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Internship Assay Development Scientist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Actalent

R&d Scientist

Ames, IA

The position requires a strong experience in cell culture, bacteriology, and in vitro assay development, as well as the ability to work independently, mentor junior scientists, and collaborate ...

Actalent

R&d Scientist

Ames, IA

The position requires a strong experience in cell culture, bacteriology, and in vitro assay development, as well as the ability to work independently, mentor junior scientists, and collaborate ...

Actalent

R&d Scientist

Ames, IA

The position requires a strong background in cell culture, bacteriology, and in vitro assay development, as well as the ability to work independently, mentor junior scientists, and collaborate ...

Actalent

R&d Scientist

Ames, IA · On-site

The position requires a strong background in cell culture, bacteriology, and in vitro assay development, as well as the ability to work independently, mentor junior scientists, and collaborate ...

Actalent

R&d Scientist

Ames, IA

The position requires a strong background in cell culture, bacteriology, and in vitro assay development, as well as the ability to work independently, mentor junior scientists, and collaborate ...

Cape Fox SS

Assay - Development Technician

Frederick, MD · On-site

$85K - $95K/yr

... scientific research. Travel locations may include remote, resource-limited locations. Perform ... Provide the TPOC Assay-Development data and SOPs for responsible projects NLT the last workday of ...

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Internship Assay Development Scientist information

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How much do internship assay development scientist jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 14, 2026, the average hourly pay for internship assay development scientist in the United States is $38.66, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $28.37 and $46.15 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Internship Assay Development Scientist, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Internship Assay Development Scientist, you need a solid understanding of molecular biology, biochemistry, and laboratory techniques, typically supported by coursework or experience in a related scientific field. Familiarity with laboratory equipment, data analysis software (like GraphPad Prism or Excel), and adherence to safety protocols is often required. Strong attention to detail, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication skills set candidates apart in collaborative research environments. These competencies ensure accurate experiment execution, reliable data generation, and valuable contributions to assay development projects.

What is the difference between Internship Assay Development Scientist vs Laboratory Technician?

AspectInternship Assay Development ScientistLaboratory Technician
Required CredentialsTypically pursuing or holding a bachelor's or master's degree in life sciences; internship experienceAssociate degree or relevant technical training; less emphasis on advanced degrees
Work EnvironmentResearch labs focused on assay development, often in biotech or pharma companiesGeneral lab settings performing routine testing and sample preparation
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in biotech, pharmaceutical, and research organizations for early-career rolesCommon across various industries for lab support roles

The Internship Assay Development Scientist role focuses on gaining experience in assay design and validation within research environments, often requiring higher education. In contrast, Laboratory Technicians perform routine lab tasks with less emphasis on assay development, serving as support staff in various industries.

What does an Internship Assay Development Scientist do?

An Internship Assay Development Scientist assists in designing, developing, and optimizing laboratory assays, which are tests used to measure the presence, amount, or activity of a target substance. Interns typically work under the supervision of experienced scientists, helping with tasks such as preparing samples, running experiments, analyzing data, and maintaining lab equipment. This role provides hands-on experience in laboratory techniques and the scientific process, often within the biotechnology or pharmaceutical industries. It's an excellent opportunity for students or recent graduates to gain practical skills and exposure to real-world research and development environments.

What types of projects or experiments might an Internship Assay Development Scientist typically be involved in during their internship?

As an Internship Assay Development Scientist, you can expect to participate in hands-on projects focused on the design, optimization, and validation of biochemical or cell-based assays. Your daily tasks may include preparing reagents, running experiments, analyzing data, and troubleshooting protocols under the guidance of experienced scientists. Interns often collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, such as research scientists and quality control specialists, to ensure assay reliability and accuracy. This role offers a valuable opportunity to refine laboratory techniques, gain exposure to industry-standard instrumentation, and contribute to real-world research projects.
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Internship Assay Development Scientist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Internship Assay Development Scientist job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 97% Full Time, 1% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 14% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $80,420 per year, or $38.7 per hour.
Senior / Staff Scientist, Assay Automation

Senior / Staff Scientist, Assay Automation

Clear Labs

San Carlos, CA • On-site

$110K - $150K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life

Posted 14 days ago

Job description

About Clear Labs
Clear Labs (CL) harnesses the power of next-generation sequencing (NGS) to simplify complex diagnostics for clinical and applied markets. By creating a fully automated platform that brings together DNA sequencing, robotics, and cloud-based analytics, Clear Labs democratizes genomics applications to deliver better clarity. Clear Labs' turnkey platform accelerates outcomes and improves accuracy from food-borne pathogens to infectious diseases.
Position Summary
You will own the end-to-end performance of NGS assays running on Hamilton Platforms for Illumina-based sequencing assays, from wet lab execution through data interpretation. The work directly determines assay reliability in clinical use and is foundational to scaling our diagnostic platform.
This role is leveled Senior or Staff based on demonstrated scope, autonomy, and track record of shipping NGS assays into regulated environments. We will calibrate level during the interview process.
This is a hands-on role, not a managerial one. It is best suited for scientists who have repeatedly debugged failed NGS experiments and can trace issues across assay design, automated execution, and downstream data.
How This Role Operates
  • Partners daily with Assay Development, Automation Engineering, Bioinformatics, Manufacturing, and Regulatory / Quality.
  • Owns assay performance decisions on assigned product workstreams; signs off on experimental designs, root-cause findings, and verification study conclusions within scope.
  • Expected to escalate cross-functional tradeoffs and regulatory implications to the Director of Assay Development.

Location: San Carlos, CA
Primary Responsibilities
Assay Development (Core)
  • Troubleshoot and optimize full NGS workflows: extraction, fragmentation, end repair, ligation, library prep, target enrichment or amplification, pooling, and sequencing.
  • Identify root causes of assay failures and implement durable, documented fixes.
  • Redesign assay components for robustness, scalability, and reproducibility under production conditions.
  • Lead verification, characterization, and reagent qualification studies that drive assay decisions.
  • Own measurable improvements in assay reliability, variability, and yield on assigned workstreams.

Data Analysis and Experimental Design
  • Analyze sequencing data and run metrics to diagnose performance issues across the wet-to-dry interface.
  • Design experiments using DOE, regression, and hypothesis testing; quantify variance contributions.
  • Build and maintain quantitative performance metrics that characterize assay variability and stability.
  • Conduct reagent stability studies and lot-to-lot qualification.

Automation Integration
  • Develop and troubleshoot assays running on liquid handling automation (Hamilton or equivalent).
  • Partner with automation engineers to translate manual protocols into validated automated workflows.
  • Diagnose and resolve automation-related sources of variability.

Regulatory and Quality
  • Execute work under design controls and a quality management system (ISO 13485 or equivalent).
  • Contribute to analytical validation activities (LoD, precision, specificity, reproducibility, interference).
  • Apply structured problem-solving tools (FMEA, CAPA, change control) as part of routine work.

Requirements
Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis; no visa sponsorship is available for this position.
  • PhD in molecular biology, genomics, bioengineering, or related field, OR equivalent industry experience defined as 8+ years in NGS assay development with at least one shipped IVD, LDT, or commercially deployed assay.
  • Demonstrated hands-on experience developing Illumina NGS assays through to production or clinical use.
  • Track record of leading end-to-end root-cause investigations of complex assay failures.
  • Hands-on experience developing or troubleshooting assays on liquid handling automation (Hamilton or equivalent).
  • Experience working under ISO 13485, FDA design controls, or a comparable regulated quality system.
  • Working proficiency in R, Python, JMP, or equivalent for sequencing data analysis and statistical experimental design (DOE, ANOVA, regression, variance decomposition).
Preferred Experience
  • IVD or LDT assay development for oncology, infectious disease, or similar clinical indications.
  • Hands-on experience with FFPE and/or cfDNA sample types.
  • Experience with hybrid capture target enrichment and/or amplicon-based panel design.
  • Named contribution to a 510(k), De Novo, PMA, or equivalent regulatory submission.
  • Experience integrating assays with downstream bioinformatics pipelines.
What Success Looks Like in the First 12 Months
How We Will Evaluate Candidates
  • Technical depth interview: walk through a real NGS assay failure you debugged end-to-end, including the data you used to localize the root cause.
  • Experimental design exercise: design a study to characterize a defined source of variability under stated constraints.
  • Cross-functional simulation: navigate a tradeoff between assay performance, automation feasibility, and regulatory impact.

Benefits
  • Salary range: $120,000-$150,000
  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • Employer-Sponsored Basic Life/AD&D, Long Term Disability
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
  • Flexible Time Off
  • Stock Option Plan
  • Lunch stipend for days at headquarters

Disclaimer
The above job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required. Responsibilities and duties may change or be adjusted to meet the needs of the company, and additional duties may be assigned as necessary. The job description is subject to change at any time at the discretion of the Company.

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