Research Assistant, Pre-clinical research

Location: Toon City, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Ehime, Japan (On-site)
Employment Type: Full-Time

Department: Research & Development, Eumbody Group
Reporting to: Manager, Eumbody Group (EBG)

Position Summary

The Eumbody Group (EBG) at Optieum is seeking a Research Assistant to support ongoing molecular and cellular biology activities related to the Eumbody system, a next-generation platform for functional scFv discovery and CAR-T development.

This position is based in Toon and focuses on supporting experimental execution under close supervision, contributing to routine and well-defined laboratory workflows. The Research Assistant will work closely with the EBG Manager and senior team members to assist with sample preparation, cell culture maintenance, and basic molecular biology tasks that support platform operations.

This role is well-suited for an individual who is eager to gain hands-on laboratory experience in cellular immunotherapy research while developing technical skills within a structured and guided environment.

Key Responsibilities

Laboratory Support & Execution

• Assist with routine molecular biology tasks under supervision, including DNA/RNA extraction, cDNA synthesis, PCR, and plasmid preparation.
• Support plasmid preparation workflows (e.g., mini-preps, bacterial transformation) following established protocols.
• Assist in cell culture maintenance, including handling of Jurkat cells, antigen-expressing cell lines, and other mammalian cell lines.
• Support the preparation of reagents, media, and materials required for Eumbody experiments.
• Assist with viral transduction experiments and downstream cell handling under guidance.
• Support flow cytometry experiments, including sample preparation and data acquisition, following predefined gating and analysis guidelines.
• Assist with cell sorting-related preparation tasks under supervision.

Documentation & Compliance

• Maintain accurate experimental records according to established documentation practices.
• Follow laboratory safety procedures and standard operating protocols.
• Support data organization and basic result summaries as directed.

Scope & Role Boundaries

• This role focuses on the execution of defined tasks and does not independently design experiments, modify screening logic, or make final experimental decisions.
• Experimental planning, troubleshooting, interpretation, and platform-level decision-making are performed by the EBG Manager and senior researchers.

Qualifications

Required

• You MUST be fluent in English. Please provide your resume in either English or Japanese.
• You MUST already be located in Japan.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Biology, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, or a related field.
• Basic hands-on experience with molecular biology or cell culture techniques (academic laboratory experience acceptable).
• Willingness to follow protocols carefully and work under supervision.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accurate documentation.
• Good communication skills and a collaborative mindset.
• Proficiency in English (written and spoken); Japanese language skills are a plus but not required.

Preferred

• Prior experience in a research laboratory environment (academic or industry).
• Familiarity with basic mammalian cell culture.
• Interest in immunology, cancer biology, or cell-based therapies.

Why Join Us?

At Optieum, you will have the opportunity to:

• Gain hands-on experience in cellular immunotherapy research.
• Work within a structured research environment supporting a proprietary discovery platform.
• Learn laboratory techniques under the guidance of experienced scientists.
• Develop foundational skills that support career growth in biomedical research.