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Biotechnology, Scientific Research, Life Sciences

Lab Operations Assistant (Fixed-Term Contract)

Palo Alto, CAOnsiteContractEntry-level (exp-based)Posted 8 days ago

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Required skills

  • Lab Operations Assistant
  • Fixed-Term Contract
  • research operations
  • lab spaces
  • logistics
  • scientists
  • execution-focused
  • genome engineering
  • advanced molecular tools
  • complex cellular models

Nice to have

  • incubator decontamination
  • biosafety cabinet decontamination
  • cold chain handling
  • 80°C
  • liquid nitrogen storage
  • biological samples

Role summary

Arc Institute is seeking a Lab Operations Assistant for an 18-month fixed-term contract in Palo Alto. This execution-focused role supports research operations by maintaining lab spaces, stocking consumables, managing inventory, coordinating shipping, and ensuring safety compliance. The ideal candidate has 1+ years of lab operations experience, strong organizational skills, a proactive and service-oriented mindset, and proficiency with Google Workspace or Microsoft Office Suite. Responsibilities include routine lab upkeep, receiving vendor orders, and assisting with process improvements. This position requires the ability to lift 50 pounds and work onsite 5 days a week, with occasional after-hours work.

About Arc Institute

Arc Institute is an independent nonprofit research organization at the interface of artificial intelligence and biology, working to accelerate scientific progress and understand the root causes of complex diseases. Founded in 2021 and based in Palo Alto, Arc partners with Stanford University, UC Berkeley, and UC San Francisco.

Unlike academia, our scientists have long-term funding and industry-like resources. Unlike industry, they're free to pursue high-risk, long-term research without commercial pressures. Arc's Technology Centers and Core Investigator labs work side by side, integrating experimental and computational biology under one roof to tackle problems neither could solve alone.

Our two Institute Initiatives reflect this model in action:

  • Virtual Cell Initiative: Building a full-stack virtual cell model to identify disease mechanisms and nominate drug targets, accelerating the path from biological insight to clinical trials.
  • Alzheimer's Disease Initiative: Mapping the genes, pathways, and environmental factors behind Alzheimer's disease to develop drug candidates that address root causes.

    • More than 300 Arconauts work together at our Palo Alto headquarters, backed by substantial long-term philanthropic funding.

    About the position

    We are seeking a Lab Operations Assistant to support research operations across Arc’s Technology Centers. Working closely with the Lab Manager, you will keep our shared lab spaces stocked, clean, and running smoothly, and provide hands-on support for the day-to-day logistics that scientists depend on. This will be a fixed-term, 18-month position. This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

    This is an execution-focused role. By keeping shared resources and spaces running reliably across the Technology Centers, you will help our teams carry out ambitious, highly technical research that combines genome engineering, advanced molecular tools, and complex cellular models to uncover the mechanisms underlying complex diseases like Alzheimer’s. The ideal candidate combines laboratory experience with a proactive, service-oriented mindset, identifying and removing small obstacles before they slow down science.

    About you

  • You have a customer-first mindset and take pride in supporting researchers through great service
  • You are a hands-on, organized self-starter who values safe lab practices
  • You are committed to keeping shared spaces stocked, clean, and ready for scientists to work
  • You are reliable and calm under pressure, and know when to handle an issue and when to escalate it
  • You balance routine scheduled tasks with urgent requests while keeping daily operations running smoothly
  • You stay goal-focused in a dynamic work environment
  • You enjoy working with diverse groups of people and helping teams succeed
  • You proactively identify and address maintenance needs for shared equipment and spaces
  • You are eager to learn and get satisfaction from optimizing processes

    • In this position you will

  • Perform routine TC room upkeep on a set schedule, including filling incubator water, cleaning water pans, removing BSC waste, and cleaning shared equipment
  • Stock TC rooms and lab benches with consumables and reagents, tracking stock levels and flagging items for reorder
  • Perform scheduled incubator and BSC decontaminations following established SOPs
  • Receive and unbox large vendor orders (e.g., 10x Genomics, Ultima, Illumina), organizing and logging items into inventory
  • Work alongside the Lab Manager to provide agile, flexible support to Tech Center teams
  • Coordinate shipping of samples and equipment, chase late orders, file damage and warranty claims, and locate missing items
  • Communicate clearly and concisely with lab members to maintain a high level of service
  • Contribute to process improvement by helping keep SOPs, checklists, and rotation schedules current and useful
  • Play an active role in maintaining a safe work environment by following and reinforcing safety guidelines and procedures
  • Work with the Lab Manager to prioritize tasks and assignments, offering recommendations to improve efficiency

    • Requirements

  • 1+ years of experience in a lab operations or research setting; BS degree or partial coursework in laboratory sciences preferred
  • Strong attention to detail and organizational skills
  • Ability to multi-task and prioritize in a fast-moving environment
  • Resourceful, proactive, and self-initiating, with the ability to solve problems and troubleshoot independently
  • Effective written and verbal communication skills
  • Proficiency with Google Workspace and/or Microsoft Office Suite
  • Ability to stand and walk for extended periods and to regularly bend, reach, stretch, and lift and carry boxes and supplies, with or without accommodation
  • Must have the ability to lift 50 pounds and occasionally move heavy equipment

    • Work onsite in our Palo Alto office 5 days per week. Occasional after-hours or weekend work may be required to respond to alerts.

    Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience with incubator or biosafety cabinet decontamination
  • Familiarity with cold chain handling and -80°C or liquid nitrogen storage
  • Experience with shipping and receiving, including shipping biological samples on dry ice
  • Experience with project management tracking tools such as Asana or Jira
  • Familiarity with Benchling and/or inventory management systems

    • The hourly rate range for this position is $25 - $31 per hour. These amounts reflect the range that the Institute reasonably would expect to pay a new hire or internal candidate for this position. The actual compensation paid to any individual for this position may vary depending on factors such as experience, market conditions, education/training, skill level, and whether the compensation is internally equitable, and does not include bonuses, commissions, differential pay, other forms of compensation, or benefits.

    Ready to apply?
    You'll be redirected to Arc Institute's application page.

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