Research Associate

Research Associate

Location: Long Island City (LIC), NY – Onsite, Full-Time
Compensation: $75,000-$85,000/year, based on experience, plus equity package and benefits
Reports to: CTO

About Claryx

Claryx is building a next-generation biosurveillance platform to stop infections before they start, starting with hospitals. By combining environmental sampling with advanced molecular and sequencing methods, we detect pathogens and antimicrobial resistance in near real time – enabling proactive, targeted interventions that prevent hospital-acquired infections, protect patients and improve outcomes.

Role Overview

We’re seeking a Research Associate to optimize, execute, and maintain our core molecular workflows (DNA/RNA extraction, qPCR/RT-qPCR, and metagenomic sequencing) from complex environmental matrices, including wastewater, air filters, swabs, and bacterial isolates. This role is fully onsite at our LIC lab and ideal for someone who thrives in a fast-paced, translational environment and can grow into a management position over time. An ideal candidate will have a strong background in molecular and metagenomic processing for specific DNA/RNA target detection; however, we’re open to candidates with a strong genomics laboratory background who are eager to learn and motivated by our mission.

Key Responsibilities

• Process incoming samples; perform nucleic‑acid extraction from wastewater, air, swabs, and other matrices with strict QC and contamination control.
• Execute multiplex qPCR/RT‑qPCR assays for priority pathogens and AMR panels.
• Prepare metagenomic libraries with targeted enrichment and run Illumina sequencing; coordinate with bioinformatics for downstream analysis.
• Maintain instruments and bench areas to BSL‑2 standards; log everything in ELN/LIMS with barcoding and chain‑of‑custody.
• Track inventories and consumables; contribute to SOP creation and continuous improvement as volume grows.

Qualifications

• B.S. (or higher) in Molecular Biology, Microbiology, or related field.
• 3–5+ years hands-on molecular experience, including nucleic acid extraction, qPCR, and next-generation sequencing library prep.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, QC discipline, and ELN/LIMS record-keeping.
• Experience working with wastewater, swabs, air samples, or other biosurveillance samples.
• Valid driver’s license preferred (for ongoing on-site sample collection).

Growth Path

This role is designed to evolve into Lab Manager, with increasing ownership over operations, QC, and team training as Claryx scales.