhD degree in a relevant scientific field.
- 0-2 years of industry experience in a relevant scientific field.
- Wide experience in the optimization and execution of molecular biology techniques including qPCR, sequencing and ddPCR.
- Experience mentoring and/or training junior laboratory staff.
- Experience in independent research.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Enthusiasm, independence, and a willingness to learn in a fast-paced, team environment.
What will help you succeed:
- Prior industry experience in molecular biology, microbiology, virology, or wastewater epidemiology.
- Familiarity and experience with online team productivity tools such as electronic lab notebooks, Slack, Google suite tools, etc
- Required standing or sitting for several hours straight at a time.
- Air travel to relevant conferences is expected once or twice a year.
Our Benefits
HEALTH
Free medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their families, including a $0 deductible medical plan. We want our employees to manage their health and that of their families without worrying about high premiums or deductibles.
SELF CARE
Unlimited PTO with 3 week minimum. Whether it's playing MTG or D&D, singing on stage, camping, raising chickens, or anything else that inspires, we want our employees to unplug and explore their passions.
BIOBABIES
12 weeks parental leave at 100% pay. We love Biobabies and know that bonding with a new child is a critical need for employees and Biobabies alike.
SAVINGS
3% Biobot 401k contribution. Regardless of whether our employees contribute, we contribute 3% of salaries into participating employees' 401k accounts because we want to support their long-term financial goals.
WORKSPACE
$500 home office stipend for remote employees; free parking + commuter benefits and free meals for lab employees. Onsite or at home, we ensure our employees' workspace is set up for success.
About Biobot
At Biobot, we are working together to build a team environment in which everyone can thrive and is proud to belong. We are an equal opportunity employer and our goal is to be a diverse team that is representative, at all job levels, of the society we live in. We encourage applications from candidates of all identities and backgrounds, including those who are traditionally underrepresented in technology startups.
Our mission is to transform wastewater infrastructure into public health observatories.
Named as one of Fast Company’s most innovative companies in the world in 2021, Biobot Analytics is a wastewater epidemiology company and uses technology developed at MIT to measure biomarkers in sewage to better understand population health in cities. We first launched an opioid product to support government and public health officials in responding to the opioid epidemic, and in 2020 launched a Covid19 product to estimate the scope and trend of the outbreak in communities. We have operated in almost 500 communities across 43 U.S. states, generating Covid19 case estimates for over 13% of the U.S. population.
Battling the opioid epidemic and now the Covid19 pandemic is just the beginning - we’re transforming sewage into a data asset and building a public health database. Eventually, Biobot data will be an early warning system for disease outbreaks, a map of nutrition disparities, and more. Headquartered in the Boston area with an office in NYC, we aim to create the bedrock of human health infrastructure and smart cities in countries across all six continents.
Please note that we are unable to sponsor work visas at this time.
