Research Associate

VitaKey is an exciting start-up developing and commercializing proprietary technology for controlled, targeted, extended, and sustained delivery of macronutrients, micronutrients, probiotics, biologics, and small molecules, to be included in everyday foods and beverages to improve human health. We are seeking innovative and motivated scientists and engineers to be part of the company's next-phase of growth at our Durham, NC HQ. Learn more about our company on our website at www.VitaKey.com

Role Summary

We are seeking a Research Associate to perform routine assays and lab maintenance supporting screening assays for mammalian and microbial cells. Responsibilities will involve routine maintenance of mammalian cell culture lines and general tissue culture support, preparing stock solutions for screening, and performing microbial assays. Responsibilities will also include collecting data for stability testing of VitaKey technologies. You will serve as a group contributor on project teams, with the expectation of independent data analysis, communication of data, and collaboration between all team members. Projects will be highly interdisciplinary, at the intersection of engineering, biochemistry, materials science, food science and nutrition.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Maintain several mammalian and microbial cultures simultaneously, including thawing, passaging, plating, freezing, and aliquoting stocks on schedule
• Routinely perform established laboratory assays (ELISA, qPCR, immunofluorescence, luminescence, extraction, spread plate dilution)
• Establish, maintain, and gather data for stability studies of formulated microbes
• Prepare stock solutions of compounds, nutrients, foods, ingredients, etc. for screening experiments
• Regularly use ELN/LIMS to clearly and accurately document experimental results
• Design and execute experiments to characterize products
• Prepare formulations of probiotics, develop extraction methods, and evaluate viability upon shelf storage
• Occasionally perform other duties to assist other teams as needed
• Work with fellow scientists within the group or with external laboratories and present ideas and results

Qualifications

• BS with 0-1 years’ experience in microbiology, biology, biochemistry, chemistry, food science, or allied disciplines
• Candidates with 2+ uninterrupted years of non-coursework experience within an academic research group are highly preferred
• Candidates must have experimental research experience culturing mammalian cells and executing downstream bioassays
• Candidates with additional experience culturing and evaluating microbes are preferred
• Candidate must have non-coursework experience with at least two of: ELISA, qPCR, flow cytometry, spread plate dilution, or microscopy
• Candidates must be familiar with common formulation techniques such as lyophilization, spray drying, or prilling.
• Experience generating, interpreting, and communicating experimental data (e.g., presentations, publications)
• Strict attention to documentation and recordkeeping
• Entrepreneurial and self-motivated work style
• Excellent cross-disciplinary skills in communicating technical ideas to both scientists and non-scientists
• Candidates must work full time on-site in Durham, NC
• Ability to adjust rapidly to changing scientific priorities and technologies