Research Associate, Biobanking at Parallel Bio in San Francisco, CA

Summary: Parallel Bio is a company focused on leveraging the human immune system to develop safer and more effective drugs through innovative biobanking practices. They are seeking a meticulous Biobanking Specialist who will be responsible for processing and preserving human tissue samples, ensuring the integrity of biological materials for scientific research. This role is critical for maintaining the quality and traceability of samples essential for the company's drug discovery efforts. Responsibilities: - Maintain rigorous, real-time chain-of-custody records for all samples, derivatives, and associated donor metadata in LIMS/ELN systems, ensuring the link between specimen and donor is never broken - Receive, log, and process human biological samples (e.g., whole blood, buffy coats, lymphoid tissues) following established biosafety and ethical guidelines - Isolate primary immune cells and other relevant cell types using density gradient centrifugation, magnetic separation, and related methods - Perform routine tissue and cell culture, including plating, media changes, and monitoring of culture quality - Execute and optimize cryopreservation and thawing protocols to maintain cell viability and function - Maintain an organized, fit-for-purpose biobanking workspace, including freezers, liquid nitrogen storage, and tissue culture facilities - Monitor and manage inventory of samples, reagents, and consumables; coordinate ordering and restocking as needed - Contribute to the development, documentation, and continuous improvement of SOPs for sample receipt, processing, storage, and retrieval - Support equipment maintenance and calibration (e.g., biosafety cabinets, centrifuges, freezers) and proactively flag issues - Ensure all incoming human tissue is accompanied by complete donor consent documentation; maintain awareness of applicable IRB protocols, HIPAA requirements, and material transfer agreements governing sample use and storage - Perform basic QC on incoming and banked samples (e.g., cell counts, viability assays, simple flow cytometry panels where applicable) - Coordinate timing and logistics of clinical sample shipments, ensuring cold-chain integrity and proper documentation (e.g., consent forms, MTAs) - Work closely with discovery and platform teams to provide appropriately prepared samples for organoid culture and downstream assays - Help troubleshoot sample- or workflow-related issues and propose practical improvements to enhance throughput and consistency Required Qualifications: - BS or MS in Biology, Immunology, Cell Biology, Biotechnology, or a related discipline - At least 1 year of hands-on experience with human primary cell or tissue processing in an academic or industry lab - Strong aseptic technique and routine experience with mammalian cell/tissue culture - Highly organized, detail-oriented, and comfortable managing a large and evolving biological inventory - Ability to work independently at the bench while communicating clearly with colleagues and clinical partners - Willingness to work onsite daily in San Francisco, with occasional weekend or off-hours work to process time-sensitive clinical samples Preferred Qualifications: - Familiarity with basic immunological or cell-based assays (e.g., viability staining, flow cytometry, ELISA) - Experience using LIMS and/or ELN systems for structured sample and data tracking Required Skills: Human tissue processing, Cell culture techniques, LIMS/ELN systems Important Skills: Aseptic technique, Immunological assays Nice-to-Have Skills: Independent work