Senior Research Associate Ancera, Inc. is seeking a Senior Research Associate to join our R&D team at our Branford, Connecticut facility, located in the heart of Connecticut's growing life sciences corridor along the Greater New Haven / Shoreline region. In this role, you will support the development of Ancera, Inc.'s next-generation microbial detection assays, help verify and onboard existing technologies for microbial detection and enumeration, and assist with automating and transferring assays into commercial-scale production. This is a hands-on, cross-functional position spanning multiple projects at various stages of technology development, automation, and commercialization — offering broad exposure to the full assay development lifecycle. The Senior Research Associate will report to Ancera, Inc.'s Associate Director of Life Sciences. Branford offers convenient access to New Haven, Yale University, and the wider Connecticut biotech and life sciences community, with an easy commute from surrounding Shoreline and Greater New Haven towns including Guilford, Madison, North Haven, Hamden, and East Haven.
Key Responsibilities:
Prepare microbiological media, biochemical solutions, molecular biology reagents, and other custom laboratory components as required.
Execute experiments under the direction of senior scientists to verify the performance of microbial detection assays, including microbial culturing, microscopy, PCR, and ELISA.Partner with senior scientists to optimize assay protocols and troubleshoot technical issues.
Independently resolve routine technical and procedural issues in the lab.
Follow established Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) precisely and maintain a detailed laboratory notebook documenting experimental steps and results.
Prepare and deliver clear, concise presentations to internal peer review groups.
Strictly adhere to Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2) protocols.
Education & Experience:
Bachelor's or Master's degree in Microbiology, Molecular Biology, or a related life sciences field.
At least 1 year of wet-lab experience, which may include undergraduate research.
Solid working knowledge of molarity, dilution factor calculations, mixture preparation, and other essential laboratory mathematics.
Beginner-to-intermediate proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
Hands-on experience with bacterial culture technique and aseptic technique.
Familiarity with molecular and immunological assays such as PCR, RT-PCR, and ELISA.Demonstrated ability to learn new protocols, tools, and technologies quickly and independently.
Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively across all levels of the organization.
Meticulous attention to detail.
Preferred Qualifications:
Prior training or experience handling pathogenic bacteria in a BSL-2 laboratory environment.
Location:
This is an on-site position based at Ancera, Inc.'s laboratory and office in Branford, CT, within commuting distance of New Haven and the broader Greater New Haven / Connecticut Shoreline region.
