Scientist II

Contract Scientist II Biospecimen Acquisition & Management
Onsite in Pleasanton, CA | Local Candidates Only

We are seeking a highly motivated Scientist II to join a collaborative team focused on the acquisition, cultivation, and characterization of biological materials that support diagnostic research and product development. This team plays a critical role in delivering the high-quality biospecimens and microbial resources needed for clinical research, assay development, and product launches in molecular and near-patient care technologies.

In this role, youll contribute directly to daily lab operations by managing sample preparation and microbial culture activities. Youll also help maintain high standards of scientific integrity, accuracy, and documentation throughout the biospecimen lifecycle.
Key Responsibilities:

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  Independently perform project work involving human cell lines, microbial cultures, and other biological materials using standard laboratory techniques.
  
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  Culture a wide range of bacterial isolates under aerobic and anaerobic conditions , including growth optimization, banking, and sample delivery to internal clients.
  
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  Troubleshoot procedures and suggest improvements to enhance efficiency or quality.
  
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  Contribute scientific insight to help solve problems and develop new approaches to existing workflows.
  
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  Manage and execute lab tasks with minimal supervision and may serve as a lead on assigned projects.
  
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  Maintain thorough and accurate records of experimental procedures and results in validated electronic systems (e.g., LIMS, eLN).
  
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  Summarize and communicate findings through reports or presentations to project stakeholders.
  
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  Adhere strictly to BSL-2 safety protocols , laboratory SOPs, and all applicable internal and external regulatory guidelines (e.g., OSHA).
  
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  Participate in lab upkeep, safety initiatives, and compliance efforts including ISO and QSR standards .
  

Minimum Qualifications:

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  Bachelors degree in Molecular Biology, Cellular Biology, Microbiology, or a related field with 4+ years of relevant experience
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  Masters degree in a related field with 2+ years of relevant experience
  
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  Strong experience with aseptic techniques , bacterial and/or mammalian cell culture , and microbial enumeration techniques (e.g., MPN).
  
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  Familiarity with anaerobic culture techniques , ideally using anaerobic chambers.
  
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  Comfortable handling human-derived specimens (e.g., blood, serum, urine, stool) and engineered or pathogenic materials under BSL-2 conditions.
  
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  Working knowledge of microbial taxonomy and identification methods such as MALDI-TOF .
  
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  Proficiency in manual lab techniques including pipetting, plating, labeling, and sample preparation.
  
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  Excellent communication skills and the ability to collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders.
  

Preferred Skills:

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  Experience with ddPCR , LIMS software, and electronic lab notebooks (eLN).
  
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  Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; capable of working independently in a fast-paced environment.
  
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  Project management experience and/or direct interaction with clients is a plus.
  
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  Flexible and adaptable when working with unique biological materials or changing project priorities.
  
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  Highly organized with a strong attention to detail and a critical-thinking mindset.
  

This is a unique opportunity for a hands-on scientist to contribute meaningfully to diagnostic product innovation. Youll work with a passionate, multidisciplinary team and apply your technical skills to projects that impact patient care and public health.

EEO Statement Apollo Professional Solutions, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, disability status, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, protected veteran status, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other status or characteristic protected under federal, state, or local law.