Co-Op, Cell Based Sequencing

Your Impact at LILA

Lila Sciences is hiring a winter co-op to join the LS Experiment team at our Alewife lab in Cambridge, MA. You will support cell-based sequencing assay development to investigate RNA biology and advance our mRNA platform.

Day to day, you will run mammalian cell culture and transfections (chemical or electroporation), extract RNA, prepare samples for sequencing, and carry out bead-based purifications. You will work under the supervision of a scientist who will help you build reproducible protocols and interpret results.

The co-op runs January 11 through May 14, on site and full time. Expect hands-on bench work, careful data capture, and regular reviews where you present findings to the team.

What You'll Be Building

• Maintain and passage mammalian cell lines for assay experiments
• Transfect mammalian cell lines using chemical or electroporation methods
• Extract RNA from cultured cells and assess sample quality
• Run PCR and prepare samples for sequencing
• Perform bead-based purifications and sample cleanup
• Record protocols and results in formats ready for computational analysis
• Present experimental findings to the team in regular reviews

What You'll Need to Succeed

• Pursuing a bachelor's degree in molecular biology, biochemistry, biotechnology, bioengineering, or a related field
• Hands-on experience with mammalian cell culture and aseptic technique
• Experience with RNA extraction and PCR
• Strong attention to detail in sample handling and labeling
• Clear, consistent record keeping and comfort following detailed protocols
• Available full time on site in Cambridge, MA from January 11 to May 14

Bonus Points For

• Familiarity with next-generation sequencing library prep
• Exposure to Python or R for sequencing data analysis
• Experience with magnetic bead purification workflows
• Interest in applying AI tools in a laboratory setting