Job Title: Senior Research Associate
Duration: 06 months (possible extension or conversion into FTE)
Location: South San Francisco, CA 94080
Description:
We are seeking a highly motivated
Senior Research Associate to join our research team and contribute to translational oncology and immuno-oncology programs. This role is ideal for a hands-on scientist with strong experience in advanced cellular models, mammalian cell culture, organoids, T cell biology, and molecular, cellular, and immune-based functional assays.
Position Summary
The Senior Research Associate will design, execute, and analyze experiments that support discovery and translational research programs in solid tumor biology and immuno-oncology. The successful candidate will work closely with scientists and cross-functional partners to generate high-quality data using organoid, tumoroid, primary sample, mammalian cell culture, and immune-cell-based assay systems.
This is a laboratory-based role requiring strong technical execution, careful experimental documentation, and the ability to troubleshoot complex biological systems. The ideal candidate is scientifically curious, collaborative, organized, and comfortable working in a fast-paced research environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Culture, maintain, expand, and characterize mammalian cell lines, organoids, tumoroids, and other advanced 2D/3D cellular models.
- Perform molecular, cellular, and immunology-based assays to support oncology and immuno-oncology research programs.
- Design and execute experiments using techniques such as qPCR, ELISA, Western blotting, imaging-based assays, viability/proliferation assays, cytokine assays, and other standard molecular biology and immunoassay workflows.
- Support development and optimization of organoid/tumoroid assays using solid tumor models and, where applicable, patient-derived or primary samples.
- Conduct immune-cell-based functional assays, including T cell activation, T cell killing, TDCC, ADCC, cytokine release, and related immuno-oncology assays.
- Conduct flow cytometry experiments, including sample preparation, staining, acquisition, and analysis, where relevant to program needs.
- Work with primary immune cells and/or tumor samples to evaluate immune-mediated anti-tumor activity.
- Analyze, interpret, and present experimental results to project teams.
- Troubleshoot experimental challenges and contribute ideas for assay improvement.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Biomedical Sciences, Immunology, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Cancer Biology, or a related discipline.
- Minimum of 1-2 year of research experience in an academic or industry lab.
- Hands-on experience with organoid culture or other advanced 3D cellular model systems.
- Strong experience with mammalian cell culture, including sterile technique, cell maintenance, expansion, banking, and assay preparation.
- Experience with T cell biology and immune-cell-based assay systems.
- Working knowledge of current molecular, cellular, and immunology-based assays.
- Experience with functional immunoassays such as TDCC, ADCC, T cell activation, immune-cell killing assays, cytokine release assays, or related workflows.
- Ability to generate reliable, reproducible data and communicate results clearly.
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Ability to work independently while contributing effectively to a collaborative team environment.
Preferred Qualifications
- Master's degree in Biomedical Sciences, Immunology, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Cancer Biology, or a related field.
- Experience with flow cytometry, including staining panel execution, data acquisition, and analysis.
- Experience working with primary human samples, patient-derived models, organoids, tumoroids, primary immune cells, or ex vivo tumor systems.
- Experience in solid tumor biology, tumor microenvironment biology, cancer immunology, or translational oncology.
- Experience developing, optimizing, or troubleshooting immune-cell-based functional assays in complex tumor or co-culture systems.
- Familiarity with assay development, optimization, and troubleshooting in complex biological systems.
- Experience with data analysis tools such as GraphPad Prism, FlowJo, Excel, or similar platforms.
Ideal Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate is a rigorous experimentalist who enjoys hands-on lab work and takes ownership of generating high-quality data. They are comfortable working with complex cellular and immune-cell-based systems, including organoids, tumoroids, primary samples, and T cell functional assays. They can manage multiple experiments in parallel, troubleshoot challenging biology, and communicate clearly with scientific colleagues. They bring both technical depth and a collaborative mindset, with a strong interest in applying tumor biology and immunology to the development of new therapies for patients with cancer.
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Spectraforce Technologies
Sep 02, 2026