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Research Associate / Molecular biology & Microbiology Technician

Barcelona, Spain| Full-Time / On-Site| Starting date: Immediately

Who We Are

ALLOX is a spin-off of the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) and draws on the expertise and technology developed in the lab of Ben Lehner. The company was born out of the realisation that combining systematic mutagenesis, high-throughput phenotyping and biophysical modelling has the potential to revolutionise drug development but also transform biotechnology in general. Our immediate goal is to identify allosteric switches in all proteins and then leverage this unprecedented resource to rapidly develop novel medicines to treat human diseases. Our long-term vision is to become a leader in programmable biology, building the next generation of tools to predict, design and engineer new protein functions. We believe in a future where humanity will be able to harness the power of biology to solve our most pressing issues. We are expanding our interdisciplinary team with highly motivated individuals who are excited by this bold vision, share our sense of urgency, but are not willing to compromise on integrity. At ALLOX the success of our revolutionary scientific approach is as important to us as our mission to create a healthy, honest and respectful culture, both internally and with our partners.


For additional information, please visit: https://www.allox.bio/

Who You Are

ALLOX is looking for a highly motivated and adaptable individual to join their growing team as a Research Associate. As a vital member of the experimental biology team, you will help validate therapeutically relevant targets on our DoubleDeepPCA technology so that these could be fed into our platform aimed at identifying novel allosteric sites. Specifically, you will conduct a variety of different molecular biology and microbiology techniques, including designing and performing molecular cloning, plasmid sequencing, bacteria/yeast handling, and phenotypic screening. The job involves regular communication and interaction with other members of the experimental and computational team, requiring an organised thinker, problem-solver, and proactive team player. This position offers the opportunity to work in a multidisciplinary team on cutting-edge technologies at the intersection of molecular biology, high-throughput genomics, and protein engineering.

What You'll Do

  • Experimentally validate new therapeutically relevant targets entering the ALLOX allostery platform.
  • Provide support to the platform team in periods of high demand or for specific tasks (e.g., preparation of molecular biology materials).
  • Participate in innovation-side projects for the optimization and throughput expansion of the target validation and allostery platform capabilities.
  • Identify experimental risks or bottlenecks and proactively suggest improvements and/or solutions. 
  • Work diligently to meet scientific deliverables and milestones within agreed-upon quality and timelines. 
  • Keep meticulous records of experimental procedures and results to ensure traceability and reproducibility within the company’s laboratory information management system (Benchling). 
  • Establish clear and open communication channels with the line manager and project team members to keep stakeholders informed about workloads, issues, progress, results, innovations, and developments.
  • Seek input and feedback from internal and external team members to understand their requirements and effectively prioritise workloads.
  • Share acquired skills and knowledge with other team members to enhance collective capabilities.
  • Actively exemplify best practices and behaviours to foster a positive, productive, and inclusive working environment.
  • Participate fully in the general duties of the company, contributing to its overall success.


Job & Technical Competencies Requirements

Requisits
  • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Biology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Biological Engineering, or a related field.
  • 3+ years of full-time wet lab experience (industry or academia).
  • Proficiency in typical molecular biology techniques, including PCR, plasmid cloning, primer and plasmid design, DNA extraction, purification and quantification.
  • Hands-on experience with microbiology transformation, cell culture, and handling.
  • Demonstrated ability to quickly learn new methods and approaches.
  • Strong teamwork and collaborative attitude.
  • Capacity to adjust rapidly to shifting priorities, delivering high-quality, detail-oriented results in a timely manner, including punctual time schedule shifts.
  • Strong organisational and record-keeping skills.
  • Organised thinker with excellent communication skills, thriving in a multidisciplinary, fast-paced team environment.
  • Fluent English.
Desirable
  • Biotechnology industry experience.
  • Experience with Illumina/Nanopore sequencing protocols.
  • Experience with Saccharomyces cerevisiae handling and culture. 
  • Familiarity with the Benchling laboratory information management system.
  • Fluent Spanish and/or Catalan.

Compensation & Benefits

To determine starting pay, we consider multiple job-related factors including a candidate’s skills, education and experience, the level at which they are actually hired, market demand, business needs, and internal parity. We may also adjust this range in the future based on market data.


This role is eligible for participation in our Annual Performance Bonus Plan (based on company goals by role level and annual company performance) and all employees are offered Equity, subject to the terms of those plans and associated policies.


In addition, ALLOX also provides our employees:

  • 25 days annual leave (excluding public holidays)
  • Paid parental leave
  • Free drinks, snacks and regular team meals

Let’s make programmable biology a reality

The startup nature of ALLOX provides multiple growth opportunities into other areas of the company. As one of the early employees at ALLOX, your work will have a direct impact on the foundation of a groundbreaking new approach to biotechnology.

Application Process

To apply please submit your CV and a cover letter, summarising your suitability for the role and why you’d like to join our team, to careers@allox.bio


Closing date for applications is December 15th, 2024. We encourage applicants to submit their application at the earliest opportunity as the closing date may be brought forward if a high volume of applications are received.

asabys

Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG)

C/ Dr. Aiguader, 88, PRBB Building,

08003 Barcelona, Spain

All our switches