Research Associate - R&D
About the job
- A bachelor's degree in biological sciences, bioengineering, or a related field is required.
- Hands-on experience with core microbiology techniques, nucleic acid extraction, polymerase chain reaction, and next-generation sequencing sample preparation is required.
- The candidate must be organized, proactive, dependable, and willing to take ownership in a collaborative, fast-paced setting.
- The candidate must be receptive to direction and constructive feedback and willing to apply learning and support team priorities.
- Execute and optimize microbiology protocols supporting nucleic acid extraction, polymerase chain reaction, and next-generation sequencing in a high-throughput laboratory, following standard operating procedures while maintaining speed and quality.
- Collaborate with engineers and leadership to validate novel systems for microbial DNA stabilization, extraction, and purification.
- Coordinate intake and processing of large quantities of partner samples accurately.
- Communicate proactively and confidently, clarifying priorities or questions before beginning work.
- Design and conduct experiments with guidance from scientific leadership to retire technical risks, optimize protocols, and contribute to product innovation.
- Maintain rigorous documentation practices that allow work to be replicated and reviewed, and adhere to established quality management systems such as Good Laboratory Practice and design controls.
- Communicate throughout the experimental cycle by giving daily progress updates, collaborating on results, flagging risks early, and asking for assistance promptly.
About the company
BiomeSense provides an integrated platform for gut microbiome analysis, combining an at-home biosensor for continuous monitoring with a cloud-based, AI-powered data analysis system. Users collect longitudinal microbiome data at home, which is securely transmitted to the cloud where AI algorithms identify patterns and track changes over time. The company differentiates itself by offering a low-cost, large-scale hardware-and-software solution designed for clinical trials and consumer health, rather than relying on single-time-point tests. Its goal is to help researchers and product teams use microbiome data to understand health and disease and advance precision medicine.
Company Size
11-50
Company Stage
Seed
Total Funding
$5.4M
Headquarters
Chicago, Illinois
Founded
2018
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- BiomeSense won a $676,980 NIH SBIR/STTR award in June 2026.
- The October 2025 $7M round added Labcorp Venture Fund and Bluestein Ventures.
- Updated August 2026 website shows active product development and partner messaging.
What critics are saying
- The 2024 Pendulum pilot enrolled only 15 people, proving science, not revenue.
- BiomeSense still lacks broad commercial traction; 2026 evidence shows grants, not scaled contracts.
- If GutLab adoption stalls, larger microbiome platforms and simple sequencing workflows outcompete BiomeSense.
What makes BiomeSense unique
- GutLab and MetaBiome target continuous, longitudinal microbiome data, not single stool snapshots.
- BiomeSense claims 30x more data and up to 90% per-sample cost reduction.
- Pendulum’s 2024 pilot validated home-based serial sampling with BiomeSense's GutLab.
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Benefits
- Health Insurance
- Stock Options
- Paid Vacation
- Parental Leave