Senior Research Associate – Advanced Cell Models & Assay Operations

About the role

12-month contract with potential to convert to a permanent role; on-site in Baltimore, MD. Anticipated start date: September 1, 2026. Expected salary range $60,000–$90,000, commensurate with experience.

About NCAC

The National Center to Accelerate Cures (NCAC) is an independent nonprofit institute dedicated to accelerating the regulatory acceptance and commercial adoption of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs). NCAC works with technology developers, regulators, industry, and academic partners to generate the evidence needed to validate promising NAMs for regulatory decision-making. In its first year, NCAC will validate its first NAMs, establish shared standards for the field, and build the data infrastructure needed to support regulatory review at scale.

Responsibilities

• Maintain 2D/3D cell cultures.
• Operate organ-on-chip systems.
• Execute studies under established SOPs.
• Maintain audit-ready documentation.
• Support quality control and laboratory operations.
• Assist automation workflows.

Requirements

• BS/MS with typically 4+ years of relevant experience.
• Extensive experience with mammalian cell culture.
• Experience with 2D/3D culture.
• Excellent organizational skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with organoids or organ-on-chip systems.
• Experience with automation or liquid handling.
• GLP/GCLP experience.

Commitment to Scientific Quality & Regulatory Rigor

Successful candidates will have experience working within structured scientific environments where reproducibility, standardized workflows, traceability, data integrity, and documentation are essential. Experience with SOP development, GLP/GCLP/GMP or comparable quality systems, validation studies, and audit-ready documentation is highly valued.

What You’ll Accomplish in Your First 60 Days

• Assist with laboratory setup, organization, inventory management, and commissioning of new equipment.
• Establish routine laboratory operations, including inventory management, reagent preparation, sample tracking, and equipment maintenance.
• Support implementation of NCAC's electronic laboratory notebook (ELN), documentation workflows, and quality systems.
• Receive, organize, and prepare laboratory supplies, consumables, reagents, reference compounds, and biological materials.
• Establish routine cell culture workflows and perform initial control experiments to verify laboratory readiness and reproducibility.
• Support optimization of assay execution, automation workflows, and laboratory documentation.
• Help create a laboratory environment that is organized, reproducible, and audit-ready from the outset.

Success in the First 12 Months

• Execute studies reproducibly.
• Maintain audit-ready records.
• Support efficient laboratory operations.