Tiny Cargo - Laboratory Assistant

A little bit about us…

The Tiny Cargo Company's mission is to unlock the healing power of milk derived exosomes. We're building a new frontier in targeted drug delivery through our proprietary IP in exosome isolation, loading, and drug development, and we're commercializing pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical grade exosomes to help fund that work as we scale.

We're a small, fast-moving team based in Roanoke, and every hire we make right now shapes how this company operates for years to come. That means the people who join us early get real ownership, real trust, and a real hand in building something from the ground up.

A little bit about the role…

The Laboratory Assistant keeps the lab running so our scientists can focus on the science. You'll prepare materials, manage samples and inventory, and provide hands-on analytical support across quality control, drug loading, and stability work. Regulated work requires documented training and qualification, so this role progresses from non-regulated support toward broader responsibility as you build that qualification, reporting to the Quality Control Scientist and R&D Scientist. 

The Laboratory Assistant will be responsible for:

Laboratory Preparation & Equipment Readiness

• Preparing buffers, media, reagents, and standard solutions to specification, and labeling and logging them correctly
• Cleaning, sterilizing, and maintaining glassware and labware
• Tuning and maintaining lab equipment, including the plate reader, NTA, and Zetasizer, ahead of scheduled testing
• Setting up equipment and workstations ahead of scheduled testing and study work

Sample & Records Management

• Receiving, logging, labeling, and storing incoming samples, and maintaining chain of custody
• Managing retain samples and reference standards under defined storage conditions
• Entering data into laboratory records and systems accurately and contemporaneously
• Managing the site's retained sample program, including retain samples and reference standards under defined storage conditions

Inventory, Ordering & Housekeeping

• Owning the lab's inventory and ordering database, including flagging reorder points and rotating stock so older chemicals are used first
• Coding purchases correctly as research and development, cost of goods, or grant funded expenses
• Receiving and staging lab deliveries and verifying them against order documentation
• Maintaining lab cleanliness, waste segregation, and safety compliance

Supervised Technical & Analytical Support

• Assisting with routine analytical testing under direct supervision, including NTA, Zetasizer, dye loading, drug loading, TEM, confocal microscopy, and plate reader work
• Stepping in to run core assays when necessary- this may include, QC, drug loading, or stability programs.
• Supporting stability pulls, sample preparation, and study execution as directed
• Completing assigned training modules and maintaining current qualification records

We are excited about you because you…

Bring real hands-on lab experience

• Have at least a semester of wet lab experience, through coursework or prior work, in a field like biology, biochemistry, chemistry, or bioengineering
• Are comfortable with, or have exposure to, aseptic or sterile technique and cell culture
• Are just as strong a fit with a two-year degree and real bench time as with a four-year degree

Operate with precision and reliability

• Take accuracy and consistency seriously, and are genuinely comfortable with repetitive, precision work
• Follow written procedure exactly, especially where the work touches regulated data
• Reliable, doing what you say you'll do, on schedule, because the scientists around you are counting on it 

Show good judgment

• Can hold nuance and ambiguity, since our assays each approach the full picture without ever fully determining it on their own
• Notice when something's off, a mislabeled sample, a low reagent, and do something about it,  rather than looking past it

We're especially excited if you…

• Have any prior experience with exosomes, nanoparticles, or liposomes
• Bring an engineering background or mindset, even without a bio-specific degree
• Have prior exposure to a regulated laboratory environment
• Are growth minded, looking to grow into more responsibility and opportunity over time
• Have familiarity with quality management or laboratory information management systems
• Are interested in progressing into a technician or scientist role over time

Reasons it pays to work at The Tiny Cargo Company (in addition to the pay itself)…

• Health insurance stipend or policy
• Standard federal holidays and paid time off + sick leave
• Workers' compensation insurance coverage 
• Reimbursement for work-related expenses 

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Tiny Cargo, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and just workplace. If you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with 100% of the qualifications listed, we encourage you to still apply.