Research Associate, Media Formulation Development

About VitroLabs: VitroLabs, founded in 2016 and headquartered in Milpitas California, is a biotech company developing a scalable tissue engineering platform for the efficient and environmentally friendly production of leather from only a few cells.  Combining advanced tissue engineering processes with proprietary advances to achieve commercial scale, VitroLabs is on a mission to produce cell cultivated leather that achieves the look, feel and performance of traditional leather without compromise. The composition of the material achieves the complexity of traditional hides without the need to go to animals as an ongoing source of hides. The process is more environmentally sustainable and favorable for animal welfare than that which is used to produce traditional leather. 

About the role:

As the Research Associate in Medium Formulation Development, you will contribute to the development and optimization of medium formulations which are important to the growth and functionality of VitroLabs' cells and our ability to create a cost-effective product. Reporting to the Cell Biology Lead and working with scientists on the Medium Formulation Development Team, you will help execute cell-based experiments, collaborate internally with other teams, and work with external groups to holistically address a fundamental component of our product.

About You:

You want to positively affect and improve a component central to the production of VitroLab's cell-based product. You are comfortable with routine, hands-on wet-lab activities. You effectively produce and share ideas, data, and results. You are excited and wanting to grow with a novel, startup company aiming to positively affect the world by creatively solving challenging and complex problems.

Responsibilities:

• Help develop medium formulations by preparing, storing, and applying a variety of cell culture media and components; routine initiation and maintenance of cell-based experiments; and data collection.
• Contribute to the analysis, interpretation, reporting, and iteration of experimental outcomes.
• Collaborate with other internal groups to identify shared problems and solutions
• Coordinate with outside groups and vendors
• Assist with general laboratory maintenance including routine laboratory cleaning and inventory management

Qualifications & Skills:

• Excellent aseptic technique
• Experience with animal, especially mammalian, cells and cell culture
• Experience with the preparation, organization, and storage of cell culture media and components therein

Compensation:

• $70,000-$75,000 annually

Benefits

• 90-100% employer-paid health, vision, and dental care
• Flexible Spending Account/ Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
• Basic Life insurance & Long Term Disability insurance
• Commuter benefits
• 401K (Employer matching)

Perks

• Onsite employer sponsored lunches (3 days each week)
• Fully stocked kitchen (snacks responsibly sourced)
• Team happy hours and regularly scheduled table tennis, foosball, and cornhole matches

DISCLAIMER:  The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by incumbents assigned to this job. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all the functions, responsibilities, duties and skills required for the position, and VitroLabs Inc retains the discretion to modify functions, responsibilities, duties and skills at any time, including modifying the time devoted to such activities, deleting activities and assigning other activities. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.  VitroLabs Inc is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing employment opportunities without regard to race, color, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), age, national origin, religion, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.