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Medra is building a Physical AI Scientist platform that combines AI, robotics, and biology to accelerate life science research. The company is developing both physical AI capable of operating scientific instruments with human-level dexterity and scientific AI that can analyze results and reason autonomously.
As a Research Associate, you will execute and optimize protein production and quality control workflows on the Medra platform. You will work hands-on at the bench alongside experienced scientists to take antibodies and alternative binders from cells through to purified, characterized material. Your daily responsibilities include automated mammalian cell growth and transient transfection, protein purification using AKTA (FPLC) and KingFisher platforms (affinity capture, polishing, buffer exchange, magnetic-bead processing), and analytical QC via SEC (analytical UPLC/HPLC) to assess purity, aggregation, and monomericity. You will also perform additional QC work including concentration analysis, endotoxin testing, and SDS-PAGE as needed.
You will prepare buffers, resins, columns, and consumables; perform instrument cleaning and maintenance; and help refine and document protocols as workflows mature. A key part of this role is partnering with roboticists and software engineers to translate manual purification and QC steps into reliable, high-throughput autonomous protocols—including sample handling, deck/plate setup, and data pipeline integration. You will perform first-pass data analysis on chromatograms and SEC traces, track yield and purity metrics, flag anomalies, and maintain rigorous experimental records in electronic lab notebooks to support reproducibility.
This is a role for someone early in their career who loves bench work, has strong hands-on instincts, and is eager to grow their protein science expertise under the guidance of experienced scientists. The position is 100% in-person at the San Francisco office; relocation benefits are available.
REQUIREMENTS:
- B.S. or M.S. in biochemistry, molecular biology, chemical/biological engineering, or related discipline, with hands-on laboratory experience (research, internship, or 0–2+ years of industry/academic lab work)
- Hands-on experience with protein purification—chromatography on AKTA/FPLC and/or bead-based purification—and comfort taking a sample from lysate or supernatant to purified protein
- Hands-on wet-lab experience and comfort at the bench: mammalian cell culture, aseptic technique, pipetting, and careful execution of detailed protocols
- Curiosity about protein biochemistry and analytical characterization, and eagerness to learn theory and practical pitfalls (aggregation, capture chemistry, buffer conditions, column behavior)
- Strong documentation habits, attention to detail, and ability to juggle multiple tasks in parallel
- Basic understanding of antibody structure and function, or strong desire to learn it
- Scrappy, can-do attitude—figure things out, ask good questions, and get things done
BONUS QUALIFICATIONS:
- Hands-on experience with analytical SEC or other analytical chromatography (UPLC/HPLC)
- Experience with automated or high-throughput purification (e.g., KingFisher, multi-column AKTA, robotic purification)
- Experience with mammalian expression systems (CHO/HEK) and transient transfection at scale
- Experience with lab automation or liquid handling platforms (e.g., Dynamic Devices Lynx, Tempest)
- Familiarity with alternative binder formats—VHHs, bispecifics, Fc-fusions, or non-Ig scaffolds
- Basic scripting or data-handling skills (Python/R) for organizing and analyzing purification and QC data
