BEPC is actively looking for Scientist I - Cell & Microbiology in the Pleasanton, CA area! W2 Contract - 11 months with possible extensions! Benefits include medical, dental, vision, and life insurance Pay Rate: $ 45.00 - $ 55.00 /hour - Determined based on experience (Paid Weekly) Work Model: Onsite Note : This is a W2 only role - C2C, C2H will not be considered Summary of the Role: BEPC is seeking a highly motivated Scientist I - Cell & Microbiology to join our client's site in Pleasanton, CA. This role will support the daily operations associated with fulfilling service requests for Culture Collection and panel activities while providing best-in-class simple biological solutions to customers to drive innovation. Microbial and mammalian cell culture systems are essential to the development of innovative molecular diagnostic solutions. The Scientist I - Cell & Microbiology will play a key role in cultivating, characterizing, and managing biological materials that enable research and development efforts. This position is part of the Biospecimen Acquisition and Management (BAM) team, a specialized scientific function responsible for the acquisition, characterization, production, and lifecycle management of biological materials used throughout the product development lifecycle. Leveraging expertise in microbiology, mammalian cell culture, and biospecimen management, the team delivers high-quality biological resources that accelerate scientific innovation across the diagnostic portfolio. Summary of Duties and Responsibilities:
- Plan and execute laboratory activities with a high degree of independence, applying scientific knowledge to support Culture Collection and panel production initiatives.
- Under minimal supervision, execute assigned project activities using established procedures and apply scientific knowledge and accumulated experience to complete projects involving the manipulation of human cell lines, microorganisms, and/or other biological materials.
- Perform nucleic acid extraction, including DNA, RNA, and plasmid extraction, quantification, and standard recombinant cloning techniques.
- Grow bacterial cultures under sterile conditions to ensure successful transformation and plasmid propagation.
- Generate, characterize, and manage biological materials that support assay development, clinical studies, and product development activities.
- Analyze experimental data, troubleshoot technical challenges, and recommend solutions to support project objectives.
- Lead small- to moderate-complexity projects by coordinating activities, managing timelines, and communicating progress with stakeholders.
- Maintain accurate electronic laboratory records within validated systems, including LIMS and electronic laboratory notebooks (eLN), ensuring compliance with quality and regulatory requirements.
- Contribute to scientific reports, technical documentation, presentations, and knowledge-transfer activities across cross-functional teams.
- Support laboratory operations through equipment maintenance, inventory management, biosafety compliance, and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Perform all work in accordance with established safety, quality, and regulatory requirements, including OSHA, ISO, and QSR standards.
- Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, or a related scientific discipline with 4+ years of relevant industry experience, or a master’s degree with 2+ years of relevant experience.
- Experience performing microbiological techniques, mammalian cell culture, molecular biology, and aseptic laboratory practices.
- Comfortable working with diverse biological materials, including microorganisms, mammalian cell lines, and human-derived specimens in a BSL-2 laboratory environment.
- May work with a variety of infectious human materials, including HxV, pathogenic bacteria, or engineered materials, and sample types such as blood, serum, urine, and stool.
- Familiarity with bacterial enumeration, MPN methods, MALDI-TOF identification, microbial taxonomy, and characterization techniques.
- Ability to maintain high-quality laboratory documentation and an understanding of data integrity, Good Laboratory Practices (GLP), and validated laboratory systems such as LIMS and electronic laboratory notebooks (eLN).
- Ability to independently plan laboratory work, manage multiple priorities, and solve scientific and technical challenges.
- Comfortable performing routine laboratory activities, including plating, pipetting, labeling, stocking, and vialing biological materials.
- Ability to work in collaborative, cross-functional environments and partner with diverse stakeholders to achieve shared scientific goals.
- Commitment to continuous learning, scientific excellence, and supporting process improvements that enhance laboratory efficiency and quality.
- Experience with automated laboratory workflows or high-throughput systems.
- Experience supporting platform or assay development.
- Project management experience, including coordinating timelines and stakeholder communications.
- Client-facing or customer-support experience.
- Strong analytical, organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
- Experience working effectively within a global, matrixed organization.