Laboratory Operations Associate

Company Summary

Serif Biomedicines is a privately held, early-stage biotechnology company developing a novel approach to gene therapy that can address currently untreatable diseases.

Serif was founded by Flagship Pioneering, an innovation enterprise that conceives, creates, resources, and grows first-in-category life sciences companies. Flagship Pioneering has created over 100 groundbreaking companies over the past twenty years, all of which are pioneering novel and proprietary biological, industrial, and engineering approaches to solve major needs in human health and sustainability. These companies include Moderna (MRNA), Syros Pharmaceuticals (SYRS), Seres Therapeutics (NASDAQ:MCRB), Generate Biomedicines, Tessera Tx, Evelo Biosciences (EVLO), and Indigo Agriculture.

Position Summary

We are seeking a highly organized and hands-on Laboratory Operations Associate to support sample management, inventory, and day-to-day operations for our CMC and broader laboratory teams. This candidate will work closely with the CMC team to build and maintain an efficient sample management and inventory system, help organize final cargo and coordinate handoffs across teams, and support procurement of key reagents and consumables.

We are looking for an individual with strong bench and instrument experience, exceptional organizational skills, and the ability to work cross-functionally with scientists and operations leadership. This is an excellent opportunity for a candidate with sample management and/or lab operations experience who is looking to grow into a lab management role, as part of a dynamic, fast-paced, and collaborative team.

Key Responsibilities

CMC Support

• Work closely with the CMC team to build out and maintain their sample management and inventory system
• Organize final cargo and support handoffs of materials to other teams across the company
• Provide regular updates on cargo inventory status to the Director of CMC, Head of Analytics, Senior Manager of Operations, and other team leads
• Partner with scientists and the Senior Manager of Operations to organize inventory and coordinate procurement of key enzymes, buffers, and other consumables.

Lab Operations Support

• Run decontamination and cleaning protocols on Fragment Analyzers and flow cytometers (including the yeast cytometer and sorter) on a weekly basis
• Complete daily "Lab Tasks" to maintain lab organization cleanliness, and readiness.
• Support lab space optimization efforts as the team grows within an increasingly confined footprint
• Troubleshoot key laboratory equipment and support routine equipment upkeep
• Perform Category B equipment maintenance (freezer defrosts, incubator PMs, centrifuge calibrations, pipette calibration scheduling, etc.)
• Provide procurement support for general lab consumables

Lab Onboarding Support

• Assist in executing new lab member onboarding, including bench allocation; procurement of benchtop equipment and consumables (pipettes, centrifuges, freezers);
• Support fridge and freezer allocation; safety training checks; and small lab consumables procurement.
• Help ensure team members are set up efficiently to work safely and effectively in the lab.

Education and Qualifications

• BS degree in Biology, chemistry, Biochemistry or related field
• 2+ years of experience in laboratory operations, sample management or both
• Hands-on bench experience at the Research Associate or Associate Scientist level
• Experience in sample management and/or laboratory operations (experience in both is a plus)
• Hands-on experience with cytometers, Fragment Analyzers, and chromatography instruments
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work cross-functionally with scientists and operations leadership
• Ability to lift up to 30 lbs
• Candidates with sample management experience who are looking to grow into a lab management role are strongly encouraged to apply
• Experience working with Benchling, specifically Workflows and Inventory is desirable.
• Experience with other LIMS or inventory systems is a plus.

More About Flagship Pioneering

We are creative optimists and we would love for you to consider joining our team! See all our open opportunities across Flagship Pioneering's Ecosystem!

Flagship Pioneering conceives, creates, resources, and develops first-in-category life sciences companies to transform human health and sustainability. Since its launch in 2000, the firm has applied a unique hypothesis-driven innovation process to originate and foster more than 100 scientific ventures, resulting in over $34 billion in aggregate value.

To date, Flagship is backed by more than $4.4 billion of aggregate capital commitments, of which over $1.9 billion has been deployed toward the founding and growth of its pioneering companies alongside more than $10 billion of follow-on investments from other institutions.

The current Flagship ecosystem comprises 41 transformative companies, including: Axcella Health (NASDAQ: AXLA), Denali Therapeutics (NASDAQ: DNLI), Evelo Biosciences (NASDAQ: EVLO), Foghorn Therapeutics, Indigo Ag, Kaleido Biosciences (NASDAQ: KLDO), Moderna (NASDAQ: MRNA), Rubius Therapeutics (NASDAQ: RUBY), Sana Biotechnology, Seres Therapeutics (NASDAQ: MCRB), and Syros Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: SYRS).

• We believe pioneering is best done by teams, and that it is a process that can be taught, learned, and replicated. Learn more about our Company Creation Model.
• Can Breakthrough Innovations Be Made Systematically? A Conversation With Noubar Afeyan, Flagship Pioneering's CEO.

Recruitment & Staffing Agencies: Flagship Pioneering and its affiliated Flagship Lab companies (collectively, "FSP") do not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than candidates. The submission of unsolicited resumes by recruitment or staffing agencies to FSP or its employees is strictly prohibited unless contacted directly by Flagship Pioneering's internal Talent Acquisition team. Any resume submitted by an agency in the absence of a signed agreement will automatically become the property of FSP, and FSP will not owe any referral or other fees with respect thereto.