Research Associate, MOAD Returnship

We are building a future where biology is solvable.
The path to new medicines is currently slow and expensive, with high failure rates, leaving millions of patients waiting for new treatment options. Our story is one of innovation: applying AI, vast datasets, and industrial scale to decode biology and accelerate the development of life-changing treatments.

Recursion’s Returnship Program
Recursion’s Returnship program, sponsored by the Women at Recursion Employee Resource Group, helps professionals who have taken a break of two or more years from the STEM industry return to the workforce. Participants work in a supportive, learning-focused environment with guidance from their teams and mentors.

Our program benefits both sides. You’ll own projects that directly advance our mission to radically decode biology and serve patients, and you’ll build experience with new, cutting-edge tools and technology. In turn, Recursion gains access to an underutilized pool of talent in Utah and benefits from the skills and experience you’ve built through your work and life.

What you’ll get

• A dedicated mentor who meets with you weekly
• Weekly seminars on workplace culture, communication, and technology
• Support from your team as you re-enter the workforce

Our program runs for sixteen weeks, from March 2027 through the end of June 2027. Depending on performance and business needs, it may lead to full-time employment. This position is primarily based at our Salt Lake City, UT headquarters, with some hybrid flexibility.

Research Associate Returnship
The Multi-Omics Assay Development (MOAD) team is excited to welcome a Research Associate with a passion for laboratory-based assay development, critical thinking, and collaboration as part of the Recursion Returnship program. The MOAD team develops biologically relevant cellular based assays for screening on Recursion’s state of the art high throughput screening (HTS) platform to decode biology and improve patient lives.

As a Research Associate on the MOAD team, you will work under the direction of a Senior Scientist and collaborate with cross-functional teams across a variety of areas including MOAD, biology, engineering, data science, HTS, and tissue culture to develop, scale, optimize, and execute biological assays. The MOAD team is seeking an individual with a growth mindset who is a proactive communicator and takes initiative while collaborating with cross-functional teams. Flexibility, attention to detail, and strong time management skills are essential to succeed in this role.

Working as a member of the MOAD team, you will:

• Design and execute cellular based assays: This includes experiment design, project planning, preparing reagents, thawing and culturing cells, performing lipofection, compound addition, and media changes.
• Develop, optimize, and scale assays: This includes identifying the optimal assay conditions, troubleshooting experiments, and working with cross functional teams to drive projects forward.
• Utilize automation to perform experiments: This includes working with acoustic liquid handlers, microplate liquid handlers, and robotics systems.
• Document activities: This includes maintaining detailed and accurate electronic laboratory notebooks (ELN), standard operating procedures (SOPs), and project records.
• Analyze and present data: This includes analyzing a variety of datasets and presenting to peers to drive projects forward in a data driven manner.

The Recursion Community

Cutting-edge tools matter, but our people are what set us apart. Our structure and culture are built to help you do your best work, not to feed politics or ego. We live by values that give us a real competitive advantage. They help us work better and faster without relying on burnout, and they encourage us to make leaps where others take steps. People in every role and at every level make the bold bets that move us forward.

The Returnship gives you a front-row seat to this culture. From your first week, you’ll work alongside teams who value collaboration over ego, with a mentor in your corner and real ownership of projects that matter. You won’t be on the sidelines while you ramp up.

The Experience You’ll Need

• 3+ years of work experience in a research laboratory, preferably with mammalian cell culture and aseptic technique experience.
• Bachelor’s Degree or higher in Biology, Biochemistry, Bioengineering, or a related field and understanding of molecular biology techniques.
• 2+ years break from employment
• Thrive in a team environment while being able to work independently
• Have strong and proactive communication skills