Research Assistant @ Actalent

Job Title: Research Associate / Research Assistant Therapeutic Antibody DevelopmentJob DescriptionThis role supports a therapeutic monoclonal antibody development program through hands-on laboratory work, data management, and cross-functional collaboration. You will contribute to antibody characterization, cell-based assay execution, preclinical research, pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) support, and the development of organized, traceable technical datasets. Working under the guidance of senior scientific staff, you will collaborate closely with internal researchers and external vendors, with responsibilities aligned to your education, laboratory experience, and technical expertise.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate therapeutic antibody candidates through binding, functional, stability, and developability studies.
• Conduct biolayer interferometry (BLI) experiments to measure antibodyantigen interactions, binding kinetics, and affinity.
• Perform ELISA, protein-binding, immunological, competition, and functional assays to support antibody characterization.
• Assist with antibody stability evaluations and SEC-HPLC testing to assess aggregation and monomer profiles.
• Support Fc receptor binding studies and other antibody characterization activities as needed.
• Maintain detailed, organized, and traceable records for antibody lots, proteins, reagents, cell lines, methods, raw data, analyzed results, and study conclusions.
• Maintain mammalian cell cultures and project-specific cell lines according to established procedures.
• Prepare and process cells and biological samples for antibody-binding and functional studies.
• Execute established laboratory procedures consistently and document experimental outcomes thoroughly.
• Prepare media, buffers, proteins, antibodies, and other laboratory materials required for experiments.
• Record assay deviations, troubleshooting activities, and corrective actions to support continuous improvement.
• Support the development, optimization, and characterization of cell-based assay systems.
• Assist with mouse studies conducted under approved animal-use protocols, as permitted by training and authorization.
• Support animal handling, monitoring, dosing procedures, sample collection, and study documentation in preclinical studies.
• Process, label, track, and organize samples generated from in vivo studies to ensure data integrity.
• Support the evaluation of therapeutic antibody activity and the collection of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data.
• Maintain accurate records connecting animal-study samples with downstream analytical results.
• Support the development and execution of assays used for PK/PD analysis.
• Process and analyze preclinical samples according to established protocols and timelines.
• Assist with the integration of antibody characterization, in vitro, and in vivo data into cohesive study outputs.
• Document experimental methods, assay performance, conditions, results, and conclusions for future technical and regulatory review.
• Maintain complete laboratory notebook entries and electronic research records in accordance with documentation standards.
• Organize protocols, methods, raw data, analyzed datasets, study reports, antibody characterization records, and preclinical findings.
• Assist with preparing data summaries, tables, figures, and technical reports for internal and external stakeholders.
• Apply version control and maintain traceability between source data, analytical results, and technical conclusions.
• Preserve and organize vendor documentation associated with antibody engineering, protein production, analytical testing, and related services.
• Support the organization of non-GLP, IND-aligned technical datasets under the direction of senior scientific and regulatory staff.
• Collaborate effectively with scientists, research staff, and external partners while adhering to standard operating procedures, biosafety requirements, animal-welfare protocols, confidentiality expectations, and research-compliance standards.

Essential Skills

• Bachelors degree in Biology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Biomedical Sciences, Immunology, or a related scientific discipline.
• For entry-level candidates, up to two years of relevant academic, internship, or laboratory experience.
• For mid-level candidates, a Bachelors or Masters degree in a relevant life-science discipline.
• For mid-level candidates, approximately three to five years of related laboratory or research experience.
• Foundational knowledge of laboratory procedures, documentation practices, and biological sample handling.
• Ability to follow established protocols and maintain accurate experimental records.
• Demonstrated experience with assay development, data analysis, troubleshooting, and technical documentation for mid-level roles.
• Strong attention to detail and a clear commitment to accurate documentation.
• Ability to perform laboratory procedures consistently and reproducibly.
• Effective troubleshooting and analytical thinking skills in a research setting.
• Strong organizational and sample-tracking abilities to manage complex studies.
• Ability to manage multiple experiments and competing priorities simultaneously.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills for documenting and presenting scientific work.
• Ability to collaborate productively with scientists, research staff, and external partners.
• Commitment to following SOPs, biosafety requirements, animal-welfare protocols, confidentiality expectations, and research-compliance standards.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience working with therapeutic antibodies, biologics, or protein-based therapeutics.
• Hands-on experience with biolayer interferometry (BLI) or surface plasmon resonance techniques.
• Knowledge of ELISA, protein characterization, binding assays, or functional assays.
• Experience maintaining mammalian cell cultures in a research or development environment.
• Familiarity with SEC-HPLC, Fc receptor binding studies, antibody stability assessments, or developability studies.
• Exposure to preclinical research, mouse studies, or PK/PD sample analysis.
• Experience supporting translational drug-development programs.
• Familiarity with data traceability, technical reporting, or IND-aligned documentation practices.
• Background in biology, molecular biology, chemistry, biochemistry, or broader biological sciences.
• Demonstrated ability to organize complex technical datasets, including protocols, raw data, and study reports.
• Experience working with external vendors for antibody engineering, protein production, or analytical testing.

Work EnvironmentThis position is primarily laboratory-based and involves routine work with mammalian cell culture, protein and antibody testing, biological sample processing, and support for approved animal studies. You will work with technologies such as ELISA, biolayer interferometry, SEC-HPLC, and other analytical and cell-based assay systems. The role requires strict adherence to laboratory safety and biosafety procedures, including proper handling of biological materials and compliance with animal-use requirements. You will maintain detailed electronic and written records, follow standard operating procedures, and operate within a regulated, IND-aligned research environment that emphasizes data integrity, traceability, and scientific rigor.

Job Type & LocationThis is a Contract position based out of Oakland Park, FL.

Pay and BenefitsThe pay range for this position is $20.00 - $35.00/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

Medical, dental & vision

Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital

401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available

Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)

Short and long-term disability

Health Spending Account (HSA)

Transportation benefits

Employee Assistance Program

Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Application DeadlineThis position is anticipated to close on Nov 9, 2026.

Workplace TypeThis is a fully onsite position in Oakland Park,FL.About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [email protected] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.