Bench Scientist - II

Job Title: Scientist (Non-PhD) - In Vitro Global Safety Pharmacology
Location: Groton, CT 06340 (ONSITE 5 days a week)
Duration: 12 Months (Possibility of extension depending upon business requirements and performance)

Preferred Candidate Profile:

• Candidates with experience in plate-based, high-throughput laboratory environments will be strongly preferred.
• This position is best suited for individuals who have worked with laboratory automation and assay-driven workflows rather than candidates whose experience is primarily focused on animal handling, tissue dissection, histology, or imaging-based animal studies.

Job Description:

• The client is seeking a highly motivated Laboratory Research Associate to support in vitro pharmacology and assay development activities in a fast-paced research laboratory.
• This role is primarily focused on executing plate-based biological assays, operating specialized laboratory instrumentation, generating high-quality experimental data, and performing data analysis.
• The ideal candidate will have hands-on industry experience with high-throughput, plate-based assay systems and be comfortable working independently in a laboratory environment with minimal training.

Key Responsibilities:

• Perform routine laboratory experiments using plate-based assay platforms.
• Operate and maintain data quality for specialized laboratory instrumentation, including fluorescence-based plate reader systems.
• Execute in vitro pharmacology and biological assays according to established protocols.
• Support high-throughput screening and assay workflows.
• Culture and maintain cell lines for experimental use.
• Analyze experimental data and ensure accuracy through quality control procedures.
• Prepare and organize datasets, summaries, and experimental results for review.
• Collaborate closely with laboratory team members to support ongoing research activities.
• Follow laboratory safety procedures and maintain accurate experimental records.
• Assist with bringing outsourced assay activities back into internal laboratory operations.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's or master's degree in biology, Pharmacology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, or a related scientific discipline.
• Hands-on laboratory experience in an industry or research setting.
• Experience with FLIPR (Fluorescence Imaging Plate Reader) or comparable fluorescence-based plate reader technology.
• Experience conducting plate-based biological assays.
• Cell culture experience.
• Experience working with laboratory instrumentation and associated software platforms.
• Ability to generate, analyze, and interpret experimental data.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to data quality.
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative laboratory environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in in vitro pharmacology.
• Experience supporting high-throughput screening (HTS) workflows.
• Familiarity with fluorescence-based assay technologies.
• Experience using GraphPad Prism for data analysis.
• Experience with electronic laboratory notebooks (ELNs).
• Prior experience working in a pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or contract research organization (CRO) environment.
• Familiarity with assay transfer, assay validation, or laboratory process implementation.

Work Environment:

• Primarily laboratory-based role.
• Significant time spent conducting experiments and operating instrumentation.
• Remaining time dedicated to data analysis, quality control, and documentation.
• Daily interaction with a small, collaborative laboratory team.
• Onsite presence required.

Success Factors:

• Proven hands-on laboratory skills.
• Experience with FLIPR or similar plate-reader technologies.
• Strong experimental execution and troubleshooting abilities.
• Ability to quickly integrate into an established laboratory workflow.
• Commitment to producing accurate, reproducible, and high-quality scientific data.