---
title: 'Research Associate, Applied Cell Line Development & Customer Programs at Prolific Machines'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/research-associate-applied-cell-line-development-customer-programs-prolific-hv3h0hzbkh2e'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-11-09'
---

# Research Associate, Applied Cell Line Development & Customer Programs at Prolific Machines

- **Company:** Prolific Machines
- **Location:** Emeryville, CA
- **Compensation:** $73k–$118k
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-11-07
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-11-09
- **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/prolific-machines/ef0cf738-8919-41b4-a01c-e8cbbd297a5c

## Job description

Prolific Machines is ushering in a new era of biotechnology with light. Our first-of-its-kind optogenetic platform delivers unprecedented control, precisely guiding cellular behavior when and where it matters most. Unlike existing tools used to control biology, our technology enables dynamic, tunable control over virtually any cellular function in any cell type. We're enabling partners to unlock robust efficiency, quality, and reproducibility advantages across the most complex pharmaceuticals and therapeutic proteins. Prolific is supported by leading investors, including Bill Gates’s Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Mayfield and SOSV.

We are seeking a skilled Research Associate to join our Cell Line Development team, contributing technically and scientifically to the advancement of multiple projects while bringing innovation and new perspectives to our workflows. This role will be based on-site in Emeryville, CA and will report to a Principal Scientist of the Cell Line Development department.

Responsibilities:

- Own and drive workflows using mammalian cell culture, primarily working with suspension HEK and suspension CHO
- Generate stable cell lines via transfection (ie electroporation) and selection as well as serving as the primary technical owner of many genetically distinct cell lines at once
- Handle protein production workflows at different scales - deep well plates and shake flasks, potentially including small scale bioreactors such as the Ambr system
- Execute downstream readouts such as cell counting (Celleca, nucleocounter), metabolite measurements (Nova / CEDEX), Octet BLI, flow cytometry
- Perform single cell isolation using methods such as FACS, cell deposition, or Beacon
- Execute plasmid cloning and molecular biology techniques including PCR and ddPCR
- Conduct experiments independently, collect and analyze data in a timely manner, maintain detailed documentation in electronic lab notebooks, and data visualization and presentation in team meetings

Requirements:

- Bachelor's degree in Biology, Bioengineering, Biotechnology, or a related field, with relevant laboratory experience in mammalian cell culture. Candidates will be considered at the Research Associate I, Research Associate II, and Senior Research Associate levels based on their experience, technical proficiency, and demonstrated independence.
- Proficient in mammalian cell culture, preferably with experience in cell line development, and are well versed in sterile technique, transfection, and clone isolation
- Comfortable with readouts such as cell counting, metabolite measurement, Octet BLI and flow cytometry
- Comfortable with developing and proposing experimental plans, conducting experiments, and troubleshooting analytical techniques and methodologies
- Proficient in precisely following protocols, designing and executing experiments independently, and managing multiple tasks in a fast-paced setting
- Self-starter who’s committed to team science and effective independent work
- Strong organizational skills with an interest in creating and maintaining organizational infrastructure for both lab experiments and with data analysis
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
- Excitement for working in a fast-paced startup environment and comfort with evolving project scopes and shifting priorities

We recognize that strong candidates may not meet every preferred qualification. If you have a solid foundation in mammalian cell culture, a commitment to high-quality laboratory work, and enthusiasm for learning, we encourage you to apply.

Benefits: Generous equity package in an early stage company, retirement plan with company contribution, flexible PTO with healthy time off minimums, company-covered medical, dental, and vision insurance, life and disability insurance, career coaching, mental health support, free team lunches everyday, great snacks, and companywide social events! Diversity: Prolific Machines values diverse perspectives, backgrounds, experiences, and ideas. We are committed to building an inclusive workplace where all employees can bring their authentic selves to work and have equal opportunities to succeed. Prolific Machines is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Location: The San Francisco Bay Area (Emeryville, CA)

## About Prolific Machines

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Prolific Machines uses optogenetics—controlling gene expression with light—to dramatically improve the productivity, quality, and control of biologics manufacturing.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Series A, later-stage)
- **Headquarters**: Emeryville, California, United States
- **Founded**: 2020
- **Founders**: Deniz Kent (CEO), Max Huisman (CTO), and others (including Declan Jones, CIO)

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Biotechnology (Industrial Biomanufacturing, Synthetic Biology)
- **Target customers**: Biotech and pharmaceutical companies developing biologics (including complex, difficult-to-express molecules), and CDMOs (Contract Development and Manufacturing Organizations).
- **Mission statement**: “To enable the next generation of biologic medicines by transforming how they are manufactured.” [prolific-machines.com](https://www.prolific-machines.com/about-us)

## Products & Services
- **enLIGHTtened BioManufacturing Platform**: An integrated system combining optogenetics-enabled cell lines, plug-and-play illumination hardware (compatible with standard bioreactors), AI-driven process optimization software, and advanced analytics. It offers dynamic, real-time control of protein expression to boost yields and product quality. [prolific-machines.com](https://www.prolific-machines.com/about-us)
- **Preclinical Cell Line & Process Development Services**: Early-stage development services offered to pharma and biotech partners.
- **Platform Licensing**: Options for partners to license the technology for in-house or CDMO-based manufacturing.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly available.
- **Total Funding**: $109M across multiple rounds (including a $42M Series A in September 2022, a $12M Seed round, and several earlier Convertible Notes). [linkedin.com](https://linkedin.com/company/prolific-machines)
- **Estimated Annual Revenue**: ~$3.5M (based on third-party estimates). [linkedin.com](https://linkedin.com/company/prolific-machines)
- **Notable Investors**: Includes a syndicate of over 12 investors in the Series A round, and a strong base of early backers.
- **Growth Signals**: Year-over-year headcount growth of +4.8% (reaching 54 employees). The company has expanded its team across the US, Ghana, France, and Denmark. Job postings for roles in engineering, operations, and analytical sciences indicate ongoing scaling. [linkedin.com](https://linkedin.com/company/prolific-machines)

## Competitive Advantages
- **Secret sauce technology**: Prolific is the first company to industrialize optogenetics for biomanufacturing, bringing dynamic, real-time control of gene expression that is not possible with traditional engineering methods.
- **Plug-and-play integration**: The illumination system and cell lines are designed to fit into *existing* bioreactor infrastructure, lowering the barrier for adoption by CDMOs and pharma.
- **Full-stack solution**: Combines hardware, cell line engineering, AI/software for process optimization, and analytics—a rare integrated offering in the biologics manufacturing space.

## Strategic Focus
- **Productization and scaling**: Transitioning from a development-stage company to a commercial platform provider, with a focus on selling services and licenses to biotech and pharma partners.
- **Real-world manufacturing**: Emphasis on ensuring the technology works seamlessly in high-volume, regulated GMP environments.
- **Enabling complex biologics**: Targeting the most difficult-to-produce molecules (e.g., bispecific antibodies, fusion proteins) for which current manufacturing methods are bottlenecks.

## Why Work Here
- **High-impact mission**: Directly enabling the next generation of biologic medicines that are currently limited by manufacturing challenges.
- **Collaborative, transparent culture**: The company emphasizes “rigorously sharing, testing, and developing ideas as a group” and judging ideas on merit, not origin. [prolific-machines.com](https://www.prolific-machines.com/careers)
- **Strong total rewards**:
    - Competitive cash compensation and generous equity packages.
    - Spot performance bonuses and retirement plan with company contribution.
    - Flexible PTO with healthy minimums.
    - Company-covered medical, dental, and vision insurance.
    - Free team lunches every day and great snacks.
    - Career coaching and mental health support. [prolific-machines.com](https://www.prolific-machines.com/careers)
- **Work model**: Roles listed on the careers page are currently **on-site** in Emeryville, California. [jobs.lever.co](https://jobs.lever.co/prolific-machines)
- **Employee sentiment**: Strong ratings on LinkedIn (4.2/5 overall), with particularly high marks for Culture (5.0), Career (4.7), and Work-Life Balance (4.8). [linkedin.com](https://linkedin.com/company/prolific-machines)

## Sources
1. [prolific-machines.com - About Us](https://www.prolific-machines.com/about-us)
2. [prolific-machines.com - Careers](https://www.prolific-machines.com/careers)
3. [linkedin.com - Prolific Machines Company Profile](https://linkedin.com/company/prolific-machines)
4. [jobs.lever.co - Prolific Machines Open Roles](https://jobs.lever.co/prolific-machines)
5. [prolific-machines.com - Meet the Team](https://www.prolific-machines.com/team)

## Other roles at Prolific Machines

- [Scientist, Applied Cell Line Development & Customer Programs](https://feeny.ai/job/scientist-applied-cell-line-development-customer-programs-prolific-machines-69532hah6f9d) — Emeryville, CA
- [Associate Technical Project Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/associate-technical-project-manager-prolific-machines-emeryville-c5z5xb0q9h0c) — Emeryville, CA
- [Senior Scientist, Analytical Operations](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-scientist-analytical-operations-prolific-machines-emeryville-d604hx6qcy98) — Emeryville, CA
- [Research Associate I, Analytical Chemistry](https://feeny.ai/job/research-associate-i-analytical-chemistry-prolific-machines-emeryville-267ahd2w88be) — Emeryville, CA
- [Senior Field Deployment Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-field-deployment-engineer-prolific-machines-emeryville-hykxqbgxyvbf) — Emeryville, CA
- [Research Associate, Cell Line Development Automation](https://feeny.ai/job/research-associate-cell-line-development-automation-prolific-machines-emeryville-jcpy1b904s01) — Emeryville, CA
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- [Optical Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/optical-engineer-prolific-machines-emeryville-5gxs6p1z1xg3) — Emeryville, CA