Lab Operations Associate at Merge Labs in San Francisco Bay Area

Summary: Merge Labs is a frontier research lab with the mission of bridging biological and artificial intelligence to maximize human ability, agency and experience. The Lab Operations Associate will be responsible for managing the daily operations of the lab, ensuring that it remains organized, functional, and compliant with safety regulations. Responsibilities: - Operate the daily physical rhythm of the lab, executing the hands-on recurring work that keeps the environment organized and functional — bench organization, glassware management, reagent and media inventory, and the kind of meticulous upkeep that is unglamorous but non-negotiable in a high-functioning wet lab - Keep lab systems current and accurate — logging equipment into asset databases, completing maintenance tracking sheets, recording inventory counts, and following the scheduled cadences that ensure our operational records reflect what is actually happening on the floor - Execute the equipment management strategy, assuming responsibility for tagging new assets, populating the database, and managing the scheduling of preventive maintenance to ensure the 'source of truth' is always accurate. In practice, much of this work is hands-on: running instrument calibrations (e.g., pH meters, balances, pipettes), executing scheduled freezer defrost cycles, and completing routine equipment upkeep that keeps the lab ready for use - Support the lab's supply chain by placing orders, receiving and logging incoming shipments, restocking benches and cold storage, and flagging low inventory before it becomes a problem - Maintain a safe operating environment, carrying out daily facility rhythms—such as walkthroughs and hazard checks—to ensure our rapid growth remains compliant with safety regulations - Serve as the first line of defense for facility issues, triaging and resolving immediate utility or infrastructure problems (e.g., gases, water, cold storage) to minimize downtime for the scientific team - Tackle a wide range of evolving responsibilities, remaining flexible and willing to jump in wherever needed–a necessity in an early-stage company where we are building the plane while flying it - Help scale the department's capacity, identifying operational bottlenecks in real-time and deploying tactical fixes that remove friction for scientists Required Qualifications: - Multidisciplinary technical fluency: We require a team member capable of understanding and translating the languages of multiple domains to enable science. You demonstrate solid end-to-end knowledge that allows you to evaluate a request, such as onboarding a new instrument, and seamlessly map its impact across the biological workflow, facility utility requirements, and safety compliance controls - A hands-on inclination: You embrace the physical realities of laboratory operations and are eager to engage directly with the work, from managing glassware and media preparation to handling waste streams, recognizing that these fundamental tasks are essential to supporting research - A strong operational foundation: We seek a candidate with experience in Life Sciences or Facility Management who understands the physical realities of a wet lab; from the nuance of cold chain logistics to the strict regulatory requirements of hazardous waste streams - A builder's mindset: We value an individual who instinctively looks to implement and improve team processes, bringing a proven history of creating the SOPs, playbooks, and templates required to transform ad-hoc workflows into durable systems - Vendor management experience: You are capable of representing the company externally with professionalism and discretion, skilled in navigating the nuances of confidentiality, contractual obligations, and commercial conduct to protect the advance the mission while maintaining productive partnerships - Execution discipline: We need a self-starter who owns workstreams with minimal guidance, capable of anticipating dependencies and holding themselves accountable to high standards - Adaptability: We thrive on agility, and we are looking for a team member who embraces the ambiguity of an early-stage build, willing to pivot seamlessly between strategic planning and hands-on operational support Required Skills: Laboratory equipment management, Instrument calibration, Inventory management, Cold chain logistics, Hazardous waste management, Safety compliance, Vendor management, Standard operating procedures (SOP) creation, Execution discipline Benefits: Offers Equity