Research Associate

Research Associate C5R San Francisco, CA Job Details Temporary | Full-time $70,000 - $100,000 a year 17 hours ago Benefits Relocation assistance Health insurance Qualifications Bachelor of Science Scientific research Spectroscopy Chromatography Bachelor's degree Research and development laboratory environment Full Job Description Research Associate - Biology, Chemistry & Materials Science C5R is building facilities that connect frontier AI to the physical world. We see this connection as a force for good in expanding humanity's tech tree. We are hiring hands-on experimentalists to run bench experiments across biology, chemistry, and materials science while helping build our in-house lab in San Francisco from the ground up. You do not need experience in every domain. What matters most is that you have personally run careful hands-on experiments, can learn quickly across adjacent fields, and are excited to help build a new kind of AI-enabled lab. This is not a role focused on one narrow scientific question. It is about operating, testing, and improving systems that help AI understand and execute the scientific process itself. What You Will Do Run daily lab operations, including bench organization, inventory management, sample preparation, and routine assays or measurements. Run high-throughput experimental workflows across disciplines, such as protein expression, chemistry workflows, materials synthesis, characterization, sample prep, and instrument-based measurements. Troubleshoot experiments, document results carefully, and iterate alongside AI systems as the scientist in the loop. Source and buy equipment, reagents, consumables, and supplies; set up instruments and improve lab infrastructure as we scale. Work with the engineering team to improve lab systems, data capture, robotic workflows, and experimental reliability. Jump into a wide range of evolving responsibilities as we build the facility while operating it. What We Are Looking For Hands-on lab experience in at least one relevant area: biology, chemistry, materials science, chemical engineering, bioengineering, or a related experimental field. Undergraduate students, BS or MS graduates, early PhD candidates, or people with equivalent practical experience can all be a strong fit, especially if you want to stay hands-on. Experience as a Research Associate, Associate Scientist, Lab Technician, Process Engineer, Materials Engineer, Scientist I, or similar hands-on role for at least 1 year is especially relevant. Strong attention to detail, diligence, and pride in running experiments carefully. Comfort with ambiguity. We will not have standard operating procedures for everything yet, so you should enjoy turning uncertainty into a workable plan. Enthusiasm for doing science in a new way, and for working alongside AI systems as collaborators rather than just tools. Ability to work onsite in San Francisco. Relevant Backgrounds Any one of these can be a strong fit: Biology or bioengineering: protein expression, assays, wet lab workflows, sample prep, cell biology, molecular biology, biochemistry, lab operations. Chemistry: synthesis, analytical chemistry, formulation, purification, sample prep, spectroscopy, chromatography, reaction setup, protocol troubleshooting. Materials science: materials synthesis, characterization, microscopy, spectroscopy, polymers, ceramics, battery materials, thin films, instrumentation, process development. Lab automation or operations: setting up instruments, managing inventory, improving lab workflows, integrating equipment, or working with robotic systems. Nice To Have Experience working in two or more areas within biology, chemistry, or materials science. Experience in a startup, early lab, core facility, shared lab, or environment where you had to build processes from scratch. Interest in AI for science, self-driving labs, robotics, scientific infrastructure, or automated experimentation. Evidence that you can communicate clearly with engineers, scientists, and operators. Compensation And Terms $70,000-$100,000 annualized for full-time. Temporary stints of at least 3 months may be possible. This role is onsite in San Francisco only. Pay: $70,000.00 - $100,000.00 per year Benefits: Health insurance Relocation assistance Work Location: In person