Biology Research Associate
Austin, TXContract$20–30/hrSeen 1 day agoSeen in employer's feed 1 day ago
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At a glance
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Job overview
The Research Associate supports fermentation experiments and process development in an onsite laboratory setting. The role involves preparing culture media, operating bench-scale bioreactors, monitoring process conditions, and analyzing fermentation data. It also supports optimization and scale-up activities, with accurate documentation and adherence to established procedures and laboratory safety practices.
Skills & qualifications
Skills
Benefits
Full job description
Research Associate-1st Shift
Description
Prepare and sterilize culture media for fermentation experiments
Set up, operate, and monitor bench-scale bioreactors/fermenters
Monitor and control key process parameters, including pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, agitation, and aeration
Perform aseptic sampling and prepare samples for analytical testing
Support fermentation process development and optimization
Evaluate media composition and feeding strategies to optimize microbial growth and productivity
Clean, sterilize, and maintain bioreactors and associated process equipment
Analyze fermentation data and prepare experimental reports
Support process scale-up from shake flasks to bench-scale bioreactors
Follow established SOPs and laboratory safety procedures
Maintain accurate documentation of experimental procedures, process data, results, and observations
Skills
Biology, fermentation, Sop, Chemistry, microbiology, laboratory testing, Laboratory, biochemistry, Cell culture
Top Skills Details
Biology,fermentation,Sop
Experience Level
Intermediate Level
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract position based out of Austin, TX.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $20.00 - $30.00/hr.
Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.
Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract position based out of Austin, TX.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Nov 15, 2026.
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in Austin,TX.
About Actalent
Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.
The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.
If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [email protected] for other accommodation options.
San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.
How this job compares
Set against the 1,097 open Research Associate jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 3, 2026.
- Pay
- This posting$20–30/hr
- US median$26–31/hr174 hourly ranges
This range's midpoint, $25/hr, is 15% below the US median midpoint ($29/hr) — in the middle half of Research Associate hourly ranges across the US.
- Openings
- Olive Jobs lists 187 open Research Associate jobs in Texas and 1,097 across the US. Under 1% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
- Hiring the most in Texas
- UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN104 open
- Texas A&M University System33 open
- UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT ARLINGTON13 open
- Experience
- Research Associate postings that state a minimum ask for 2 years of experience at the median; the middle half ask for 1 to 3 years (276 postings).
- Education
- 618 of the 1,097 open Research Associate jobs (56%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.
Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 3, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.
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