POSITION SUMMARY:

The Platform team is seeking an Associate Scientist for development of clinical RNA sequencing assays. The Associate Scientist will join a tight-knit and cross-functional team of scientists and engineers who are tasked with developing a scalable and robust platform upon which the next generation of Natera clinical assays will be based. We are looking for a meticulous and dedicated molecular biologist with experience developing RNA sequencing assays that can work effectively in a cross-functional and fast-paced environment.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in molecular biology, biochemistry, or closely related field with a minimum of 6 years experience in assay development for the life science industry
• Master’s degree in molecular biology, biochemistry, or closely related field with a minimum of 4 years experience in assay development for the life science industry

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Hands-on experience developing RNA-sequencing-based clinical assays or reagent kits
• Understanding of the reagents and chemistry underlying nucleic acid extraction, PCR/qPCR, NGS library preparation, hybrid capture, and sequencing technologies
• Understanding of RNA-seq metrics
• Familiarity with laboratory automation and building assays with scale and automation in mind. Liquid handler method development proficiency is a plus
• Must be capable of independently planning and executing experiments in the lab, analyzing data, and communicating results to other scientists
• Must have experience in optimizing laboratory protocols, identifying risks, and troubleshooting issues
• Must have good organization and time management skills
• Must have experience performing statistical analyses in Excel or similar software. Coding experience is a plus
• Must have experience working in a regulated laboratory environment

• Join a team to research, build, and validate high-throughput RNA-sequencing assays.
• Explore the feasibility of emerging technologies in the RNA-sequencing field
• Independently design and execute experiments, analyze and interpret data, and communicate findings to other scientists
• Collaborate with automation engineers to create robust, high-throughput automated assays
• Write documentation and SOPs, and train Clinical team operators on protocols
• Perform other duties as assigned