Project Research Consultant - fuRNAce RNA Brokerage

Location: Pittsburgh, PA or remote | 2 - 4 month part- or full-time fixed-term contract employment | Reports to Vice President of Engineering

BioForge's mission is to accelerate innovations and breakthroughs in both the development and manufacturing of precision medicines to speed their delivery, use, and impact.

A fundamental shift is occurring in how biologic medicines are developed and manufactured. As advanced therapeutics such as RNA medicines, viral vectors, bacteriophage therapies, and gene editing technologies move toward the clinic, there is an increasing need for manufacturing processes that are scalable, robust, and economically viable.

One of BioForge’s flagship projects is fuRNAce, an RNA brokerage service providing effortless access to high-quality RNA manufacturers, with the objective of increasing the number of RNA designers by 10x - 100x.  A portal has been developed to assist designers in specifying and ordering their constructs, and is being regularly expanded.

We are seeking a Project Research Consultant - fuRNAce RNA Brokerage to support the expansion of an RNA knowledge base.  The individual will help research, format, and standardize information and supporting research about every aspect of an RNA construct including, but not limited to, formulation, capping, and UTRs.  Hourly commitment and duration of contract are negotiable.

You will be primarily responsible for researching and cross-checking information about all aspects of RNA production and formulation, then producing user-readable summaries that will be published in the portal both as a broad knowledge base and as contextual information.  Your primary focus will be on this research, but you will likely interact with RNA manufacturers and designers to better understand their needs, as well as our portal design & development team.

This is an ideal contract for someone who enjoys research, bringing order to a complicated domain, and communicating with scientists with a wide variety of backgrounds.  The contract’s duration and hourly commitment is negotiable, depending on the qualified candidate’s availability and capability.  Work location may be either in-person in Pittsburgh or fully remote.

• Independent research into a broad variety of RNA and formulation attributes
• Collation of references and production of summary information
• Interviewing RNA manufacturers and designers as needed
• Consult with design & development team about meta-constraints between attributes
• Produce detailed tables of summary and supporting information in an end-user-readable format
• Recognize and identify any additional attributes or relevant characteristics not currently captured in the data model

• Bachelor's degree in Biology, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, or related discipline
• 1 - 3 years of research experience, ideally with a history of publications
• Experience in RNA or related field
• Strong documentation, writing, and communication skills
• Excellent organizational abilities

• A deep understanding of the field of RNA manufacturing and formulation
• Experience in bringing research surveys into a live application while maximizing the data’s utility to the end user
• Connections with state-of-the-art RNA manufacturing and design teams
• Competitive compensation

Apply on LinkedIn or submit the following materials to info@pittbioforge.org with the subject line:

“Project Research Consultant - fuRNAce RNA Brokerage”

1. Resume/CV
2. Brief statement of interest (1–2 paragraphs) outlining your relevant experience

Start Date: As soon as feasible

Hours & Fixed Term: Weekly commitment may range from quarter- to full-time, depending on the candidate.  Duration of the appointment may be adjusted from 2 months (if full time) upwards, depending on weekly hours.  This is a contract position, and does not offer fringe benefits.

Questions may be directed to info@pittbioforge.org.