Research associate - i

job summary: The Structural Biology and Protein Sciences group is seeking a highly motivated contractor to support recombinant protein production efforts, primarily utilizing insect cell expression systems. The successful candidate will be responsible for maintaining eukaryotic cell cultures, generating and managing high-titer baculovirus stocks, and performing multi-liter scale protein expression and harvest workflows. Additional responsibilities include executing plate-based expression and purification profiling to enable rapid screening of construct and condition variants. This role requires strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to operate efficiently in a fast-paced research environment. location: San Diego, California job type: Contract salary: $28.00 - 30.02 per hour work hours: 9 to 5 education: Bachelors responsibilities: - Maintain healthy eukaryotic cell cultures, including insect (Sf9, Sf21, High Five) and/or mammalian expression lines. - Generate, amplify, and quality-control baculovirus stocks, including centralized storage and record management. - Execute multi-liter scale recombinant protein expression experiments, including infection, culture monitoring, and cell harvest. - Perform small-scale, plate-based expression and purification profiling to assess expression levels, solubility, and purification behavior. - Maintain accurate and timely records of experimental data, cell line usage, and virus stock inventories. - Operate and maintain basic laboratory instrumentation and contribute to general lab support activities as needed. - Collaborate closely with team members to optimize expression workflows and troubleshoot technical issues. qualifications: - BS degree in Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Biochemistry, or a related scientific discipline. - Minimum of 3 years of hands-on laboratory experience, including work with insect cell culture (e.g., Sf9, Sf21, Hi5) and/or mammalian cell culture systems. - Demonstrated experience in aseptic technique and routine maintenance of suspension cultures. Highly Desirable Qualifications - Experience with the Bac-to-Bac baculovirus expression system, including donor plasmid preparation, bacmid generation, and virus amplification. - Familiarity with plate-based expression and purification approaches (e.g., 24-96 well plates and rapid IMAC and other affinity-based screens). - Experience conducting multi-liter expression campaigns and associated downstream sample handling. - Strong analytical, organizational, and documentation skills. - Ability to work independently and in cross-functional teams. skills: Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Cell Cultures, Aseptic Technique Equal Opportunity Employer: Race, Color, Religion, Sex, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, National Origin, Age, Genetic Information, Disability, Protected Veteran Status, or any other legally protected group status. At Randstad, we welcome people of all abilities and want to ensure that our hiring and interview process meets the needs of all applicants. If you require a reasonable accommodation to make your application or interview experience a great one, please contact . Pay offered to a successful candidate will be based on several factors including the candidate's education, work experience, work location, specific job duties, certifications, etc. In addition, Randstad offers a comprehensive benefits package, including: medical, prescription, dental, vision, AD&D, and life insurance offerings, short-term disability, and a 401K plan (all benefits are based on eligibility). This posting is open for thirty (30) days. Qualified applicants in San Francisco with criminal histories will be considered for employment in accordance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act. We will consider for employment all qualified Applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles' Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.

Created: 2026-03-10