Scientific Research & Customer Engagement Associate

Expected start date: May or June 2026Position OverviewWe are seeking a motivated Scientific Research & Customer Engagement Associate to support both our laboratory research and our growing customer-facing activities.This is a unique hybrid role ideal for someone who:enjoys hands-on wet lab work,is comfortable interacting with researchers and customers,wants to grow technical and commercial skills in a startup environment, andis excited about representing innovative scientific technology.The base salary is fully funded through our NIH Phase II SBIR award for research-related efforts. Sales-related activities are compensated through a commission structure.ResponsibilitiesResearch & Lab Support (≈70%) – SBIR-FundedAssist the Research Scientist with experiments, including gel casting, electrophoresis, transfers, and imaging.Prepare and QC gels, buffers, and consumables.Maintain clean lab space, inventories, and equipment.Help generate application data, figures, and technical documentation.Contribute to product development and reproducibility testing.Participate in internal R&D discussions, protocol revisions, and troubleshooting.Customer-Facing Engagement (≈30%) – Company-FundedAttend conferences and trade shows; assist with booth setup, demos, and customer interactions.Conduct or support product demonstrations, both in-person and virtual.Respond to inbound customer inquiries and assist with follow-up.Help identify potential customers (academic labs, biotech groups) and support email outreach.Gather customer feedback to relay to the R&D team.Maintain simple CRM records and support light marketing execution (application notes, FAQs, etc.).Compensation StructureBase Salary (R&D duties):$50,000/year, funded by NIH Phase II SBIRCovers research, development, QC, and internal lab supportCommission (customer-facing duties):Commission (negotiable rates) for equipment and consumable salesPaid quarterly on completed transactionsIntended to reward high-quality customer engagement and successful follow-throughOther Benefits:Simple IRA matching up to 3%Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement up to $1,000 per monthOpportunity to earn stock optionsTravel reimbursement for conferences and customer visitsScientific conference attendanceOpportunity to work directly with leadershipRapid skill development in both biotech R&D and biotech commercializationQualificationsRequiredAt least a Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Bioengineering, or related discipline.Hands-on wet-lab experience (e.g., western blotting, gel electrophoresis, buffer preparation, or cell culture).Strong interpersonal and communication skills.Comfort speaking with researchers and customers in technical but approachable terms.Ability to travel up to 25% for scientific conferences and demos.Ability to work effectively in a small, dynamic startup environment.PreferredExperience with western blotting.Prior customer-facing experience (teaching, tutoring, outreach, sales, communications).Interest in entrepreneurship or scientific product commercialization.Strong organizational skills and comfort with multitasking.Who Will Thrive in This RoleThis job is an excellent fit for a person who:Likes a balance between bench work and talking to peopleLearns quickly and adapts easilyWants exposure to both science and businessEnjoys helping customers adopt new technologyWants to grow with a startup and make a real impact