Research Associate
US$85,000 – US$115,000 / yr base salary
Posted 22 Aug 2026
Advertised as “Product Development - Research Associate 2 / Sr. Research Associate ”
BranchFactor Summary
The original posting with the fluff stripped out
- Expected experience
- 3+ yrs
- Management level
- Individual contributor
- Employment
- Hybrid
- Contract
- Full-time
| Base salary | US$85,000 – US$115,000 / yr |
|---|
Field of studyBiochemistry, Genomics, Molecular Biology (or related)
Study levelBachelor's or higher
At Personalis, we are transforming the active management of cancer through breakthrough personalized testing. We aim to drive a new paradigm for cancer management, guiding care from biopsy through the life of the patient. Our highly sensitive assays combine tumor-and-normal profiling with proprietary algorithms to deliver advanced insights even as cancer evolves over time. Our products are designed to detect minimal residual disease (MRD) and recurrence at the earliest timepoints, enable selection of targeted therapies based on ultra-comprehensive genomic profiling, and enhance biomarker strategy for drug development. Personalis is based in Fremont, California.
Summary:
In this role, you will collaborate with a multidisciplinary R&D team of scientists, assay developers, and clinicians to plan, execute, and analyze cutting-edge oncology solutions. You will provide hands-on NGS equipment operation and library preparation using real-world samples to develop novel precision medicine products used by pharma, biotech, and clinical partners.
Responsibilities
- Assay & Workflow Execution: Support R&D scientists in developing, optimizing, and validating novel oncology assays and workflows.
- Sample Prep & Library Generation: Extract DNA/RNA from biological samples (blood, tissue) and construct high-quality libraries for Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS).
- Validation & Collaboration Studies: Process sample cohorts for critical assay validation studies and external industry/academic collaborations under tight timelines.
- Protocol Refinement: Evaluate new protocols as a front-line user and provide constructive feedback to optimize standard operating procedures (SOPs).
- Documentation & Reporting: Maintain meticulous sample tracking and experimental records in lab notebooks; present findings in team meetings.
- Compliance: Maintain compliance with safety guidelines, quality standards, and company policies.
Qualifications
- Education: BS/MS in Molecular Biology, Genomics, Biochemistry, or a related biological science.
- Experience: 3+ years of hands-on molecular biology laboratory experience (biotech/pharma preferred).
- Technical Expertise: Proficiency in DNA/RNA extraction, quality control (e.g., Qubit, TapeStation), and NGS library preparation.
- Assay Specialization: Experience with liquid biopsy (cfDNA/cfRNA) or FFPE sample processing is strongly preferred.