Research Associate
DINYA
Summary
We are seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented Research Associate to join the team as we develop and scale our unique DNA synthesis technology. You will contribute to foundational experiments, protocol development, and manufacturing scale-up while working directly with the founding team. In this role, you will help build a culture of scientific excellence within the company.
Job description
The Role
We are seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented Research Associate to join the team as we develop and scale our unique DNA synthesis technology. You will contribute to foundational experiments, protocol development, and manufacturing scale-up while working directly with the founding team. In this role, you will help build a culture of scientific excellence within the company.
What You'll Do
- Independently execute and optimize molecular biology experiments focused on DNA workflows.
- Refine protocols for the production and analysis of DNA products, ensuring scalability and reproducibility.
- Prepare and clearly communicate data and experimental methodology.
- Troubleshoot and solve technical challenges in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team, including automation and bioinformatics experts.
- Maintain comprehensive documentation of experiments, including data analysis, protocols, and results.
- Contribute to the development of quality control methods and analytical techniques to ensure the accuracy and reliability of DNA products.
- Collaborate with the team to transition R&D projects to scalable production workflows.
Essential Qualifications
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, or a related field.
- 1-3 years of hands-on experience in molecular biology.
- Strong laboratory skills with a demonstrated ability to execute, troubleshoot, and optimize protocols.
- Prior experience with DNA workflows, including DNA cloning and sequencing.
- Excellent communication skills, both written and oral, with the ability to present complex data clearly and concisely.
- Passion for innovation and a desire to be part of a startup that is pushing the boundaries of synthetic biology.
Strongly Preferred
- Experience with automated liquid handling technology.
- Experience with high throughput workflows.
- Familiarity with bioinformatics tools for design and sequencing of DNA.
- Experience supporting laboratory operations, including inventory management, equipment maintenance, and reagent tracking.
- Familiarity with SOPs, quality control documentation, and laboratory best practices.
What Will Make You Stand Out
- You've built a protocol or process that didn't exist before and made it work reliably.
- You've worked in a setting where you had to figure it out, not just follow a manual.
- You're the kind of person who notices a problem and fixes it before being asked.
Requirements
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, or a related field
- 1-3 years of hands-on experience in molecular biology
- Strong laboratory skills with demonstrated ability to execute, troubleshoot, and optimize protocols
- Prior experience with DNA workflows, including DNA cloning and sequencing
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Experience with automated liquid handling technology (preferred)
- Experience with high throughput workflows (preferred)
- Familiarity with bioinformatics tools for design and sequencing of DNA (preferred)
- Experience supporting laboratory operations, including inventory management, equipment maintenance, and reagent tracking (preferred)
- Familiarity with SOPs, quality control documentation, and laboratory best practices (preferred)
Benefits
- Competitive Salary
- Equity
- Comprehensive Benefits Package
Company overview
DINYA DNA, LLC is a privately held biotechnology startup headquartered in Durham, North Carolina, focused on next-generation DNA synthesis. The company is developing an exponential synthesis platform that enables rapid, high-fidelity production of long and complex, gene-length DNA sequences for research applications. Unlike traditional methods that build DNA one nucleotide at a time and are limited to short strands, DINYA's hierarchical approach relies on small 2-5 base-pair DNA precursors that are enzymatically assembled into progressively larger sequences in an exponential fashion. This innovation aims to significantly reduce costs and turnaround times while enabling synthesis of long and complex DNA that conventional methods struggle to produce. In 2024, DINYA received a National Science Foundation STTR Phase I award in collaboration with Duke University to commercialize its architect-directed DNA synthesis technology. The company serves the synthetic biology, biopharma, and genetics research markets, positioning itself as an emerging player in the DNA synthesis and synthetic biology tools space.