Lab Operations Associate

Adaptyv seeks a Lab Operations Associate in Lausanne to manage daily wet lab activities, inventory, and logistics for its AI-driven biology experiments. This junior, onsite role offers strong growth potential within a fast-paced startup.

This position serves as the operational backbone for an automated laboratory in Lausanne, enabling AI agents to conduct biological experiments. The associate will oversee the physical infrastructure, ensuring that instruments, reagents, and samples are managed efficiently to support the science team. It is designed for early-career professionals who thrive in dynamic environments and wish to grow alongside a scaling biotech company.

Responsibilities

• Process incoming shipments, unpack materials, store them according to protocols, and keep inventory records up to date.
• Order daily supplies, track pending deliveries, and address any discrepancies or delays with vendors.
• Coordinate the shipping of samples and equipment, handling cold chain logistics, dry ice, and necessary customs documentation.
• Assist scientists with practical tasks such as reconstituting proteins, preparing buffers, aliquoting samples, and handling microplates.
• Schedule and oversee instrument maintenance, calibration, and repairs, ensuring vendors are contacted when needed.
• Maintain a safe and organized workspace by managing chemical inventories, disposing of waste correctly, and adhering to safety regulations.
• Support office administration, including managing supplies, setting up workspaces, onboarding new hires, and helping organize team events.
• Help prepare and transition into new laboratory spaces as the company expands.

Requirements

• Practical laboratory experience gained through academic degrees, apprenticeships, technician roles, or previous work in research or biotech settings.
• Strong organizational skills capable of tracking numerous small tasks and details without oversight.
• A proactive approach to problem-solving, identifying and resolving issues before they impact operations.
• Physical readiness to handle tasks such as lifting boxes and moving dry ice.
• Technical aptitude and a genuine interest in learning about automation and AI technologies.
• Adaptability to a startup culture characterized by ambiguity, evolving priorities, and limited existing documentation.
• Residence in Lausanne or willingness to relocate, as daily onsite presence is required.

Nice to have

• Fluency in both French and English.

What the company offers

• Join a rapidly expanding biotech firm at the intersection of artificial intelligence and biological research.
• Gain exposure to high-throughput protein pipelines and witness the direct impact of operational support on scientific outcomes.
• Access significant career development opportunities as the laboratory and team grow.
• Receive dedicated training and support to master automation systems and AI-driven tools.

About the company

Adaptyv is developing an automated laboratory infrastructure designed to allow AI agents to execute biological experiments independently. The company is driven by a mission to make biological processes fast and cost-effective enough for AI execution. Operating within a dynamic startup environment, the team values individuals who take initiative to resolve problems rather than simply reporting them, thriving amidst evolving priorities and limited documentation.

• Building an automated lab infrastructure for AI-driven biology experiments.
• Valuing proactive problem solvers who take ownership of issues.
• Mission-driven focus on making biology fast and affordable for AI.
• Thriving in a dynamic startup setting with evolving priorities.