Research Assistant

Job Description

About the Company: Lila Sciences

Lila Sciences is an early-stage, privately held technology company with a pioneering mission: to apply artificial intelligence to fundamentally transform every aspect of the scientific method. The company is backed by Flagship Pioneering, which provides significant resources, long-term vision, and the courage necessary to achieve ambitious results.

Lila Sciences is actively engaged in a Physical Sciences effort, focused on developing a novel AI and data-driven approach specifically for materials discovery and development. The ultimate goal of this initiative is to accelerate the global transition towards a sustainable economy.

The company emphasizes a unique cross-functional and collaborative culture, actively reimagining traditional teamwork and communication. They seek individuals with an inclusive mindset and diverse perspectives, valuing the idea that experience comes in many forms, skills are transferable, and passion is highly impactful. Lila’s teams are encouraged to thrive in unstructured and creative environments where all voices are heard. The company encourages potential candidates to apply even if they only possess some of the listed experience, highlighting its open and flexible hiring approach.

About the Job: Research Assistant (Physical Sciences Experiments Team)

This role is for a Research Assistant within the Lila Physical Sciences Experiments Team, located in Cambridge, MA. The primary purpose of this position is to support the company’s innovative electrochemical workflows.

The Research Assistant will work in a highly collaborative environment, closely interacting with engineering, automation, and data teams. This role offers a significant opportunity to contribute to the design of workflows and directly impact breakthroughs in materials discovery.

Key Responsibilities (What You’ll Be Building):

• High Throughput Electrochemical Testing: Design and execute high-throughput electrochemical testing procedures in collaboration with scientists. Responsibilities include ensuring optimal instrument performance and promptly addressing any issues related to the scientific process, hardware, or software with the relevant teams.
• Autonomous Testing Workflows: Engage with cross-functional teams to develop and implement autonomous testing workflows. This involves prototyping, training robotic systems, and deploying these solutions.
• Workflow Optimization: Partner with scientists to identify and resolve bottlenecks within existing workflows, aiming to enhance overall efficiency and throughput of experiments.
• Robotic Instrument Troubleshooting: Maintain and debug robotic instruments, working closely with the automation team to implement effective and lasting solutions for any issues that arise.
• Data Management: Oversee the entire process of data collection and storage. This includes identifying and addressing any weaknesses or inefficiencies within the data pipeline to ensure both data integrity and easy accessibility for analysis.

Required Qualifications (What You’ll Need to Succeed):

• Educational Background: A Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Materials Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a closely related scientific or engineering field.
• Technical Expertise: Fundamental knowledge of various electrochemical processes, specifically including techniques such as Cyclic Voltammetry (CV), Chronopotentiometry (CP), Chronoamperometry (CA), Linear Sweep Voltammetry (LSV), Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS), and Open Circuit Potential (OCP). Experience with autonomous workflows and robotic systems is also required.
• Programming Skills: Proficiency in Python programming is essential for this role.
• Organizational Skills: Demonstrated exceptional organizational abilities coupled with a keen attention to detail.
• Communication Skills: Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the capacity to convey complex technical information clearly and effectively to diverse audiences.
• Soft Skills: Proven problem-solving abilities, adaptability to changing environments and challenges, and a collaborative mindset for working effectively within multidisciplinary teams.

Preferred Qualifications (Bonus Points For):

• Additional Laboratory Techniques: Familiarity with various material synthesis and characterization methods, such as X-ray Fluorescence (XRF), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM/EDS).
• Industry Experience: Previous experience working in a fast-paced research environment, particularly one that adheres to industry standards within materials science.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion:

Lila Sciences is dedicated to equal employment opportunity, affirming its commitment regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, or veteran status.