Research Associate, Protein Purification & Quality Control

Medra is building a Physical AI Scientist platform to accelerate life science research. We are looking for a Research Associate to help build and run protein production and quality control on the Medra Physical AI platform, working alongside scientists to execute workflows that take antibodies and alternative binders from cells to purified, characterized material.

What You Will Do

You will execute automated mammalian cell growth and transfection, perform protein purification on AKTA and KingFisher platforms, and execute analytical QC by SEC. You will partner with roboticists and software engineers to translate manual purification and QC steps into reliable, high-throughput autonomous protocols, and maintain rigorous experimental records in electronic lab notebooks.

Why It Might Be a Fit

This role is for someone early in their career who loves being at the bench and is eager to grow their protein science under the guidance of experienced scientists. You bring hands-on experience with protein purification and mammalian cell culture, strong documentation habits, and a scrappy, can-do attitude. The role offers significant equity ownership, 401k, medical and dental insurance, unlimited PTO, and weekday dinners.

Requirements

• B.S. or M.S. in biochemistry, molecular biology, chemical/biological engineering, or a 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 the theory and practical pitfalls (aggregation, capture chemistry, buffer conditions, column behavior)
• Strong documentation habits, attention to detail, and the ability to juggle multiple tasks in parallel
• A basic understanding of antibody structure and function, or a strong desire to learn it
• A scrappy, can-do attitude — you figure things out, ask good questions, and get things done

Benefits

• An opportunity to change the way that scientific research happens
• Fast-paced, creative, and collaborative work environment
• Significant equity ownership
• 401k
• Medical and dental insurance
• Unlimited PTO
• Weekday dinners