Company Overview

 

At Renasant Bio, we are driven by a singular goal: to change what’s possible for patients with kidney disease. ADPKD remains one of the most challenging areas in medicine, and we believe it requires bold thinking, rigorous science, and a team committed to doing things differently.

 

We’re looking for individuals who bring both scientific rigor and creativity to hard problems, and who believe great work is built through respectful, direct collaboration. You communicate with honesty and transparency, adapt quickly as priorities evolve, and hold yourself—and others—to a high standard. Above all, you operate with urgency and purpose, grounded in the knowledge that patients are waiting.

 

Based at Bakar Labs in Berkeley, CA, we are advancing new therapies designed to make a meaningful difference for patients.

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The Role

 

We are seeking a highly motivated Contract Research Associate / Senior Research Associate with strong hands-on expertise in mammalian tissue culture and cell line generation to support our Early Discovery Biology team. 

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This is a bench-focused role critical to enabling our discovery pipeline through the generation, maintenance, and characterization of robust cell models. The ideal candidate is highly organized, technically strong in tissue culture, and comfortable working in a fast-moving startup environment with evolving priorities. 

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Key Responsibilities

 

• Independently perform mammalian tissue culture, including cell maintenance, expansion, passaging, cryopreservation, and cell banking.

• Generate and characterize stable mammalian cell lines, including pooled and clonal populations.

• Execute cell engineering workflows including transfection/transduction, antibiotic selection, and clone expansion.

• Support cell-based assays and experimental workflows across discovery programs.

• Monitor cell health, troubleshoot culture issues, and ensure consistent high-quality cell supply.

• Maintain accurate experimental records and support protocol optimization.

• Manage tissue culture reagents, inventory, and general lab organization.

• Collaborate closely.

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Required Qualifications​

 

• BS or MS in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, or related field. 

• 3+ years (RA) or 5+ years (Senior RA) of hands-on mammalian cell culture experience. 

• Demonstrated expertise in aseptic technique and mammalian cell line maintenance. 

• Experience generating stable cell lines (transfection/transduction, selection, clonal expansion).

• Experience with cell counting, viability assessment, and cryopreservation.

• Strong troubleshooting, organizational, and communication skills.

• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced team environment.

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Preferred 

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• Biotech industry experience.

• Familiarity with molecular biology techniques (RNA prep, protein prep).

• Experience with protein characterization methods (Western blot, immunostaining, flow cytometry).

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Pay Range: $38.46 - $43.25 / hour

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Final compensation will be based on a candidate’s qualifications, experience, and geographic location. Contractors will be eligible for health benefits and be paid via third party.
 

We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristics.
 
Please note that we do not accept unsolicited resumes from recruitment agencies and external recruiters. No fees will be paid for such submissions.
 

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.​