Lab Technician/Operations Manager (Contract)

<h3><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>tl;dr</strong></span></h3> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">General Proximity is a seed-stage startup developing the next generation of induced proximity medicines (IPMs). Our OmniTAC drug discovery engine furnishes molecules that co-opt existing cellular machinery to overcome therapeutic challenges, which have remained unapproachable to other modalities for decades.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">We are seeking a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uyzqmn8Azuo" target="_blank">first-rate</a> Lab Technician / Operations Manager to help us pioneer this uncharted frontier of drug discovery.</span></p> <hr> <h3><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Our Story</strong></span></h3> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">A long-standing challenge in drug discovery is the development of molecules capable of modulating difficult or "undruggable" targets. Disease-causing proteins can be dysfunctional in many different ways, but our armamentarium for fixing them is quite limited. The most common mechanism of action for FDA-approved drugs is inhibition<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nrd.2016.230" target="_blank">[1]</a>, but there are many other possible perturbation types whose potential remains unrealized.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">General Proximity is a seed-stage drug discovery company developing a novel platform technology to solve this problem. We make bifunctional drugs that induce the modification of drug targets by existing cellular machinery (rather than through direct modulation by the drug, the classical approach).</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Historically, the development of technologies that allow one to push new buttons in biology has been an incredibly fertile field for the discovery of new medicines[<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nrd3410" target="_blank">2</a>, <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nrd.2016.213" target="_blank">3</a>, <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nrd.2016.211" target="_blank">4</a>], and our technology holds the same promise.</span></p> <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <h3><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>The Position</strong></span></h3> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">We are seeking an experienced Laboratory Technician / Operations Manager to support our Biology and Platform teams. In this position, you will work at the intersection of lab operations, infrastructure management, and research and development. <span data-contrast="auto">This job requires strong skills and&nbsp;demonstra</span>ble&nbsp;experience in <strong><span data-contrast="auto">all</span></strong><span data-contrast="auto"> </span><strong>three</strong> <strong>areas</strong>: lab operations, management, and cell/molecular biology.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Your responsibilities will include 1) general lab management&nbsp;and technician&nbsp;duties: maintaining lab stocks, inventories and ordering, <span data-contrast="auto">registering and preparing compounds stocks,</span><span data-contrast="auto">&nbsp;preparing buffers/media</span><span data-contrast="auto">, and receiving supplies; 2) operations: organizational and operational tasks, procurement, and equipment acquisition; and 3) biological research: assisting teams with maintaining cell lines and performing cell-based assays</span><span data-contrast="auto">. You will either train or coordinate the training of new members on the different assays we use in our company.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}">&nbsp;</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">This is a full-time contract role with the potential to convert to a regular employee position based on performance.</span></p> <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <h3><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>About You</strong></span></h3> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><strong>High Agency.</strong> Initiative, independence, and self-accountability are some of our most valued traits.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><strong>Enthusiastic.</strong> We love people who are excited about what they are doing and are generally attempting to build a high-energy team.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><strong>Intensity and Grit.</strong> Early-stage startups are hard. Drug discovery is doubly so. We are looking for candidates who have a demonstrated ability to stick with complex problems for the long haul, with a team that has your back along the way.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><strong>Prosocial.</strong> We are here to create life-saving medicines for the patients who need it most. You should be, too.</span></p> <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <h3><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Qualifications &amp; Nice-To-Haves</strong></span></h3> <ul> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 10pt;">BS&nbsp;in Biology or related life sciences field,&nbsp;with a minimum of&nbsp;2&nbsp;years&nbsp;of experience&nbsp;in&nbsp;maintaining&nbsp;laboratory operations for a group of 10+ scientists.&nbsp;</span></li> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Excellent attention to detail, exceptional organizational and problem-solving skills, top-notch written and interpersonal communication skills.</span></li> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Proactive mindset towards identifying and solving potential issues to ensure seamless operations.<span data-ccp-props="{}">&nbsp;</span></span></li> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Experience managing sample inventories, vendors, EHS compliance, and lab safety.<br><br></span></li> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><strong>Proficiency in:</strong></span> <ul> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Mammalian cell culture and passaging/seeding cells</span></li> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Cell-based assays</span></li> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Registration of inventory and compound stock preparation</span></li> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Experience with HTS and phenotypic assay development</span></li> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Plasmid design/cloning and PCR</span><br><br></li> </ul> </li> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><strong>Nice to have:</strong></span> <ul> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Working knowledge of LIMS/database systems is highly desirable</span></li> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Transient/stable protein expression and characterization, immunoprecipitation assays</span></li> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Experience with flow cytometry/cell sorting</span></li> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Any computational or programming skills would also be a bonus</span></li> </ul> </li> </ul> <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <h3><a href="https://www.generalproximity.bio/benefits" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Benefits</strong></span></a></h3> <ul> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Strong equity incentives. We are looking for candidates who will bring a strong sense of ownership to drive their project areas forward, and we believe that you deserve to be compensated accordingly.</span></li> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Top tier medical, dental, and vision coverage + One Medical membership.</span></li> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">401(k) retirement plans.</span></li> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Education and health/fitness incentive programs.</span></li> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Meditation retreats—do a ten-day Vipassana retreat without counting towards vacation days.&nbsp;</span></li> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Reading budget! We will buy you books. 📚</span></li> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Located in the MBC BioLabs at 135 Mississippi Street, an entrepreneurial hub full of the best scientists and operators the Bay Area has to offer. Our lab is a very short walk from the 22nd St Caltrain Station and a number of wonderful restaurants and cafés.</span></li> </ul> <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <h3><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>About Us</strong></span></h3> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><strong>Work Hard/Play Hard.</strong> We believe time is our most valuable commodity, so we strive to create a culture that reflects this. We won’t drag you through unnecessary meetings or email you at 7 PM on a Saturday. When we're at work, we're there to get things done, and when we're off, we're really off. 🌴</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><strong>Strong Communication.</strong> We like well-written documents over PowerPoints, OKRs over vague mission statements, and weekly one-on-ones over yearly reviews.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><strong>Writing First.</strong> We have a "writing-first" culture. We believe that clarity of writing reflects clarity of thinking and that the benefits of well-written documentation in a scientific environment are innumerable: democratization of ideation and decision-making, increased reproducibility, quicker scaling and onboarding, and better company-wide alignment, to name a few.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><strong>Growth.</strong> As an early-stage startup, we value scientists with an independent, can-do attitude. The more hats you can wear, the better. Our job as employers is to put you in positive feedback loops so you can grow in the direction of your choosing.</span></p> <hr> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Title and compensation commensurate with experience. Applications from candidates of diverse backgrounds, women, and members of underrepresented minority groups are particularly welcomed. We look forward to hearing from you. :)</span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><strong>More info at&nbsp;<a href="https://jobs.generalproximity.bio/">jobs.generalproximity.bio</a></strong></span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p>