Your Impact at LILA

We are seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Research Associate to join our translational biology team. In this role, you will work closely with team leadership to support the development and execution of in vitro and ex vivo assays aimed at evaluating lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery and therapeutic function. You will play a hands-on role in day-to-day experimental execution, data collection, and sample processing; contributing directly to LILA's high-throughput, data-rich discovery workflows at the intersection of biology, automation, and AI.

What You'll Be Building

• Execute multiplex immunoassays (MSD, Luminex, ELLA) to support cytokine profiling, protein quantification, and immunogenicity assessments; assist in panel qualification, troubleshooting, and SOP development.
• Assist with ELISA development, optimization, and validation across relevant formats (sandwich, competitive, bridging), including reagent sourcing, standard curve development, and assay documentation.
• Perform multi-parameter flow cytometry to assess cell viability, uptake, immune activation, and marker expression; assist in panel design, instrument setup, data acquisition, and analysis in FlowJo or instrument software.
• Process tissues from in vitro and in vivo studies, including homogenization, protein/RNA extraction, and lysate preparation for downstream analysis (ELISA, multiplex, qPCR).
• Support sample collection, aliquoting, labeling, and storage per established protocols; maintain biorepository organization and sample tracking records.
• Maintain primary and immortalized cell cultures; execute in vitro assays evaluating LNP and delivery system performance across readouts including IncuCyte, uptake, expression, knockdown, cytotoxicity, and innate immune activation.
• Assist in high-throughput and plate-based screening experiments, including plate formatting, liquid handling, and data collection.
• Maintain detailed laboratory notebooks and electronic records; contribute to data summaries and team meeting presentations.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with biology, automation, and data teams; support inventory management and equipment maintenance scheduling.

What You’ll Need to Succeed

• B.S. or M.S. in Biology, Biochemistry, Immunology, Biomedical Engineering, or a related life science field.
• 2-5 years of hands-on laboratory experience; industry experience preferred.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience with multiplex immunoassay platforms (MSD, Luminex, and/or ELLA).
• Experience with ELISA development, optimization, and/or validation (sandwich, competitive, or bridging formats).
• Proficiency in multi-parameter flow cytometry, including panel setup, sample staining, acquisition, and basic analysis.
• Experience with tissue processing techniques including cell isolation, homogenization, lysis, and preparation for protein or nucleic acid analysis.
• Experience with primary cell culture and immortalized cell lines (IncuCyte, PBMCs, macrophages, hepatocytes, or similar).
• Strong organizational skills with meticulous attention to detail and commitment to data integrity.
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent experiments and prioritize effectively in a fast-paced environment.

Bonus Points For

• Familiarity with nucleic acid therapeutics, LNPs, or gene delivery systems.
• Basic experience with qPCR or ddPCR for gene expression or biodistribution readouts.
• Exposure to CRO sample coordination
• Familiarity with data analysis tools (e.g., Excel, Graphpad Prism, FlowJo);
• Experience contributing to assay SOP writing or protocol development.