Research Associate

Research Associate - Biology, Chemistry & Materials Science

C5R is building facilities that connect frontier AI to the physical world. We see this connection as a force for good in expanding humanity's tech tree.

We are hiring hands-on experimentalists to run bench experiments across biology, chemistry, and materials science while helping build our in-house lab in San Francisco from the ground up.

You do not need experience in every domain. What matters most is that you have personally run careful hands-on experiments, can learn quickly across adjacent fields, and are excited to help build a new kind of AI-enabled lab.

This is not a role focused on one narrow scientific question. It is about operating, testing, and improving systems that help AI understand and execute the scientific process itself.

What You Will Do

• Run daily lab operations, including bench organization, inventory management, sample preparation, and routine assays or measurements.
• Run high-throughput experimental workflows across disciplines, such as protein expression, chemistry workflows, materials synthesis, characterization, sample prep, and instrument-based measurements.
• Troubleshoot experiments, document results carefully, and iterate alongside AI systems as the scientist in the loop.
• Source and buy equipment, reagents, consumables, and supplies; set up instruments and improve lab infrastructure as we scale.
• Work with the engineering team to improve lab systems, data capture, robotic workflows, and experimental reliability.
• Jump into a wide range of evolving responsibilities as we build the facility while operating it.

What We Are Looking For

• Hands-on lab experience in at least one relevant area: biology, chemistry, materials science, chemical engineering, bioengineering, or a related experimental field.
• Undergraduate students, BS or MS graduates, early PhD candidates, or people with equivalent practical experience can all be a strong fit, especially if you want to stay hands-on.
• Experience as a Research Associate, Associate Scientist, Lab Technician, Process Engineer, Materials Engineer, Scientist I, or similar hands-on role for at least 1 year is especially relevant.
• Strong attention to detail, diligence, and pride in running experiments carefully.
• Comfort with ambiguity. We will not have standard operating procedures for everything yet, so you should enjoy turning uncertainty into a workable plan.
• Enthusiasm for doing science in a new way, and for working alongside AI systems as collaborators rather than just tools.
• Ability to work onsite in San Francisco.

Relevant Backgrounds

Any one of these can be a strong fit:

• Biology or bioengineering: protein expression, assays, wet lab workflows, sample prep, cell biology, molecular biology, biochemistry, lab operations.
• Chemistry: synthesis, analytical chemistry, formulation, purification, sample prep, spectroscopy, chromatography, reaction setup, protocol troubleshooting.
• Materials science: materials synthesis, characterization, microscopy, spectroscopy, polymers, ceramics, battery materials, thin films, instrumentation, process development.
• Lab automation or operations: setting up instruments, managing inventory, improving lab workflows, integrating equipment, or working with robotic systems.

Nice To Have

• Experience working in two or more areas within biology, chemistry, or materials science.
• Experience in a startup, early lab, core facility, shared lab, or environment where you had to build processes from scratch.
• Interest in AI for science, self-driving labs, robotics, scientific infrastructure, or automated experimentation.
• Evidence that you can communicate clearly with engineers, scientists, and operators.

Compensation And Terms

• $70,000-$100,000 annualized for full-time.
• Competitive equity package.
• Temporary stints of at least 3 months may be possible.
• This role is onsite in San Francisco only.