Research and Development Scientist
Natera
Position Summary: Natera is seeking skilled Scientists across experience levels to join our Research team, focusing on advancing our product portfolio. This role involves collaborative work with external academic and pharmaceutical partners to explore the application of scientific principles in oncology treatment and monitoring. Candidates will apply their expertise to assess new scientific opportunities and contribute to developing state-of-the-art solutions for cancer detection and monitoring.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Lead research collaborations, handling statements of work, experimental planning, data analysis, reporting, and deliverables.
- Coordinate with internal teams and serve as a central point for project execution.
- Act as a subject matter expert on minimal residual disease (MRD) detection and its applications in clinical oncology research.
- Regularly engage with external partners and present findings at meetings or conferences.
- Contribute to abstracts, manuscripts, and marketing materials.
- Stay current with breakthroughs in MRD detection and cancer treatment.
- Independently plan and execute high-complexity experiments.
- Mentor junior scientists and document research under a Quality Management System.
- Adhere to HIPAA/PHI privacy and compliance training.
Qualifications:
- PhD, Master’s, or Bachelor’s degree in biochemistry, molecular biology, cellular biology, or a related field.
Technical Skills:
- Expertise in next-generation sequencing (NGS) and DNA/RNA molecular biology.
- Proficiency with PCR, qPCR, multiplex PCR, and digital PCR techniques preferred.
- Ability to perform basic data and statistical analysis using tools such as R, JMP, or Excel.
- Experience in epigenetics/methylation, cfDNA/RNA, and NGS data analysis preferred.
- Proven track record of innovative research and publications in peer-reviewed journals.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
- Experience in oncology, transplant, NIPT, or liquid biopsy research preferred.
- Bioinformatics skills, including PERL, Python, SQL, and data warehousing (e.g., Snowflake), are a plus.
- Skilled in writing protocols, SOPs, and scientific reports.
- Familiarity with regulated environments and design control is a plus.
Physical Demands & Work Environment:
- Work primarily performed in a laboratory setting.
- Ability to conduct repetitive motions, use computers, and communicate effectively.
OUR OPPORTUNITY
Natera™ is a global leader in cell-free DNA (cfDNA) testing, dedicated to oncology, women’s health, and organ health. Our aim is to make personalized genetic testing and diagnostics part of the standard of care to protect health and enable earlier and more targeted interventions that lead to longer, healthier lives.
The Natera team consists of highly dedicated statisticians, geneticists, doctors, laboratory scientists, business professionals, software engineers and many other professionals from world-class institutions, who care deeply for our work and each other. When you join Natera, you’ll work hard and grow quickly. Working alongside the elite of the industry, you’ll be stretched and challenged, and take pride in being part of a company that is changing the landscape of genetic disease management.
WHAT WE OFFER
Competitive Benefits - Employee benefits include comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life and disability plans for eligible employees and their dependents. Additionally, Natera employees and their immediate families receive free testing in addition to fertility care benefits. Other benefits include pregnancy and baby bonding leave, 401k benefits, commuter benefits and much more. We also offer a generous employee referral program!
For more information, visit www.natera.com.
Natera is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to ensuring a diverse and inclusive workplace environment, and welcome people of different backgrounds, experiences, abilities and perspectives. Inclusive collaboration benefits our employees, our community and our patients, and is critical to our mission of changing the management of disease worldwide.
All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply, and will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, age, veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with applicable laws.
If you are based in California, we encourage you to read this important information for California residents.
Link: https://www.natera.com/notice-of-data-collection-california-residents/
Please be advised that Natera will reach out to candidates with a @natera.com email domain ONLY. Email communications from all other domain names are not from Natera or its employees and are fraudulent. Natera does not request interviews via text messages and does not ask for personal information until a candidate has engaged with the company and has spoken to a recruiter and the hiring team. Natera takes cyber crimes seriously, and will collaborate with law enforcement authorities to prosecute any related cyber crimes.
For more information:
- BBB announcement on job scams
- FBI Cyber Crime resource page